Businessweek

Seattle Genetics, Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company, focuses on the development and commercialization of monoclonal antibody-based therapies for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. ADCETRIS ADCETRIS is an ADC comprising an anti-CD30 monoclonal antibody attached by a protease-cleavable linker to a microtubule disrupting agent, monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), utilizing the company’s proprietary technology. The company has a collaboration agreement for the development and commercialization of ADCETRIS with Millennium. Under this collaboration, the company retains commercial rights in the United States and Canada. Millennium has rights to commercialize ADCETRIS in the rest of the world. SGN-75 SGN-75 is an ADC composed of an anti-CD70 monoclonal antibody linked to a potent auristatin compound using its proprietary ADC technology. The company initiated a single-agent phase I study of SGN-75 for patients with CD70-expressing relapsed or refractory renal cell carcinoma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma. ASG-5ME ASG-5ME is an ADC composed of an anti-SLC44A4 monoclonal antibody linked to a potent auristatin compound using the company’s proprietary ADC technology. SLC44A4 is a target expressed on approximately 80 percent of pancreatic, prostate and gastric cancer tumors and is also expressed in approximately 50 percent of breast cancer tumors, based on preclinical data. The company is developing ASG-5ME as a product candidate for the treatment of solid tumors under its co-development collaboration with Agensys. The company and Agensys initiated a phase I clinical trial of ASG-5ME for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer in 2010 and a phase I clinical trial of ASG-5ME for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer in 2010. ASG-22ME ASG-22ME is an ADC composed of an anti-Nectin-4 monoclonal antibody linked to a potent auristatin compound using the company’s proprietary ADC technology. Nectin-4 is a target expressed in multiple cancers including bladder, breast, lung and pancreatic cancers. The company is developing ASG-22ME as a product candidate for the treatment of solid tumors under its co-development collaboration with Agensys. SGN-19A SGN-19A is a preclinical ADC product candidate for the treatment of hematologic malignancies. SGN-19A targets CD19, which is a B-cell antigen that is expressed in non-Hodgkin lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and acute lymphocytic leukemia. History Seattle Genetics, Inc. was founded in 1997.