Milestone for Seattle Genetics in antibody-drug conjugate collaboration with Bayer

USA-based Seattle Genetics has achieved a milestone under its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) collaboration with German drug major Bayer Schering Pharma, after the latter company submitted an Investigational New Drug application with the US Food and Drug Administration for MN-IC, an ADC for solid tumors.

Under the terms of the ADC collaboration agreement, Bayer has rights to use Seattle Genetics' ADC technology with antibodies against MN. Bayer is responsible for research, product development, manufacturing and commercialization of all products under the collaboration. Seattle Genetics receives material supply and annual maintenance fees as well as research support payments for any assistance provided to Bayer in developing ADC products. The antibody component of the ADC targeted to MN is derived from HuCAL technology that Bayer licensed from fellow Germany-based MorphoSys.

Seattle Genetics is advancing a proprietary pipeline of ADC programs, including brentuximab vedotin (SGN-35), which is in an ongoing pivotal trial for relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and a Phase II trial for systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma. It is also developing a number of preclinical ADCs, including SGN-75, which the company is advancing towards a planned 2009 IND submission for CD70-positive hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. The company is also developing ASG-5ME in collaboration with Agensys, a subsidiary of Japan's Astellas Pharma. An IND submission of ASG-5ME for solid tumors is planned in the first half of 2010.