BOTHELL, Wash. & SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Seattle Genetics, Inc. (SGEN) and Agensys, Inc., an affiliate of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc. (Tokyo:4503), today announced that Seattle Genetics has exercised an option to co-develop an additional antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) under the companies existing ADC collaboration agreement. The ADC, called ASG-15ME, targets the tumor antigen SLITRK6, which is known to be expressed on bladder and lung cancer. Agensys has submitted an investigational new drug (IND) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a phase 1 trial of ASG-15ME.

Through our collaboration and co-development agreements with companies like Agensys/Astellas, Seattle Genetics continues to enhance its ability to innovate by combining our industry-leading ADC technology with proprietary cancer targets and antibodies to develop potential new treatments for patients with cancer, said Eric L. Dobmeier, Chief Operating Officer of Seattle Genetics. ADCs represent a novel therapeutic approach, and through our pipeline and collaborations more than half of the ADC candidates in clinical development utilize our technology. We look forward to working with Agensys/Astellas to advance ASG-15ME.

Were eager to continue our strong collaboration with Seattle Genetics for ASG-15ME, said David Stover, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Agensys Site Head. This collaboration with Seattle Genetics is in line with our goal to utilize the most advanced technologies to generate more innovative medicines in oncology.

ASG-15ME is an ADC composed of a fully human antibody directed to SLITRK6, an antigen expressed in multiple solid tumors. Preclinically, ASG-15ME has demonstrated antitumor activity in models of bladder and lung cancer. The antibody is attached to a potent, synthetic cytotoxic agent, monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), via an enzyme-cleavable linker using Seattle Genetics proprietary technology. The ADC is designed to be stable in the bloodstream, but to release MMAE upon internalization into SLITRK6-expressing tumor cells, resulting in targeted cell-killing.

Upon the option exercise, Seattle Genetics will make an option exercise payment and thereafter fund half of the future development costs for the ASG-15ME program. The impact of the option exercise on Astellas current fiscal year (from April 1, 2013, to March 31, 2014) financial forecast will be immaterial.

About the Seattle Genetics / Agensys Collaboration

Seattle Genetics and Agensys entered into the ADC collaboration in January 2007, and expanded it in November 2009. Under the collaboration, Agensys has the right to obtain exclusive ADC licenses for multiple cancer targets. The companies are co-developing and will globally co-commercialize and share profits on a 50:50 basis for ASG-5ME, ASG-22ME and ASG-15ME. Any ADC programs to which Seattle Genetics does not opt-in will be developed and commercialized exclusively by Agensys, and Seattle Genetics is entitled to progress-dependent fees, milestone payments and mid-single-digit royalties on worldwide net sales of such products.

ADCs are monoclonal antibodies that are designed to selectively deliver cytotoxic agents to tumor cells. With over a decade of experience and knowledge in ADC innovation, Seattle Genetics has developed proprietary technology employing synthetic cytotoxic agents and stable linker systems that attach these cytotoxic agents to the antibody. Seattle Genetics linker systems are designed to be stable in the bloodstream and release the potent cell-killing agent once inside targeted cancer cells. This approach is intended to spare non-targeted cells and thus reduce many of the toxic effects of traditional chemotherapy while enhancing antitumor activity. Agensys utilizes its portfolio of novel cancer targets to generate high-affinity fully human, proprietary antibodies, and combines selected antibodies with Seattle Genetics ADC technology to produce new cancer therapies.

About Seattle Genetics

See original here:
Seattle Genetics and Agensys, an Affiliate of Astellas, Announce Co-Development of an Additional Antibody-Drug ...

Comments are closed.