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CONTACT: |
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Seattle Genetics
Corporate Communications
Peggy
Pinkston, 425-527-4160 ppinkston@seagen.com
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or WeissComm Partners for Seattle Genetics
Aline
Schimmel, 201-294-9560
(Media)
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or Agensys: Donald B. Rice, Chairman, President and CEO Aya Jakobovits, Ph.D., SVP, Technology and Corporate Development and CSO, 310-820-8029 or Tracy Olmstead Williams, 310-396-2400 twilliams@cswpr.com |
Seattle
Genetics and Agensys Announce Collaboration to Co-Develop and Commercialize
Antibody-Drug Conjugate Therapies for Cancer
BOTHELL,
Wash. & SANTA MONICA, Calif -- Jan. 8, 2007 -- Seattle Genetics, Inc.
(Nasdaq:SGEN) and Agensys, Inc., a private cancer biotechnology company,
today announced an agreement to jointly research, develop and commercialize
antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapies for cancer. The collaboration will
encompass combinations of Seattle Genetics' ADC technology with antibodies
developed by Agensys to proprietary cancer targets.
Under the
terms of the multi-year agreement, Seattle Genetics and Agensys will jointly
screen and select ADC products to an initial target that has already been
selected, co-fund all preclinical and clinical development and share
equally in any profits. Agensys will also conduct further preclinical
studies aimed at identifying ADC products to up to three additional
targets. Seattle Genetics has the right to exercise a co-development option
on one of these additional ADC products at IND filing on the same 50:50
cost and profit-sharing basis. Seattle Genetics would receive fees,
milestones and royalties on ADC products developed and commercialized
solely by Agensys. Either party may opt out of co-development and
profit-sharing in return for receiving milestones and royalties from the
continuing party.
"Seattle
Genetics' industry-leading ADC technology has the potential to combine with
Agensys' antibodies to proprietary targets to form potent anti-cancer
drugs," said Dr. Donald B. Rice, Chairman, President and CEO of
Agensys. "This collaboration leverages complementary strengths of the
two companies and continues Agensys' strategy of pursuing multiple product
opportunities with selected partners."
"Agensys'
portfolio of cancer targets and capabilities in generating and developing
antibodies combined with Seattle Genetics' proprietary ADC technology
provides both companies with potential product opportunities across a
variety of cancers, in particular for solid tumors where ADCs may provide
the strong potency necessary to treat these aggressive diseases," said
Clay B. Siegall, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer at Seattle
Genetics. "An important aspect of the deal structure is our
participation in product rights for up to two ADC programs, which
underscores increasing recognition of the therapeutic potential and value
of our ADC technology."
Seattle
Genetics' ADC technology employs proprietary linkers and synthetic, highly
potent drugs. The linkers are stable in the bloodstream and release the
drug payload once inside target tumor cells. ADCs can increase the
therapeutic potential of antibodies with targeting ability but limited
inherent cell-killing activity. Seattle Genetics is developing its own ADC
product candidates, including SGN-35, which entered clinical trials in 2006
for patients with Hodgkin's disease and other CD30-positive malignancies,
and SGN-75, which is in preclinical development for renal cell cancer and
CD70-positive hematologic malignancies.
Agensys
is developing a pipeline of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies to a diverse
portfolio of proprietary, clinically relevant cancer targets that encompass
14 types of solid tumors. Agensys' lead product, AGS-PSCA, is being
co-developed with Merck & Co, Inc. and is currently in phase I clinical
trials. Agensys will contribute a subset of its pipeline of antibodies and
cancer targets to the collaboration with Seattle Genetics.
About Seattle Genetics
Seattle
Genetics is a biotechnology company developing monoclonal antibody-based
therapies for the treatment of multiple types of cancer, including
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, acute myeloid leukemia and
Hodgkin's disease. The company has also developed proprietary antibody-drug
conjugate (ADC) technology comprised of highly potent synthetic drugs and
stable linkers for attaching the drugs to monoclonal antibodies. Seattle Genetics
currently has license agreements for its ADC technology with a number of
leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, including Genentech,
Bayer, CuraGen, Progenics and MedImmune. More information is available at
www.seattlegenetics.com.
About
Agensys
Agensys,
Inc. is a privately held biotechnology company that is developing a
pipeline of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to treat solid tumor
cancers. These antibodies, many of which are fully human, are being
generated to a diverse portfolio of proprietary, clinically relevant cancer
targets that encompass 14 types of solid tumors. The company has the
capabilities to generate, develop and manufacture and move into clinical
trials antibody products and, through a partnership with Amgen, Inc.
(formerly Abgenix), access to the XenoMouse(R) technology to generate fully
human antibodies to multiple targets. Agensys is progressing a pipeline of
preclinical MAb candidates with potential as naked or payload-conjugated
therapeutic products, directed at a variety of cancer indications,
including prostate, kidney, bladder, pancreas, lung, colon, ovary, breast,
and skin. Agensys has initiated clinical trials with AGS-PSCA, a fully
human MAb to Prostate Stem Cell Antigen (PSCA), a novel target expressed in
the majority of prostate, pancreatic and bladder cancers. AGS-PSCA is being
co-developed with Merck & Co, Inc. and is currently in phase I clinical
trials. In parallel to developing certain antibody products, Agensys has
established partnerships to develop and commercialize selected antibody
products with Genentech, Inc. and cancer vaccine applications for its
proprietary targets with sanofi pasteur. The company's laboratories, GMP
manufacturing facility and offices are located in Santa Monica, California.
For further information about Agensys, please visit http://www.agensys.com.
Certain
of the statements made in this press release are forward-looking. Actual
results or developments may differ materially from those projected or
implied in these forward-looking statements. Specifically, the statements
regarding the potential benefits of the combination of Seattle Genetics'
and Agensys' technologies are forward-looking and actual results may differ
materially from these statements for various reasons. Factors that may
cause such a difference include difficulties in implementing the combined
technologies of Seattle Genetics and Agensys, risks related to adverse
clinical results as the product candidates move into and advance in
clinical trials, risks inherent in early stage development and failure by
either party to perform their contractual obligations. More information
about the risks and uncertainties faced by Seattle Genetics is contained in
the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Seattle
Genetics disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.
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