Coverage Initiated: June 2002

Seattle Genetics (SGEN) creates monoclonal antibodies, both naked and empowered with their ADC linker technology, for the treatment of cancer and auto-immune disease. SGEN is the second-oldest company in our coverage universe and we have significant experience with both this management team and their products under development.

The company's lead product is SGN-35, an empowered antibody targeted to CD-30 for the treatment of CD-30 positive blood cancers. Currently in pivotal trials, the early data on the drug was quite astonishing.

SGN-40 was partnered with Roche Genentech (RHHBY), but did not survive one of Genentech's legendarily ruthless culling processes. As 2010 started, the future of the drug was uncertain but it probably won't go forward as a monotherapy. While it failed one large trial, the most recent combination data were promising. While under co-development, Genentech discovered a 14-gene screen with high predictive value for response.

SGN-33 and SGN-75 round out the company's current portfolio of products.

The company's ADC technology allows licensees to link up the cellular toxin auristatin-e with their antibody of choice. Arguably the best linker technology available, SGEN is signing some big licensing deals for their ADC technology. We note SGEN competes in this area with ImmunoGen (IMGN), another company in our coverage universe (click here for more information).

A complete listing of our research on Seattle Genetics is available by clicking here.