Seattle Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: SGEN) announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent related to its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology. U.S. Patent No. 7,659,241 covers cleavable linkers and potent auristatin drug payloads used in certain of Seattle Genetics’ ADC programs, most notably brentuximab vedotin (SGN-35), as well as many ADC programs in development by its collaborators. Brentuximab vedotin, an ADC that utilizes the vcMMAE drug-linker unit, is in a pivotal trial for relapsed and refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and a phase II trial for relapsed and refractory systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma. The company anticipates submitting a New Drug Application for brentuximab vedotin in the first half of 2011.
“This patent is an important addition to the intellectual property portfolio surrounding our ADC technology, and significantly enhances the patent position for multiple internal and collaborator programs that use the vcMMAE drug-linker unit”
“This patent is an important addition to the intellectual property portfolio surrounding our ADC technology, and significantly enhances the patent position for multiple internal and collaborator programs that use the vcMMAE drug-linker unit,” said Eric Dobmeier, Chief Business Officer of Seattle Genetics. “Issuance of this patent, which extends protection in the United States to at least 2025, also reflects the culmination of significant and novel research conducted at Seattle Genetics to continue advancing our industry-leading ADC technology.”