Seattle Genetics starts Brentuximab Vedotin retreatment trial

Seattle Genetics, Inc. has announced that it has initiated a phase II clinical trial of brentuximab vedotin (SGN-35), an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), for the retreatment of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma and systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL).

This trial is designed to evaluate tolerability and activity when retreating patients who relapse after previously achieving an objective response to brentuximab vedotin.

The phase II multi-center trial will assess safety and antitumor response to retreatment with brentuximab vedotin. The trial is designed to enroll up to 50 patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma or systemic ALCL who have previously achieved a complete or partial response to therapy with brentuximab vedotin. Patients will receive 1.8 milligrams per kilogram of brentuximab vedotin every three weeks.

Brentuximab vedotin is in an ongoing pivotal trial under a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and a phase II trial for systemic ALCL. The company also is conducting a phase I clinical trial assessing weekly dosing of brentuximab vedotin. Brentuximab vedotin has received fast track designation from the FDA for Hodgkin lymphoma as well as orphan drug designation in the United States and Europe for both Hodgkin lymphoma and ALCL.

Brentuximab vedotin is an ADC comprising an anti-CD30 antibody attached by an enzyme cleavable linker to a potent, synthetic drug payload, monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), using Seattle Genetics’ proprietary technology. The ADC is designed to be stable in the bloodstream, but to release MMAE upon internalization into CD30-expressing tumor cells, resulting in targeted cell-killing.

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