As per the terms of the agreement, Genentech has rights to use Seattle Genetics’ ADC technology with antibodies against targets selected by Genentech.
Genentech will be responsible for research, product development, manufacturing and commercialisation. Seattle Genetics is entitled to receive fees, progress-dependent milestone payments and royalties on net sales of any resulting ADC products.
ADCs utilise the targeting ability of monoclonal antibodies to deliver potent, cell-killing payloads to specific cells. Seattle Genetics’ proprietary technology employs synthetic, highly potent drugs attached to antibodies through stable linker systems. The linkers are designed to release the drug payload only under specific conditions once inside target cells, thereby sparing non-target cells many of the toxic effects of traditional chemotherapy.
Eric Dobmeier, chief business officer of Seattle Genetics, said: “We believe this collaboration, coupled with our multiple other ADC collaborations, reinforces the value of our industry-leading technology. For Seattle Genetics, these collaborations broaden the reach of our technology into diverse disease settings where empowered antibodies may be able to address significant unmet medical needs. In addition, these deals provide a substantial source of capital as we continue to advance our own pipeline of proprietary antibodies and ADCs for cancer.”