Seattle Genetics cleared to resume testing of cancer drug

Published 1:30 am Tuesday, March 7, 2017

BOTHELL — Seattle Genetics can resume all testing on an experimental drug to treat an aggressive form of cancer known as acute myeloid leukemia.

The company had paused a couple of small-scale tests of vadastuximab talirine (SGN-CD33A) in late December due to concerns that the drug might have caused liver damage in six people, four of whom died. Tests with larger patient pools were not affected by the halt.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared the tests to proceed, the Bothell-based company said Monday.