BOTHELL – A Connecticut-based developer of cancer treatments will pay to use Seattle Genetics Inc.’s cell-targeting technology in a deal that could be worth more than $30 million.
Seattle Genetics, with headquarters in Bothell, will license its antibody drug conjugate technology to CuraGen Corp. of New Haven, Conn. In return, CuraGen will pay a $2 million fee.
CuraGen also has the option to use the conjugate technology for a second drug in exchange for an additional fee.
With no approved drugs on the market, CuraGen is a research-stage company that’s trying to advance nearly 20 potential drugs into clinical tests. It hopes to marry Seattle Genetics’ technology to two antibodies that have shown promise as cancer fighters.
“We believe antibody drug conjugates will play a significant role in the future of antibody-based treatments for patients with cancer and other diseases,” said Clay Siegall, Seattle Genetics’ president and chief executive officer, in a statement about the deal.
On top of the initial fees, CuraGen will pay up to $28 million in future payments based on the successful development of drugs that use Seattle Genetics technology.
That does not count potential royalties if the drugs eventually are approved and sold to patients.
CuraGen will be responsible for research, development and eventual drug manufacturing under the new agreement. It also will pay for any research and development assistance Seattle Genetics provides.
CuraGen is the fourth biotech firm to sign an agreement relating to Seattle Genetics’ antibody-drug conjugate technology. Genentech, Protein Design Labs and Celltech Group also has license deals with the company.
Reporter Eric Fetters: 425-339-3453 or fetters@heraldnet.com.
‘Smart bombs’ for the body
Antibody drug conjugates, in which Bothell-based Seattle Genetics Inc. specializes, can be compared to “smart bombs” for the body. Instead of killing many types of cells, such as some existing cancer treatments, the conjugate technology creates drugs that target certain cells. To do this, the technology links a drug to monoclonal antibodies, which are designed to recognize only one kind of invading organism. The company’s proprietary system to link the drug and antibodies uses enzymes found in tumor cells. They stay stable as the antibody moves through the blood but allow a drug to be released in fully active form once it gets into a tumor. In addition to licensing the technology to others, Seattle Genetics is working on its own pipeline of cancer-targeted drugs.
How ‘smart bombs’ work
Antibody-drug conjugates, in which Bothell-based Seattle Genetics Inc. specializes, can be compared to “smart bombs” for the body. Instead of killing many types of cells, like some existing cancer treatments, the conjugate technology creates drugs that target certain cells. To do this, the technology links a drug to monoclonal antibodies, which are designed to recognize only one kind of invading organism. The company’s proprietary system to link the drug and antibodies uses enzymes found in tumor cells. They stay stable as the antibody moves through the blood, but allow a drug to be released in fully active form once it gets into a tumor. In addition to licensing this technology to others, Seattle Genetics also is working on its own pipeline of cancer-targeted drugs.
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