On April 17, 2016 Seattle Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: SGEN) reported novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology advances presented at the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) being held April 16 through 20, 2016 in New Orleans, LA (Press release, Seattle Genetics, APR 17, 2016, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2157672 [SID:1234510959]). Data in multiple presentations demonstrate the company’s leadership and innovation in the field of ADCs. Presentations will showcase a new auristatin-based drug-linker as well as several novel linkers that expand Seattle Genetics’ proprietary ADC technology platform and may enable application of previously inaccessible cytotoxic payloads.

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"We have a comprehensive scientific understanding of the multiple components necessary to develop antibody-drug conjugates for the potential treatment of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors," said Jonathan Drachman, M.D., Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President, Research and Development at Seattle Genetics. "Our data presentations at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting illustrate novel linker systems and cell-killing payloads as well as continued progress in understanding the chemical and biological properties of ADCs to inform potential future development. We believe ADCs will continue to play an increasingly important role in cancer treatment."

ADCs are monoclonal antibodies designed to deliver cytotoxic agents selectively to tumor cells. Seattle Genetics has developed proprietary technology employing synthetic cytotoxic agents and stable linker systems that attach these cytotoxic agents to the antibody. Seattle Genetics’ linker systems are designed to be stable in the bloodstream and release the potent cell-killing agent once inside targeted cancer cells. This approach is intended to spare non-targeted cells and thus reduce many of the toxic effects of traditional chemotherapy while enhancing antitumor activity.

Multiple oral and poster presentations are being featured at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) that highlight Seattle Genetics’ ADC technology advances. Abstracts can be found at www.aacr.org and include the following:

Three poster presentations on Sunday and Monday, April 17 and 18, 2016 (Abstracts #0351, 1285, 2082) will highlight the role of the tumor microenvironment in ADC clearance, antitumor activity and uptake. Importantly, preclinical data demonstrate the potential for tumor associated macrophages to contribute to antitumor activity through release of MMAE.
The development of novel quaternary ammonium linkers for the stable conjugation and efficient release of tertiary amine-containing payloads will be presented in a poster presentation on Monday, April 18, 2016 (Abstract #2056). Preliminary data demonstrate that this technology enables the evaluation of drug classes previously inaccessible as ADCs, including auristatin E and tubulysin.

The development of a novel methylene-alkoxy-carbamate (MAC) linker that enables direct conjugation of drugs through alcohol functional groups will be presented in an oral presentation at 3:50 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 19, 2016 (Abstract #4334). This linker has the potential to expand the types of payloads utilized in ADCs.
Data from a novel monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) linker technology will be highlighted in a poster presentation on Tuesday, April 19, 2016 (Abstract #2956). By incorporating a short polyethylene glycol (PEG) unit, a self-hydrolysing maleimide and a glucuronidase release mechanism, the new MMAE drug-linker demonstrates pronounced activity with an increased therapeutic index in preclinical models.