SEATTLE GENETICS LICENSES PROACTA'S CELL-KILLING DRUGS.Seattle Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq:SGEN SGEN Signal/System Generator ), Bothell, Wash., has entered into an agreement to license certain cell-killing drugs from Proacta Therapeutics, based in Auckland, New Zealand. Seattle Genetics intends to evaluate the highly potent, synthetic drugs as product candidates on their own as well as to utilize them in its antibody-drug conjugate conjugate /con·ju·gate/ (kon´jdbobr-gat) 1. paired, or equally coupled; working in unison. 2. a conjugate diameter of the pelvic inlet; used alone usually to denote the true conjugate diameter; see program. Under the terms of the agreement, Seattle Genetics will have exclusive development, manufacturing and worldwide commercialization rights to any products utilizing the drugs. "This agreement provides us with exclusive access to a unique set of potent cell-killing drugs that target the minor groove of DNA DNA: see nucleic acid. DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid One of two types of nucleic acid (the other is RNA); a complex organic compound found in all living cells and many viruses. It is the chemical substance of genes. ," commented Clay B. Siegall, Ph.D., president and chief scientific officer of Seattle Genetics. "Combined with the proprietary linkage systems developed at Seattle Genetics, these drugs will augment our development of next-generation antibody-drug conjugates for the treatment of cancer." The licensed drugs were identified and developed in the Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre headed by William Denny, Ph.D., of the University of Auckland Not to be confused with Auckland University of Technology. The University of Auckland (Māori: Te Whare Wānanga o Tāmaki Makaurau) is New Zealand's largest university. . They represent a unique class of drugs that are ideally suited for targeted drug delivery Scientists began to study targeted drug delivery, because the traditional drug delivery system had many disadvantages, such as high toxic effect and high minimum effective dose. In traditional drug delivery system, after the patient takes some drugs, the drugs will be all over his body . Antibody-drug conjugates combine the targeting capabilities of antibodies with cell-killing drug payloads, providing a means to selectively kill cancer cells while limiting damage to normal tissue. "We look forward to a productive interaction with Proacta Therapeutics and with Dr. Denny, a world-renowned expert in cytotoxic drug discovery," concluded Dr. Siegall. About Seattle Genetics Seattle Genetics discovers and develops monoclonal antibody, or mAb-based therapeutics to treat cancer and related diseases. The company has four technologies: engineered mAbs, mAb-drug conjugates, single-chain immunotoxins and antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT). Seattle Genetics has built a diverse portfolio of drug candidates targeted to many types of human cancers, including two currently being tested in six ongoing clinical trials. The company also out-licenses its mAb-based technologies to strategic partners developing targeted therapies. Seattle Genetics has agreements with many organizations including Genentech, Medarex, Aventis, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eos Biotechnology, Arizona State University Arizona State University, at Tempe; coeducational; opened 1886 as a normal school, became 1925 Tempe State Teachers College, renamed 1945 Arizona State College at Tempe. Its present name was adopted in 1958. , the University of Miami This article is about the university in Coral Gables, Florida. For the university in Oxford, Ohio, see Miami University. The University of Miami (also known as Miami of Florida,[2] UM,[3] or just The U , and CLB CLB Club CLB Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL hockey) CLB Combat Logistics Battalion (US Marine Corps) CLB Configurable Logic Block (microchip technology) Research and Development. For more information, visit http://www.seattlegenetics.com. About Proacta Therapeutics Proacta Therapeutics discovers and develops therapies for cancer that directly target tumor cells based on several prodrug strategies. These include enzyme delivery by targeted gene therapy followed by prodrug activation within the tumor, activation of the drug by the hypoxic hypoxic a state of hypoxia. hypoxic cell sensitizers compounds that selectively sensitize hypoxic tumor cells to the effects of radiation. nature of most solid tumors, activation in conjunction with antibody targeting, and activation by radiation of the tumor site itself. The company has a number of drug candidates for each of these approaches. The company has agreements in place with research institutions in London, UK and Auckland, New Zealand to develop its technology platform. Proacta has licensed in technology discovered at The Institute of Cancer Research from Cancer Research Ventures in London and from Auckland UniServices Limited in New Zealand. For more information, call 425/527-4160 or visit http:///www.seagen.com |
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