Seattle Genetics Receives U.S. Patent

Seattle Genetics has received a patent issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) relating to the company's antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology.

The patent covers the drug compound monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) and its variants, which Seattle Genetics utilizes with its proprietary linker technology to develop ADCs. By linking potent, cytotoxic drug payloads to monoclonal antibodies, ADCs can increase the therapeutic potential of antibodies that have inherent cell targeting ability.

Seattle Genetics' second-generation ADC technology uses the targeting ability of monoclonal antibodies to deliver potent, cell-killing payloads to specific cells. This ADC technology employs synthetic, highly potent drugs, such as MMAE, that can be attached to antibodies through proprietary linker systems. The linkers are designed to be stable in the bloodstream but to release the drug payload under specific conditions once inside target cells, potentially sparing non-target cells many of the toxic effects of traditional chemotherapy.