BioCentury
ARTICLE | Product Development

Generation next

July 11, 2005 7:00 AM UTC

It is not uncommon for biotech companies to use first-generation compounds for proof of principle, with the expectation that they may shelve them once better second-generation versions are ready for the clinic. Seattle Genetics Inc. made a similar decision last week, as it put its first-generation antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology on the shelf in order to focus on its pipeline of second-generation preclinical candidates.

SGN-15, the lead first-generation ADC, is composed of a MAb targeting the Lewis Y antigen that is chemically attached to doxorubicin. Last week, the company reported "encouraging" Phase II results for the compound in combination with Taxotere for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (see B10). ...