Celera Genomics Group, an Applera Corporation business, and Seattle Genetics Inc have formed a strategic collaboration to jointly discover and develop antibody-based therapies for cancer. Products developed under the collaboration may include either monoclonal antibodies or antibodies linked to potent cell-killing payloads utilizing Seattle Genetics' antibody-drug-conjugate (ADC) technology, Celear said in a release.

Under the terms of the multi-year agreement, Celera Genomics and Seattle Genetics will jointly designate a number of cell-surface proteins discovered and validated through Celera Genomics' proprietary proteomic platform as antigen targets. Seattle Genetics will carry out initial screening to generate and select the appropriate corresponding antibodies or ADCs for joint development and commercialization. Celera Genomics and Seattle Genetics will co-fund preclinical and clinical product development and will share any profits resulting from collaboration products. Either party may opt out of co-development of a particular product and receive royalties on net sales. Celera Genomics will also pay progress-dependent commercialization milestones to Seattle Genetics for any co-developed ADCs. Other terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"Seattle Genetics possesses the strong combination of proprietary technology and practical experience we have been seeking in an antibody co-development partner," said Kathy Ordoñez, president, Celera Genomics. "We believe a number of the differentially-expressed cell-surface proteins identified through Celera's proteomics research can be effectively targeted with antibodies or ADCs derived from Seattle Genetics' technology. In addition to major ADC collaborations and licenses, Seattle Genetics has itself demonstrated the potential of this technology by advancing multiple ADC compounds into development," he added.

"Celera Genomics has a large portfolio of high quality, validated targets, which is a unique and valuable asset," stated Clay B Siegall, president and C EO at Seattle Genetics. He added, "This alliance provides a range of opportunities to develop therapeutics against these targets by utilizing Seattle Genetics' expertise in antibody technologies, including our industry-leading ADC technology. The complementary strengths of the two companies make this an ideal product development collaboration."

Celera Genomics will contribute a subset of the cell surface antigens that it has identified and validated from its ongoing proteomic studies to the alliance. Celera Genomics has been studying four cancers that present some of the greatest unmet medical needs facing our healthcare system: pancreatic, lung, colon and breast cancer. Seattle Genetics brings to the collaboration considerable expertise in antibody-based drug development, including both monoclonal antibodies and ADCs.

Seattle Genetics has developed leading edge ADC technology employing synthetic, highly potent drugs that can be attached to antibodies through proprietary linker systems. The linkers are stable in the bloodstream and release the drug payload once inside target tumour cells. ADCs can increase the therapeutic potential of the many antibodies with targeting ability but limited or no inherent cell-killing activity. ADCs in Seattle Genetics' product pipeline include its phase II ADC SGN-15 for lung cancer and its preclinical ADCs SGN-35 and SGN-75.