CuraGen Corporation has exercised its option to designate a second antigen target under the parties' existing antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) collaboration, triggering a $1.0 million payment to Seattle Genetics. Seattle Genetics entered into the ADC collaboration with CuraGen in June 2004, at which time CuraGen paid an upfront fee of $2.0 million for access to the ADC technology for one antigen target, a release from Seattle Genetics, Inc said here.

Under the terms of the agreement, CuraGen has rights to use Seattle Genetics' ADC technology with antibodies against up to two targets selected by CuraGen. CuraGen also pays ongoing technology access and material supply fees and has agreed to make progress-dependent milestone payments and pay royalties on net sales of ADC products. CuraGen is responsible for research, product development, manufacturing and commercialization of any products resulting from the collaboration.

"ADCs are becoming an increasingly important aspect of antibody-based therapy development because the cytotoxic payloads they deliver and release within target cells can enhance the therapeutic potential of antibodies that have targeting ability but lack sufficient potency on their own," stated Clay B. Siegall, president and CEO of Seattle Genetics.

Timothy M. Shannon, executive VP of Research and Development at CuraGen says, "This technology is initially being used in CR011, an ADC being investigated as a potential treatment for metastatic melanoma. CR011 is expected to enter clinical trials in the first half of 2006 and broaden our pipeline of cancer drugs that includes two therapeutics currently in Phase II."