Seattle Genetics, Inc.,  a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative antibody-based therapies for the treatment of cancer, announced that its collaborator, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Takeda), has received approval of Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin) from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for the treatment of patients with CD30-positive relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). As a result, Seattle Genetics will receive two milestone payments from Takeda totalling $9 million upon final pricing agreement in Japan. Adcetris is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) directed to CD30, a defining marker of classical HL and known to be expressed in some types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, including ALCL.

“Until now, patients in Japan with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma or ALCL had few therapeutic treatment options, and the approval of Adcetris represents a significant milestone in making this innovative targeted therapy available to these patients in need,” said Clay B. Siegall, president and chief executive officer of Seattle Genetics. “Adcetris is now approved in 39 countries, and we continue to work with our collaborator, Takeda, to expand regulatory approvals globally. Through both our regulatory activities and robust clinical development program, our goal is to establish Adcetris as the foundation of therapy worldwide for patients with CD30-positive malignancies.”

The approval of the new drug application was based on two global pivotal phase 2 clinical trials of Adcetris, as well as a phase 1/2 clinical trial conducted in Japan, for patients with relapsed or refractory CD30-positive HL and ALCL. In March 2012, the Japanese MHLW granted Adcetris orphan drug designation for the treatment of patients with HL and ALCL, which triggered priority review in Japan.

Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin) is an ADC comprising an anti-CD30 monoclonal antibody attached by a protease-cleavable linker to a microtubule disrupting agent, monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), utilizing Seattle Genetics’ proprietary technology. The ADC employs a linker system that is designed to be stable in the bloodstream but to release MMAE upon internalization into CD30-expressing tumor cells.

Adcetris for intravenous injection received accelerated approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and approval with conditions from Health Canada for two indications: (1) the treatment of patients with HL after failure of autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) or after failure of at least two prior multi-agent chemotherapy regimens in patients who are not ASCT candidates, and (2) the treatment of patients with sALCL after failure of at least one prior multi-agent chemotherapy regimen. The indications for Adcetris are based on response rate. There are no data available demonstrating improvement in patient-reported outcomes or survival with Adcetris.

Adcetris was granted conditional marketing authorization by the European Commission in October 2012 for two indications: (1) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory CD30-positive HL following autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT), or following at least two prior therapies when ASCT or multi-agent chemotherapy is not a treatment option, and (2) the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory sALCL. Adcetris has received marketing authorization by regulatory authorities in more than 35 countries. See important safety information below.

Seattle Genetics and Takeda are jointly developing Adcetris. Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, Seattle Genetics has US and Canadian commercialization rights and Takeda has rights to commercialize Adcetris in the rest of the world. Seattle Genetics and Takeda are funding joint development costs for Adcetris on a 50:50 basis, except in Japan where Takeda will be solely responsible for development costs. Seattle Genetics is entitled to royalties based on a percentage of Takeda's net sales in its territory at rates that range from the mid-teens to the mid-twenties based on sales volume, subject to offsets for royalties paid by Takeda to third parties.