Seagen’s cancer drug research and collaborations have focused on the development of antibody drug conjugates. By licensing rights to a preclinical Lava Therapeutics asset, Seagen gets a shot to develop a different kind of antibody therapy that could compete against approved products from Johnson & Johnson and Takeda Pharmaceutical.
An Alzheimer’s disease drug from Athira Pharma has failed a Phase 2 clinical trial and the biotech has a surprising theory why. Athira says standard of care drugs Alzheimer’s patients are already taking may diminish the effect of its small molecule and this finding could inform how the company proceeds with an ongoing Phase 3 clinical trial.
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
The Seagen and Genmab antibody drug conjugate (ADC), named Tivdak, is approved to treat cases of cervical cancer that have returned or spread following treatment with chemotherapy. Tivdak is Seagen’s third ADC; for Genmab, the drug will become its first commercialized product.
One deal is a $4.2 billion development and commercialization partnership focused on ladiratuzumab vedotin, while the other would expand the reach of the breast cancer drug Tukysa.
The company is seeking approval for tucatinib, combined with two other drugs, for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer who have had at least three prior HER2-targeting therapies.
Topline data from the Phase II study of tucatinib showed the drug combined with an antibody-chemotherapy combination improved progression-free survival over the doublet by itself. Seattle Genetics acquired the drug when it bought Cascadian for $614 million last year.
At the Abarca Forward conference earlier this year, George Van Antwerp, managing director at Deloitte, discussed how social determinants of health and a personalized member experience can improve medication adherence and health outcomes.
Alder, based in a suburb of Seattle, has a monoclonal antibody that it has investigated as a treatment for migraine and is under FDA review, with the agency expected to decide on its approval in February of next year. Shares of Alder were up 83 percent on the news.