SEA technology to increase potency of monoclonal antibodies

Sep 23 2009

Seattle Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq:SGEN) announced today the introduction of its sugar engineered antibody (SEA) technology, a novel approach to increasing the potency of monoclonal antibodies through enhanced effector function. The technology will be presented today by Dennis Benjamin, Ph.D., Senior Director, Chemistry, during the Americas Antibody Congress being held in Washington, DC.

“We are committed to playing a leadership role in the field of empowered antibodies, including both our proprietary antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) and enhanced effector function technologies,” said Clay B. Siegall, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Seattle Genetics. “Together, our ADC and SEA technologies provide us with alternative approaches to increase the potency of antibodies, allowing us to determine the most suitable technology based on the antibody, disease and expression profile of the target.”

Seattle Genetics’ SEA technology comprises modified sugars that inhibit the incorporation of fucose into the carbohydrate chains of monoclonal antibodies, resulting in enhanced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity in preclinical models. Significantly, the modified sugars can be readily added to standard cell culture media, without impacting manufacturing processes and while maintaining yields and reproducible product quality. Seattle Genetics believes its SEA technology is simpler and less expensive as compared to existing technologies for enhancing antibody effector function because it can be applied to existing cell lines without cell line re-engineering. In model systems, the technology has been shown to be applicable across a range of antibodies and antibody-producing cell lines. Seattle Genetics has filed a patent application covering its novel SEA technology. The company intends to employ the SEA technology in its internal early-stage pipeline as well as consider collaborations with other companies.

Monoclonal antibodies possessing enhanced effector function are an emerging area of therapeutic research. There are at least 10 ADCC-enhanced antibodies in clinical trials using a variety of technologies. ADCC functions by recruiting the body’s immune system to attack and kill target cells and is an important contributor to monoclonal antibody potency.