Seagen Inc. (NASDAQ: SGEN) has entered an exclusive global licensing agreement with RemeGen Co Ltd to develop and commercialize disitamab vedotin, a proprietary HER2-targeted ADC.
Seagen and RemeGen partner on disitimab vedotin
Disitamab vedotin combines Seagen’s drug-linker technology with RemeGen’s new HER2 antibody, with a stronger affinity and an increased internalization rate than trastuzumab. Clinical studies have shown that disitamab vedotin has anticancer as a monotherapy in various solid tumors, including gastric, urothelial, and breast cancer, and across a range of HER2 expression levels. A PD-1 inhibitor was also shown to have promising combination activity in urothelial carcinoma. When combined with checkpoint inhibitors, vedotin-based immunogenic cell death (ICD) is thought to differentiate this class of ADCs.
Seagen CEO Clay Siegall said, “This collaboration leverages Seagen’s world-class expertise and knowledge of ADC development, manufacturing and commercialization to maximize the potential of disitamab vedotin. It also complements our existing franchises and our deep and diverse portfolio of innovative anti-cancer therapies for patients in need. The addition of disitamab vedotin as a late-stage asset with multiple development opportunities aligns strategically with our plans to continue expanding our global footprint and deliver meaningful therapies to patients around the world.”
Disitamab vedotin has Breakthrough Designation
Last year, the FDA granted disitamab vedotin Breakthrough Therapy designation for uses in the second-line treatment of HER2-expressing metastatic urothelial cancer patients who have previously received platinum-containing chemotherapy.
RemeGen CEO Jiamin Fang said, “Disitamab vedotin has demonstrated robust antitumor activity in multiple advanced cancers where no effective therapy is available. We are delighted to partner with Seagen to maximize the potential of disitamab vedotin and to make it available to patients worldwide. We believe this license agreement highlights the global potential of disitamab vedotin in the ADC arena and is a major milestone for us as we begin the journey to transform from a domestic to a global biopharmaceutical company.”
