Genentech acquires potential cancer therapy from Protein Labs

The antibody-drug, originally licensed from Seattle Genetics by Protein is directed against the PR1 antigen, which is frequently differentially expressed in prostrate cancer patients.

Protein will receive an upfront licensing fee, and is entitled to receive milestone payments and royalties on future sales.

An antibody alone directed against this antigen could lack the ability to kill cancer cells without an attached cell-killing agent such as the potent auristatin derivatives utilized in Seattle Genetics’ ADC technology. By linking a drug to an antibody that targets PR1, it may be possible to identify new antibody-drug conjugate products to selectively kill prostate cancer cells while killing a lesser proportion of non-prostate cancer cells.

Seattle Genetics’ second-generation ADC technology utilizes the targeting ability of monoclonal antibodies to deliver potent, cell-killing payloads to specific cells. This ADC technology employs synthetic, highly potent drugs that can be attached to antibodies through proprietary linker systems.

The linkers are designed to be stable in the bloodstream but to release the drug payload under specific conditions once inside target cells, potentially sparing non-target cells many of the toxic effects of traditional chemotherapy. ADCs can increase the therapeutic potential of the many antibodies that possess targeting ability but no inherent cell-killing activity.

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the US, second only to lung cancer.