Seattle Genetics Commences Phase 2 Clinical Trial of ADCETRIS

Seattle Genetics (NASDAQ:SGEN) announced the beginning of a phase 2 clinical trial for ADCETRIS, intended to treat the chronic autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus.
According to Seattle Genetics President and Chief Executive Officer Clay B. Siegall:

Lupus is a debilitating autoimmune disorder that can affect many of the body’s organ systems, causing a number of serious symptoms. Treatment options are limited, with few FDA-approved disease-modifying therapeutics available. Based on a retrospective review of information collected from patients being treated with ADCETRIS in the U.S. for lymphoma, we noted some patients reported clinical improvement of concomitant autoimmune diseases, including lupus. Since elevated CD30 expression has been previously reported in lupus patients, we are enthusiastic to evaluate ADCETRIS as a potential treatment option for this disease.

As quoted in the press release:

ADCETRIS is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) directed to CD30, which is expressed on activated lymphocytes that are thought to play a key role in the development of autoimmune diseases, including lupus. The trial is designed to assess the safety and activity of ADCETRIS in adult patients with lupus. ADCETRIS is currently not approved for the treatment of lupus.
[…] The study is a phase 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled dose-escalation clinical trial. The primary objective is evaluation of the safety of ADCETRIS in adults with active lupus. In addition, the trial will evaluate the activity and pharmacokinetics of ADCETRIS in lupus. ADCETRIS will be administered every three weeks and approximately 40 patients will be enrolled at multiple centers in the United States.

Click here to read the full press release.