Seattle Genetics Starts Clinical Trial of SGN-70 For Autoimmune Disease

Luke Timmerman7/31/08

Seattle Genetics, the Bothell, WA-based developer of targeted antibody drugs, said today it has started an early-stage clinical trial to look at safety of SGN-70 in 60 healthy volunteers. The drug is designed to block CD70, a protein found in abundance on activated white blood cells, but not resting cells. The target has been linked to autoimmune disorders, in which the immune system goes haywire and attacks healthy tissues. Seattle Genetics (NASDAQ: SGEN) is also developing antibodies for cancer, including SGN-35, which we profiled last month.

Luke Timmerman is the National Biotech Editor of Xconomy, and the Editor of Xconomy Seattle. E-mail him at ltimmerman@xconomy.com or follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ldtimmerman.