Seattle Genetics testing Adcetris against non-lymphoma cancers

Seattle Genetics, maker of the recently FDA approved antibody drug conjugate Adcetris for Hodgkin's lymphoma and anaplastic large cell lymphoma, has announced that it has begun a phase II trial exploring the efficacy of Adcetris in cancers other than the approved indications.

Because Adcetris is an anti-CD30 drug, it makes sense that the company would want to assess the drug against other cancers known to express CD30 on the cell surface.

According to Thomas C. Reynolds, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer of Seattle Genetics, "There are reports in published literature of CD30 expression in multiple myeloma, several types of leukemia and solid tumors. Through both corporate-sponsored and investigator-sponsored trials, our development plan is designed to broadly evaluate the potential of Adcetris in many types of CD30-positive malignancies."

The company is therefore seeking to enroll patients with CD30-positive non-lymphoma malignancies who have failed, refused or have been deemed ineligible for standard therapy.

The trial's primary endpoint is characterization of the antitumor activity of Adcetris, and they expect to enroll 40 patients.