Timeline of key events in Seattle Genetics

The company was set up by Perry Fell and Clay Siegall. The two scientists founded Seattle Genetics after their former employer, Bristol-Myers Squibb cuts its antibody cancer research programme.1998-01-01T00:00:00+00001998-01-01T00:00:00+0000The company secured $1million Angel investment from a former Bristol-Myers Squibb executive and $6.5 million in its first round of venture capital funding. 1998-01-01T00:00:00+0000Among its investors were Vulcan Ventures (Paul Allen) and Cascade Investment (Bill Gates). 1999-01-01T00:00:00+0000Genentech agreed to help Seattle Genetics develop SGN-40, one of its drugs for CD40 positive cancers. Under the deal Genentech made an upfront payment of $60 million to Seattle Genetics and agreed to make milestone payments in excess of $800 million and double-digit royalties on any sales.1999-01-01T00:00:00+0000The technology allowed for the development of antibody drug conjugates.2001-01-01T00:00:00+00002001-03-01T00:00:00+00002003-01-01T00:00:00+0000Four of the drugs were in Phase I, four in Phase II and one in Phase III trials.2005-01-01T00:00:00+0000Seattle genetics had been developing the drug with Genentech. 2009-01-01T00:00:00+0000The partnership ended because of lack of progress with the drug SGN-40.2009-10-01T00:00:00+0000The partnership allowed for Takeda to obtain overseas approvals for brentuximab vedotin.2009-12-01T00:00:00+00002011-02-01T00:00:00+00002011-07-01T00:00:00+00002011-08-01T00:00:00+0000The drug was developed by Genentech using the antibody drug conjugate technology it licensed from Seattle Genetics. The drug was to be used in combination with bendamustine plus Rituxan for relapsed and refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. 2017-02-01T00:00:00+0000The drug was developed by Seattle Genetics with Astellas Pharma. 2018-03-01T00:00:00+0000First discovered by Array Biopharma and then licensed to Cascadian Therapeutics, tucatinib is designed to target HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) ‘tyrosine kinase inhibitor’ (TKI), an enzyme that helps to promote the growth of tumors in HER2 positive cancers.2018-03-01T00:00:00+00002018-07-01T00:00:00+00002019-06-01T00:00:00+0000
Date Event People Places Sciences
January 1998Seattle Genetics founded Fell, SiegallSeattle GeneticsMonoclonal antibodies, Oncology
1998Seattle Genetics licensed patents from Bristol-Myers Squibb Seattle GeneticsMonoclonal antibodies, Oncology
1998Seattle Genetics secured its first round of investment Seattle Genetics 
1999Seattle Genetics raised $30 million from a number of private investment firms Seattle Genetics 
1999Seattle Genetics and Genentech partnership signed Seattle Genetics, GenentechMonoclonal antibodies, Oncology
2001Seattle Genetics began licensing out its technology to other companies Seattle GeneticsMonoclonal antibodies, Oncology
March 2001Seattle Genetics raised approximately $51 million through its Initial Public Offering Seattle GeneticsMonoclonal antibodies
2003Seattle Genetics launched its clinical trials with brentuximab vedotin Seattle Genetics 
2005 - 2018Seattle Genetics discontinued work on 9 drug candidates  Seattle Genetics 
2009First drug developed by Seattle Genetics, SG40, failed phase IIb trial Seattle Genetics, GenentechMonoclonal antibodies, Oncology
October 2009Genentech ended its drug development partnership with Seattle Genetics Seattle Genetics, GenentechMonoclonal antibodies, Oncology
December 2009Seattle Genetics partnered with Takeda Oncology Company  Seattle Genetics, TakedaMonoclonal antibodies, Oncology
February 2011Seattle Genetics submitted a Biologics License Application to the FDA for the approval of brentuximab vedotin Seattle GeneticsMonoclonal antibodies, Oncology
July 2011Phase I clinical trials launched for enfortumab vedotin by Seattle Genetics with Agenys/Asterllas Pharma Seattle Genetics, Astellas PharmaMonoclonal antibodies, Oncology
August 2011Seattle Genetics won FDA approval for its first drug - brentuximab vedotin (Adecetris) Seattle GeneticsMonoclonal antibodies, Oncology
February 2017FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy designation and Priority Review for polatuzumab vedotin  Seattle Genetics, GenentechMonoclonal antibodies, Oncology
March 2018FDA granted drug breakthrough therapy designation to enfortumab vedotin for treating metastatic urothelial cancer Seattle Genetics, Astellas PharmaMonoclonal antibodies, Oncology
March 2018Seattle paid $614.1 million to acquire rights to tucatinib from Cascadian Therapeutics Seattle Genetics, Cascadian TherapeuticsOncology
July 2018Seattle Genetics and Astellas Pharma launched global phase III trials for enfortumab vedotin for treating bladder cancer Seattle Genetics, Astellas PharmaMonoclonal antibodies, Oncology
June 2019Genentech granted FDA approval for polatuzumab vedotin, an antibody drug conjugate developed using Seattle Genetics' technology Seattle Genetics, GenentechMonoclonal antibodies, Oncology

Jan 1998

Seattle Genetics founded

1998

Seattle Genetics licensed patents from Bristol-Myers Squibb

1998

Seattle Genetics secured its first round of investment

1999

Seattle Genetics raised $30 million from a number of private investment firms

1999

Seattle Genetics and Genentech partnership signed

2001

Seattle Genetics began licensing out its technology to other companies

Mar 2001

Seattle Genetics raised approximately $51 million through its Initial Public Offering

2003

Seattle Genetics launched its clinical trials with brentuximab vedotin

2005 - 2018

Seattle Genetics discontinued work on 9 drug candidates

2009

First drug developed by Seattle Genetics, SG40, failed phase IIb trial

Oct 2009

Genentech ended its drug development partnership with Seattle Genetics

Dec 2009

Seattle Genetics partnered with Takeda Oncology Company

Feb 2011

Seattle Genetics submitted a Biologics License Application to the FDA for the approval of brentuximab vedotin

Jul 2011

Phase I clinical trials launched for enfortumab vedotin by Seattle Genetics with Agenys/Asterllas Pharma

Aug 2011

Seattle Genetics won FDA approval for its first drug - brentuximab vedotin (Adecetris)

Feb 2017

FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy designation and Priority Review for polatuzumab vedotin

Mar 2018

FDA granted drug breakthrough therapy designation to enfortumab vedotin for treating metastatic urothelial cancer

Mar 2018

Seattle paid $614.1 million to acquire rights to tucatinib from Cascadian Therapeutics

Jul 2018

Seattle Genetics and Astellas Pharma launched global phase III trials for enfortumab vedotin for treating bladder cancer

Jun 2019

Genentech granted FDA approval for polatuzumab vedotin, an antibody drug conjugate developed using Seattle Genetics' technology

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