Seattle Genetics Receives Key U.S. Patents for SGN-40 Program

"These issued patents are the first in a series of applications we have
filed with the USPTO covering our SGN-40 program," stated Eric L.  Dobmeier, Vice President, Corporate Affairs and General Counsel of Seattle  Genetics. "We believe SGN-40 has significant therapeutic potential in  multiple types of cancer and immunologic diseases, and our expanding  intellectual property portfolio further strengthens this program."

SGN-40 is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets the CD40  antigen, which is expressed on most B-cell lineage hematologic  malignancies, including multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and  chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The company plans to report data from its  ongoing clinical trials of SGN-40 at the American Society of Clinical  Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in May 2005. Seattle Genetics is also  considering potential applications of SGN-40 in other indications such as  certain solid tumors and immunologic  diseases.