Updated with new information. SAN FRANCISCO (TheStreet) -- The use of Seattle Genetics' (SGEN) Adcetris as a maintenance therapy after a stem-cell transplant in "high risk" Hodgkin lymphoma patients led to a 20 percentage point improvement in relapse rates compared to a placebo after two years of follow-up, researchers reported Saturday. The new Adcetris data comes from a phase III study known as AETHERA, which is being presented in full at the American Society of Hematology annual meeting underway here. Next year, Seattle Genetics intends to seek approval from regulators to expand the use of Adcetris into a larger pool of Hodgkin lymphoma patients based on the AETHERA study results. Must Read: Jim Cramers 4 Best Stock Picks for the Health Care Sector See more here: Seattle Genetics Makes Case for Expanded Use of Adcetris as Lymphoma Maintenance Therapy … Continue reading →

By RTT News, December 06, 2014, 11:20:00 AM EDT (RTTNews.com) - Seattle Genetics, Inc. ( SGEN ) and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited reported data demonstrating that Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients at risk of relapse following an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) who received ADCETRIS (brentuximab vedotin) as consolidation therapy immediately after ASCT had significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) compared to patients who received placebo (median of 43 months versus 24 months, respectively; hazard ratio=0.57; p-value=0.001). ADCETRIS is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) directed to CD30, a defining marker of classical HL. ADCETRIS has been approved in more than 45 countries for the treatment of relapsed or refractory HL and systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL). ADCETRIS is currently not approved in the AETHERA treatment setting. The Phase 3 AETHERA trial was designed to evaluate the potential of single agent ADCETRIS to extend PFS post-ASCT in patients with HL who have at least one risk factor for progression. In addition to the primary endpoint of PFS, secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), safety and tolerability. A total of 329 HL patients at risk of relapse were enrolled, including 165 on the ADCETRIS arm and 164 on the placebo arm. Patients received … Continue reading →