BOTHELL, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Seattle Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: SGEN) announced today that Nancy A. Simonian, M.D. has been appointed to the company’s Board of Directors. Dr. Simonian is a biotechnology veteran with more than 16 years of global drug development experience, most recently as Chief Medical Officer at Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company.
“Nancy brings significant experience in all aspects of clinical development, regulatory affairs and medical research, as well as program management and strategic prioritization of product portfolios,” said Clay B. Siegall, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Seattle Genetics. “She is a valuable addition to our Board as we continue executing on our broad clinical development program for ADCETRIS™ and advancing our pipeline of clinical and preclinical products aimed at improving treatments for people with cancer.”
“This is an exciting time at Seattle Genetics, with the August 2011 FDA approval of ADCETRIS in two relapsed lymphomas, the many ongoing and planned clinical trials to evaluate ADCETRIS in a wide range of CD30-positive malignancies and a robust pipeline of other oncology assets,” said Dr. Simonian. “I look forward to working with the Board and the management team to maximize the potential of Seattle Genetics’ antibody-drug conjugate technology, collaborations and value to patients.”
Nancy Simonian is currently an independent consultant to the biotechnology industry. From 2001 to 2011 she was at Millennium where she led clinical and regulatory activities supporting the development and product approvals for all oncology programs, including Velcade® as well as drugs for inflammation and cardiovascular diseases. She also chaired the portfolio review committee responsible for all development investments. Before Millennium, she was Vice President of Clinical Research at Biogen (now Biogen Idec) where she was responsible for clinical development and medical affairs of the neurology and oncology pipeline, including Avonex® and Tysabri®. Dr. Simonian currently serves on the board of directors of the Personalized Medicine Coalition. Prior to joining the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Simonian was on the faculty of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School as an assistant professor of neurology. She received a B.A. in Biology from Princeton University and an M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School.
About Seattle Genetics
Seattle Genetics is a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of monoclonal antibody-based therapies for the treatment of cancer. The FDA granted accelerated approval of ADCETRIS in August 2011 for two indications. ADCETRIS is being developed in collaboration with Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company. In addition, Seattle Genetics has three other clinical-stage ADC programs: SGN-75, ASG-5ME and ASG-22ME. Seattle Genetics has collaborations for its ADC technology with a number of leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, including Abbott, Bayer, Celldex Therapeutics, Daiichi Sankyo, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Millennium, Pfizer and Progenics, as well as ADC co-development agreements with Agensys, an affiliate of Astellas, and Genmab. More information can be found at www.seattlegenetics.com.
Certain of the statements made in this press release are forward-looking, such as those, among others, relating to the company’s plans for clinical trials with ADCETRIS and other programs. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected or implied in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include, among others, that adverse events adversely affect the ability to successfully conduct planned clinical trials. More information about the risks and uncertainties faced by Seattle Genetics is contained in the company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Seattle Genetics disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.