Seattle Genetics Announces Additions to Commercial Leadership Team

BOTHELL, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Seattle Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: SGEN) today announced the appointment of Chris Boerner, Ph.D. as Vice President, Marketing and Darren Cline as Vice President, Managed Markets. These appointments reflect the company’s continuing preparations for the planned commercialization of brentuximab vedotin (SGN-35). Seattle Genetics expects to submit a Biologics License Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for brentuximab vedotin in the first half of 2011.

Dr. Boerner brings broad experience in oncology product marketing, including pre-launch planning and on-market commercialization. Mr. Cline has over 20 years of sales and marketing experience, including senior managed markets roles in leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

“These important additions to our commercial team allow us to continue to successfully position Seattle Genetics for the planned launch of brentuximab vedotin,” said Bruce J. Seeley, Executive Vice President, Commercial. “Chris brings to Seattle Genetics experience in brand planning, life-cycle management and long-term commercial strategy development, including marketing leadership on Avastin® (bevacizumab) at Genentech, overseeing all U.S. commercial activities for the breast and ovarian cancer markets. Darren has extensive oncology experience from senior sales and marketing positions at Amgen and Alexion, and brings to Seattle Genetics an important understanding of managed markets and the U.S. healthcare system that will be key to the launch of brentuximab vedotin.”

Chris Boerner spent more than eight years at Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, where he served in a variety of commercial roles, including Director of Marketing on Avastin and Director of Avastin franchise management. Additionally, he served in a variety of marketing roles across multiple disease areas, including immunology and lymphoma. Dr. Boerner joined Genentech from McKinsey & Company, a global strategic management consulting firm. He most recently was Vice President of Marketing at Dendreon. Dr. Boerner received his Ph.D. and M.A. in Business Administration from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, and holds an A.B. in Economics and History from Washington University in St. Louis.

Darren Cline served most recently as Vice President, Market Access at Intermune, where he was responsible for obtaining managed markets access and coverage for the anticipated launch of pirfenidone. Prior to Intermune, Mr. Cline served for three years as Executive Director of Sales at Alexion, where he played an integral role in the successful launch of Soliris® (eculizumab) in the United States. Before that, he spent more than 10 years at Amgen in sales, marketing and managed markets leadership positions. Mr. Cline received a Bachelors of Science degree in Marketing from San Diego State University and an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA.

About Seattle Genetics

Seattle Genetics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of monoclonal antibody-based therapies for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune disease. The company recently reported positive top-line data from both a pivotal Hodgkin lymphoma trial and phase II systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma trial with its lead product candidate, brentuximab vedotin, and plans to submit a BLA to the FDA in the first half of 2011. Brentuximab vedotin is being developed in collaboration with Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company. In addition, Seattle Genetics has four other clinical-stage programs: SGN-75, ASG-5ME, dacetuzumab (SGN-40) and SGN-70. Seattle Genetics has collaborations for its ADC technology with a number of leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, including Bayer, Celldex Therapeutics, Daiichi Sankyo, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company 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 plan to submit a Biologics License Application for brentuximab vedotin. 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 the safety and/or efficacy results of the pivotal clinical trial of brentuximab vedotin for relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and the phase II clinical trial of brentuximab vedotin for relapsed or refractory systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma may not support an application for marketing approval in the United States or any other country. More information about the risks and uncertainties faced by Seattle Genetics is contained in the company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 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.



CONTACT:

Seattle Genetics, Inc.
Peggy Pinkston
(425) 527-4160
[email protected]

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Washington

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:   Health  Biotechnology  Oncology  Pharmaceutical

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