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Seattle Genetics Appoints Vice President, Corporate Development and Announces Management Promotion

^{Published on 2011-04-18 06:10:14 - Market Wire}
 

BOTHELL, Wash.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Seattle Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: SGEN) today announced the appointment of Natasha Hernday as Vice President, Corporate Development. Ms. Hernday brings 10 years of experience in business and corporate development, including in-licensing, out-licensing and mergers and acquisitions. In addition, the company announced the promotion of Eric Sievers, M.D., to Vice President, Clinical Affairs. Dr. Sievers joined Seattle Genetics in 2006, and has played a key leadership role in the companya™s brentuximab vedotin (SGN-35) program, including the recent Biologics License Application (BLA) submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

"These skills will contribute significantly to Seattle Genetics as we transition to a commercial organization, evaluate licensing and co-development opportunities that leverage our antibody-drug conjugate technology, and fortify our pipeline through strategic collaborations involving novel targets, technologies and programs."

aNatasha has broad experience in a variety of biotechnology and pharmaceutical business development transactions combined with demonstrated leadership acumen,a said Eric L. Dobmeier, Chief Business Officer of Seattle Genetics. aThese skills will contribute significantly to Seattle Genetics as we transition to a commercial organization, evaluate licensing and co-development opportunities that leverage our antibody-drug conjugate technology, and fortify our pipeline through strategic collaborations involving novel targets, technologies and programs.a

Prior to Seattle Genetics, Ms. Hernday spent more than 16 years at Amgen, including roles of increasing responsibility in research, research project management and business development finance, before joining the corporate development group in 2000.While in corporate development, Ms. Hernday was a senior member of the mergers and acquisitions team for approximately seven years, followed by two years building and leading Amgena™s out-licensing efforts. Prior to that, she was a business partner supporting Amgena™s product in-licensing activities. Ms. Hernday received a B.A. in Biology from University of California Santa Barbara and an M.B.A from Pepperdine University.

aEric has achieved numerous accomplishments during his nearly five years at Seattle Genetics, perhaps the most notable being his role in the direction, planning and oversight of our clinical development activities for brentuximab vedotin,a said Thomas C. Reynolds, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer of Seattle Genetics. aHe possesses true passion for helping patients and a commitment to collaborating with oncologists who are in need of new and better therapies to treat cancer.a

Dr. Sievers joined Seattle Genetics in July 2006, serving most recently as Executive Medical Director. From 2003 to 2006, he served as Medical Director at Zymogenetics (acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb in 2010). Dr. Sievers performed his training in pediatric hematology and oncology at the University of Washington and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and served on the faculty of both institutions for more than a decade. He received both a B.A. in Biology and an M.D. from Brown University.

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. In February 2010, the company submitted a Biologics License Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its lead product candidate, brentuximab vedotin, for the treatment of relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). 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 antibody-drug conjugate (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 companya™s plan to become a commercial organization and potential for additional strategic collaborations. 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 brentuximab vedotin pivotal trial in relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and phase II trial in relapsed or refractory systemic ALCL will not be sufficient to gain 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 companya™s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 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.