$Seattle Genetics(SGEN)$ We think Seattle Genetics' proprietary technology, robust product pipeline, and near-term revenue potential help its stand out among its development-stage peers.
Seattle Genetics has received marketing approval for its first product Adcetris, an anti-CD30, antibody-based therapy. Mirroring the strategy of mega-blockbuster Rituxan (which targets CD20), Seattle Genetics plans to target CD30-positive cancers and will charge a high price tag for Adcetris due to strong efficacy in these patients. The company maintains sole rights to Adcetris' sales in North America and has outlicensed marketing rights abroad to Millennium in exchange for licensing and milestone payments as well as double-digit royalties on potential sales. Millennium also shares in the development costs for the drug, and we think Seattle Genetics' broad clinical program for the candidate, including planned trials in earlier lines of therapy and other CD30-positive malignancies, eventually could bring in more than $1 billion in annual sales.