Pfizer last month spent $43 billion to acquire a biotech company β with projected 2023 sales of $2.2 billion β that develops cancer drugs.
Seagen, formerly Seattle Genetics, specializes in working with antibody-drug conjugate, or ADC, technology. Its primary drugs are designed to use monoclonal antibodies to deliver anti-cancer agents to tumors while limiting damage to surrounding tissue.
The deal had been in the works since early 2023, but Pfizer had to clear several hurdles in the regulatory process to address the antitrust concerns raised by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). To satisfy the FTC, Pfizer agreed to donate royalties from its existing bladder cancer drug, Bavencio, to the American Association for Cancer Research.
Prior to the acquisition, Seagen had four cancer drugs on the market β Adcetris, Padcev, Tivdak and Tukysa β approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Bothell, Washington-based company also had several other drugs in development.
Wiseman told The Defender there were also several other possible mechanisms. One could be the SV40 promoter in the DNA contaminants, about which he co-authored a paper, available as a preprint, with McKernan. He said the genomic integration of the modified RNA through reverse transcription could also be a mechanism, or the spike protein itself could be linked to cancers.
He said more research is needed to confirm whether such a link exists and the mechanisms behind it.
