US-based biotechnology company Seattle Genetics has announced that it has gained the Health Canada's Notice of Compliance with conditions (NOC/c) for marketing its ADCETRIS ((Brentuximab Vedotin)) drug used in treating two lymphoma indications.

The firm's ADCETRIS is the first in a new class of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) used for the Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) and Systemic Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (sALCL)

The monoclonal antibody is connected to a cell-killing agent by a linker system that is designed to be stable in the bloodstream but to release the cell-killing agent into CD30-expressing cells, resulting in target cell death.

The CD30 antigen is known to be expressed on the Reed-Sternberg cells of HL and on sALCL, an aggressive type of T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Seattle Genetics president and chief executive officer Clay Siegall said the firm is planning to make ADCETRIS available globally to all eligible patients with relapsed HL and sALCL.

"The approval of ADCETRIS in Canada, as well as the recent approval in the European Union, are important milestones to accomplish this goal," Siegall added.

"Now that Health Canada has approved ADCETRIS, we are committed to working closely with public and private insurers to secure reimbursement coverage for patients in Canada."