BOTHELL, Wash. — Seattle Genetics and Takeda's cancer drug subsidiary have started a late-stage clinical trial for a lymphoma drug, the companies said Wednesday.

Seattle Genetics and Millennium announced the start of a phase-3 trial of Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin) in patients relapsed cutaneous T-cell lymphoma that expresses the CD30 cell membrane protein. The study will enroll more than 120 patients who will be divided into two groups, one of which will receive Adcetris and another that will receive methotrexate or bexarotene.

"We recognize this is a significant milestone in our efforts to explore the potential of this targeted therapy in other indications," Millennium chief medical officer Karen Ferrante said. "Looking forward, this study may support the potential to supplement therapeutic options for patients, from traditional systemic chemotherapy to Adcetris, a targeted therapy."

The companies also plan to start phase-3 trials of the drug in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma later this year or early next year.

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