Seattle Genetics was started in 1998 by a group of likeminded professionals in the medical fraternity. Clay currently serves as the company’s chief executive. He is also on the company’s board thereby helping the company to grow greatly. He secured for the company $1.2 billion, most of it from the private sector, for expansion and research.

Seattle Genetics

Seattle Genetics is a company which specializes in medicine development, palliative care and scientific creativity. The company leads the way in the development of ‘antibody drug conjugates’. Seattle Genetics’ first product was approved by FDA giving the company the green light to develop its new drug: ADCENTRIS. The partnership Seattle has with Takeda Pharmaceuticals has made it possible for its products to reach over 60 countries.

Experience

Siegall was in ‘Bristol-Myers Pharmaceutical Research Institute’ before founding Seattle Genetics. He has also worked at the ‘National Institute of Health’ for three years. He sits in the ‘Alder BioPharmaceuticals board of directors. He also has a place on the ‘Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals board‘.

Accolades

Clay Siegall has been awarded for his contribution in the medical industry repeatedly. Clay has 15 patents and has written 70 papers in his field of specialty. He is the 2013 ‘Alumnus of the Year’ recipient from ‘University of Maryland’. Clay is also the 2012 recipient of the ‘Ernest & Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ award.

Academics

Siegall graduated from ‘University of Maryland’ with a major in Biology. He was intrigued by DNA and Heredity so much that he went back to class for his Ph.D at ‘George Washington University’, where he studied genetics.

Seattle Genetics’ Vision and Mission

Seattle Genetics is determined to find curative medicine for cancer. Clay was forced, as a child, to watch his dad suffer from cancer for five long years. This experience motivated him, and still does, to find a cure for the disease.

New Entrepreneurs

Clay’s advice to entrepreneurs who are new in the industry is that they should interact with shrewd entrepreneurs in the field. This networking will help them to establish themselves in the industry without too much loss and suffering experienced by upstarts.