Genmab cabinets Part III lung most cancers candidate
Genmab has discontinued improvement of acasunlimab, a bispecific antibody that was in mid and late-stage trials for strong tumours, together with non-small cell lung most cancers (NSCLC).
Genmab remained transient on particulars, saying the choice was made as a part of a “strategic give attention to essentially the most worth‑creating alternatives” in its pipeline. The pharma firm additionally carried out a “thorough evaluation of the evolving aggressive panorama”, which resulted within the acasunlimab programme being axed. The pipeline prioritisation transfer just isn’t anticipated to impression the corporate’s full‑12 months 2025 monetary steering.
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Whereas Genmab said that the most cancers candidate’s medical profile has been encouraging, the corporate will as an alternative pivot its focus to different oncology antibodies. This contains Epkinly (epcoritamab), petosemtamab and rinatabart sesutecan (Rina‑S), that are in late-stage trials. The corporate solely gained entry to petosemtamab lately through its $8bn acquisition of Merus in September.
Genmab’s CEO Jan van de Winkel mentioned: “Though the information have been encouraging, the compelling alternatives we see in our late‑stage pipeline led us to focus our investments the place we imagine we will ship the best profit for sufferers and shareholders.”
In 2024, Genmab assumed full improvement and commercialisation rights to acasunlimab after its collaboration companion BioNTech determined to not advance the asset. Acasunlimab is a bispecific antibody designed to produce an anti-tumour response by concentrating on each PD-L1 and 4-1BB.
Till now, acasunlimab was being evaluated together with MSD’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab) for NSCLC teratment in a Part III trial (NCT06635824). Information from a Part II trial on this affected person inhabitants reported in June 2024 demonstrated a 12-month median general survival (OS) of 17.5 months.
Acasunlimab was additionally in Part II improvement for melanoma and Part I improvement for strong tumours.
William Blair analyst Matt Phipps mentioned: “We imagine that is the correct resolution, given latest deterioration of the general survival curve from the Part II trial with longer follow-up, and it doesn’t detract from what we view as among the best alternatives in large-cap biotech going into 2026, with key pivotal readouts for Epkinly, Rina-S, and petosemtamab. With potential for $8bn in mixed peak gross sales for the corporate’s three lead belongings, we see important upside for Genmab.”
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