Genmab Streamlines Portfolio, Discontinues Two ADCs from ProfoundBio Acquisition

Genmab, the Danish pharmaceutical company, has recently made significant changes to its drug development pipeline, particularly concerning assets acquired from ProfoundBio in a $1.8 billion deal last year. The company has discontinued two antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) while maintaining focus on its lead candidate from the acquisition.

Discontinuation of GEN1160 and GEN1107

Genmab has halted the development of GEN1160, an ADC that was in Phase I/II studies for blood cancers and solid tumors. The decision was attributed to slow enrollment in the clinical trial, which was assessing the drug's safety and efficacy. This move follows the earlier discontinuation of GEN1107, another ADC from the ProfoundBio acquisition, which was abandoned in September due to an unfavorable benefit-risk profile.

A Genmab spokesperson explained the decision, stating, "GEN1160 has been discontinued due to low enrollment in the clinical trial and in line with our portfolio prioritization strategy. This approach ensures we focus our resources on developing innovative antibody medicines with the greatest potential to make a meaningful impact for patients."

Rina-S Remains a Key Focus

Despite these setbacks, Genmab continues to pursue the development of rinatabart sesutecan (Rina-S), the centerpiece of the ProfoundBio acquisition. Rina-S is currently in late-stage development for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer.

Recent data presented at the 2025 European Society for Medical Oncology meeting showed promising results for Rina-S in endometrial cancer. In the Phase I/II RAINFOL-01 study, the drug demonstrated a 50% confirmed objective response rate over a median follow-up of one year in heavily pretreated patients. The study also documented two complete responses.

Similarly encouraging results were reported in March for ovarian cancer, with a Phase I/II study showing a confirmed objective response rate of 55.6% in heavily pretreated patients. The median duration of response had not been reached at the time of reporting.

Strategic Moves and Legal Challenges

Genmab's portfolio adjustments come amidst broader strategic moves in the oncology space. In September, the company acquired Merus for $8 billion, gaining access to the bispecific antibody petosemtamab. This drug has shown promising results in head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma, with a Phase II study reporting a 79% overall survival rate at 12 months and a 63% overall response rate when combined with Keytruda.

However, Genmab faces legal challenges related to its ADC development. AbbVie has filed a lawsuit alleging that ProfoundBio's ADC technology, now owned by Genmab, was built on stolen trade secrets. Genmab has stated it will "vigorously defend" against these claims, noting that several other companies have faced similar allegations from AbbVie.

As Genmab continues to refine its portfolio and navigate legal hurdles, the pharmaceutical industry watches closely to see how these developments will shape the future of ADC technology and cancer treatment.