Danish biotech company Genmab has announced it will discontinue the clinical development of its experimental cancer therapy acasunlimab, a late-stage treatment for solid tumors including metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. The decision, part of a wider strategic portfolio review, comes as the firm pivots its focus to other late-stage oncology assets that it believes offer greater potential benefit for both patients and investors.
Acasunlimab, a bispecific antibody designed to activate immune responses by targeting the 4-1BB receptor on T cells and natural killer cells, had shown encouraging early data and was being developed for serious cancers. Genmab assumed full responsibility for the therapy’s development in 2024 after its former partner, BioNTech, opted out of the collaboration.
Despite initial promise, the company concluded that its broader late-stage pipeline offers more compelling opportunities. Genmab intends to concentrate resources on three key programs: Epkinly (epcoritamab), petosemtamab, and rinatabart sesutecan. These candidates are advancing through significant stages of clinical development and are seen as potentially more impactful therapies for cancer patients.
Epkinly is already progressing in late-stage trials, and Genmab’s confidence in it reflects its commitment to targeted immunotherapies that have shown strong clinical interest. Petosemtamab was acquired through a major acquisition of Dutch biotech Merus and holds promise in treating head and neck cancers. Genmab’s recent takeover of Merus has expanded its oncology pipeline and strengthened its foothold in innovative cancer treatments.
Rinatabart sesutecan, another late-stage project in Genmab’s portfolio, is being tested for ovarian and endometrial cancers as an antibody-drug conjugate. This class of therapies aims to combine the specificity of antibodies with potent cancer-killing agents, offering a precision approach that has gained attention in oncology research.
In a statement, Genmab’s CEO Jan van de Winkel said the decision follows a careful assessment of the evolving competitive landscape and internal prioritization guidelines. Although early trial data for acasunlimab had been promising, leadership believes that focusing on other programs will deliver the greatest benefit for patients and shareholders.
Importantly, the decision to end acasunlimab’s development will not affect Genmab’s full-year financial forecast for 2025. The company emphasized that it remains well-positioned to execute its strategy and bring forward other critical therapies.
The market reacted modestly to the news, with Genmab’s U.S.-listed shares trading slightly lower in premarket activity. While discontinuing a late-stage program can raise concerns about pipeline risk, analysts often view strategic refocusing as necessary in the competitive biotech sector, where companies must balance long-term potential against resource allocation.
Genmab’s shift underscores a broader trend in the industry. Many firms periodically reassess portfolios to prioritize therapies with higher probability of success or greater unmet medical need. By reallocating capital and effort to Epkinly, petosemtamab, and rinatabart sesutecan, Genmab is betting on treatments that could yield meaningful clinical results and broader patient impact in the coming years. GlobeNewswire
This strategic move comes against a backdrop of intense competition in cancer therapy development, where bispecific antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates are among the innovations gaining significant attention from both regulators and clinicians. Genmab’s refocused pipeline reflects confidence in these areas while acknowledging the challenges inherent in late-stage oncology research. GlobeNewswire
