Genmab Discontinues ADC from ProfoundBio Acquisition, Citing Inadequate Benefit-Risk Profile

Genmab, a prominent player in the pharmaceutical industry, has made the decision to discontinue GEN1107, an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) acquired through its $1.8 billion acquisition of ProfoundBio last year. The company cited an inadequate benefit-risk profile as the primary reason for halting development of the drug candidate.

Clinical Trial Termination and Ongoing Programs

The phase 1/2 clinical trial for GEN1107, which targeted protein tyrosine kinase 7 (PTK7), was terminated on August 18, 2025. The study had enrolled 33 patients with various advanced solid tumors, including ovarian, endometrial, triple-negative breast, non-small cell lung, gastroesophageal, and urothelial cancers.

Despite this setback, Genmab continues to develop other assets obtained from the ProfoundBio acquisition. A company spokesperson confirmed ongoing work on rinatabart sesutecan (Rina-S), an investigational ADC designed to deliver a topoisomerase-1 inhibitor to cells expressing folate receptor alpha (FRα). Rina-S is currently being evaluated in clinical trials for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer.

Additionally, Genmab is proceeding with the development of GEN1160, a CD70-targeted ADC in trials for advanced renal cell carcinoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The company also maintains its focus on preclinical assets acquired from ProfoundBio.

Legal Challenges and Industry Competition

The pharmaceutical landscape surrounding ADCs targeting FRα has become increasingly competitive, with companies like AbbVie making significant investments in the field. AbbVie's $10 billion acquisition of Immunogen for the FRα drug Elahere underscores the potential value of this therapeutic approach.

However, Genmab's ADC programs have not been without controversy. In March, AbbVie filed a lawsuit against Genmab, alleging that ProfoundBio used proprietary information from a former AbbVie scientist to develop its ADCs. The lawsuit specifically mentions GEN1107 and Rina-S. AbbVie claims that Genmab was "intentionally and willfully blind" to the alleged theft of trade secrets.

Genmab has strongly refuted these claims and has vowed to "vigorously defend" itself against the allegations. The ongoing legal dispute adds another layer of complexity to Genmab's ADC development efforts and highlights the intense competition and high stakes in the pharmaceutical industry's pursuit of novel cancer therapies.