AbbVie Sues Genmab Over Alleged Trade Secret Theft in ADC Technology

In a significant development that has sent ripples through the pharmaceutical industry, AbbVie has filed a lawsuit against its partner Genmab, accusing the Danish drugmaker of being "intentionally and willfully blind" to the theft of trade secrets related to antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology. The legal action, which also names ProfoundBio and two former AbbVie employees as defendants, threatens to strain the relationship between two major players in the biotech sector and highlights the intense competition in the rapidly evolving ADC market.

The Lawsuit: Allegations and Implications

AbbVie's lawsuit centers on ADC technology utilized by ProfoundBio, a biotech company that Genmab acquired for $1.8 billion in 2024. The American pharmaceutical giant alleges that ProfoundBio, struggling to develop a viable ADC pipeline, resorted to using confidential information obtained from Julia Gavrilyuk, a former AbbVie employee. According to the lawsuit, this information was crucial in ProfoundBio's development of ADCs with "hydrophilic linkers with proven payloads," which became the cornerstone of their clinical pipeline and patent applications.

The legal complaint details how Tae Han, a co-founder of ProfoundBio and former AbbVie employee, allegedly encouraged Gavrilyuk to disclose "AbbVie's stolen trade secret Sugar Scaffold ADC linkers and related designs." AbbVie claims that this misappropriation of trade secrets was instrumental in ProfoundBio's turnaround and subsequent acquisition by Genmab.

Industry Implications and Competitive Landscape

This lawsuit is not an isolated incident but part of a broader trend of legal actions by AbbVie against competitors over alleged trade secret misappropriation. Companies such as Adcentrx, Alvotech, BeiGene, and Revance have all faced similar accusations from AbbVie in recent years, underscoring the fierce competition and high stakes in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in the ADC space.

The legal dispute puts AbbVie at odds with a close collaborator, as AbbVie and Genmab co-commercialize the blood cancer drug Epkinly in the U.S. and Japan. However, Genmab's acquisition of ProfoundBio has positioned it as a potential direct competitor to AbbVie in other areas, particularly in the development of ADCs targeting folate receptor alpha. This competitive dynamic is exemplified by Genmab's rinatabart sesutecan, an ADC that could rival AbbVie's own offering acquired through its $10.1 billion purchase of ImmunoGen in 2022.

Genmab's Response and Industry Reaction

Genmab has vehemently denied the allegations, stating that it "categorically refutes allegations and will vigorously defend the company." The Danish drugmaker has characterized AbbVie's action as "yet another lawsuit among multiple recent lawsuits filed by AbbVie against competitors alleging misappropriation of its trade secrets by former AbbVie employees."

As the industry watches this legal battle unfold, questions arise about the impact on future collaborations, the protection of intellectual property in the fast-paced world of biotech innovation, and the potential ramifications for the development of life-saving ADC technologies. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching consequences for how pharmaceutical companies manage partnerships, acquisitions, and the movement of talent within the industry.