Genmab A/S (Nasdaq: GMAB) announced plans to present 14 abstracts evaluating epcoritamab at the upcoming 30th European Hematology Association (EHA) Congress, taking place June 12-15, 2025, in Milan, Italy. The presentations will showcase new and updated results from the company's comprehensive development program for epcoritamab, a subcutaneously administered T-cell engaging bispecific antibody.
Key Presentations Highlight Combination Therapies
Two oral presentations will feature particularly significant data from Genmab's EPCORE® clinical trial program. The first will present results from the Phase 1/2 EPCORE NHL-2 trial evaluating epcoritamab plus rituximab and ifosfamide-carboplatin-etoposide (R-ICE) in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who are eligible for autologous stem cell transplantation.
The second oral presentation will share data from the Phase 1/2 EPCORE NHL-5 trial, which examines epcoritamab in combination with polatuzumab vedotin, rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (pola-R-CHP) in previously untreated DLBCL patients.
Additionally, a poster presentation will feature three-year follow-up data from the Phase 1/2 EPCORE NHL-1 and NHL-3 trials in patients with R/R DLBCL and follicular lymphoma (FL) treated with epcoritamab monotherapy.
"Together with AbbVie, we have made tremendous progress advancing our broad epcoritamab development program and we are pleased to share important results at EHA 2025 evaluating epcoritamab in a variety of treatment settings and patient populations," said Dr. Judith Klimovsky, Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer of Genmab. "The data presented at EHA further reinforce our commitment to epcoritamab and its potential to become a core therapy across B-cell malignancies."
Comprehensive Clinical Program
The breadth of abstracts accepted for presentation at EHA demonstrates Genmab's extensive clinical development program for epcoritamab. The presentations will cover various treatment settings, including:
- First-line treatment approaches for DLBCL
- Relapsed/refractory DLBCL treatment strategies
- Long-term follow-up data in follicular lymphoma
- Combination therapies with established regimens
- Patient-reported outcomes
- Comparative analyses with other treatment options
Several of these abstracts will also be presented at the 18th International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma (ICML), taking place June 17-21, 2025, in Lugano, Switzerland.
Ongoing Development of Epcoritamab
Epcoritamab is an IgG1-bispecific antibody created using Genmab's proprietary DuoBody® technology. It is designed to simultaneously bind to CD3 on T cells and CD20 on B cells, inducing T-cell-mediated killing of CD20+ cells. The drug is administered subcutaneously, which offers potential advantages over intravenous administration.
The therapy has already received regulatory approval under the brand name EPKINLY® in the U.S. and Japan, and TEPKINLY® in the EU for certain lymphoma indications. Genmab and AbbVie are collaborating on the development and commercialization of epcoritamab, with shared commercial responsibilities in the U.S. and Japan, while AbbVie handles global commercialization elsewhere.
The companies continue to evaluate epcoritamab across multiple clinical trials, including five ongoing Phase 3 studies:
- Epcoritamab monotherapy versus investigator's choice chemotherapy in R/R DLBCL
- Epcoritamab plus R-CHOP in newly diagnosed DLBCL
- Epcoritamab plus rituximab and lenalidomide in R/R FL
- Epcoritamab plus rituximab and lenalidomide versus chemoimmunotherapy in previously untreated FL
- Epcoritamab plus lenalidomide versus chemoimmunotherapy in R/R DLBCL
Mechanism of Action and Future Potential
Epcoritamab's mechanism of action involves the DuoBody-CD3 technology, which is designed to direct cytotoxic T cells selectively to target specific cell types. By binding to both CD3 on T cells and CD20 on B cells, epcoritamab creates a bridge that brings these cells together, enabling the T cells to recognize and destroy the B cells.
This approach has shown promise in treating B-cell malignancies, with the potential to provide new therapeutic options for patients who have relapsed or are refractory to existing treatments. The subcutaneous administration route may also offer advantages in terms of patient convenience and reduced infusion-related reactions compared to intravenous therapies.
As Genmab continues to expand its clinical program for epcoritamab, the upcoming presentations at EHA will provide valuable insights into the drug's efficacy and safety across various patient populations and treatment settings, potentially shaping future treatment paradigms for B-cell malignancies.
