Genmab's Silver Anniversary: Reflecting on 25 Years of Breakthroughs in Antibody Therapeutics

In the rapidly evolving world of biotechnology, marking a 25-year anniversary not only reflects longevity but also a significant contribution to science and human health. Genmab, a trailblazer in the field of antibody therapeutics, celebrates this milestone by reflecting on its impressive journey from a small-scale startup to a global leader in cancer treatment and beyond.

Under the guidance of Co-Founder and current CEO Jan van de Winkel, Genmab has remained committed to its core mission: harnessing the power of human antibodies to improve the lives of patients worldwide.

In this exclusive interview with Tahi Ahmadi, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Genmab, we delve into the company’s key achievements and its unwavering focus on innovative solutions.

From its inception in 1999, Genmab has not only expanded its geographical footprint but has also pioneered groundbreaking therapies that have revolutionized the treatment of cancer and other serious diseases. With a robust pipeline powered by proprietary technologies and strategic partnerships, Genmab continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in biomedicine.

As we explore Genmab’s strategic vision, technological advancements and the next frontier in antibody research, we gain insights into the future of medicine — a future where Genmab’s cutting-edge therapies are poised to transform patient care and meet the complex challenges of the next generation of healthcare.

XTALKS CLINICAL EDGE: Issue 2 — Genmab’s Interview

Xtalks Clinical Edge is a magazine for clinical research professionals and all who want to be informed about the latest trends and happenings in clinical trials. This magazine allows you to dive into a world where industry leaders, patient advocates and top researchers converge to bring you the sharpest insights in clinical trials.

Celebrating 25 years of innovation is a significant milestone. Can you share some key highlights of Genmab’s journey in antibody therapeutics over this period, and how it has contributed to the current landscape of biotech advancements?

Tahi Ahmadi: Genmab’s journey began in 1999, when the company was co-founded by our now CEO Jan van de Winkel, as an antibody-focused company. Since then, innovative science has been at Genmab’s core, as we harness the power of human antibodies to improve the lives of patients. Today, our innovations power eight approved antibody-based medicines for the treatment of cancer and other serious diseases, and our team has grown from ten to over 2,200 across the US, the Netherlands, Denmark and Japan.

We’ve celebrated many milestones, including the launch of two innovative antibody medicines in under two years, one with Seagen (now Pfizer) for the treatment of advanced cervical cancer, and another in partnership with AbbVie for certain advanced lymphoma. We also invented four proprietary antibody technologies, including our DuoBody® bispecific technology which is the backbone of four FDA-approved bispecifics and over ten in development.

Last year, we set our sights even higher with the launch of our new vision, which is that by 2030, our “knock-your-socks-off” (KYSO®) antibody medicines are fundamentally transforming the lives of people with cancer and other serious diseases. And we continue to make significant progress toward achieving this goal.

For example, in April 2023, we announced a multi-year collaboration with argenx marking our expansion into immunology and inflammation. And in April 2024, we made a significant move to a 100 percent owned model with the acquisition of Profound Bio, a clinical-stage biotech company focused on developing innovative antibody-drug conjugate therapeutics for people with cancer.

Genmab has achieved notable success with eight approved therapies and an impressive pipeline. What factors do you attribute to the company’s success in the discovery and development of differentiated antibody therapeutics?

Tahi Ahmadi: Genmab’s “secret sauce” lies in four differentiators — our world-class antibody biology knowledge and insights into disease targets; discovery and development engine with proprietary technology that allows us to build a world-class pipeline; in-house expertise with a solid track record of building successful strategic partnerships; and a pipeline of potential first-in-class and best-in-class products.

This is all driven by an unstoppable team, united by our core purpose to improve the lives of patients through innovative antibody therapeutics.

The next generation of drug discovery and development is an exciting prospect. How does Genmab envision expanding the promise of antibodies beyond cancer to treat other serious diseases? Can you provide insights into specific areas of focus or potential therapeutic applications?

Tahi Ahmadi: At Genmab, our focus is on delivering our aspirational 2030 vision that our KYSO® antibody medicines are fundamentally transforming the lives of people with cancer and other serious diseases. This means while we continue to create and develop new treatments in oncology, we will apply a rigorous approach in identifying areas outside of oncology where our science and expertise has the potential to impact even more lives.

Immunology and inflammation as a therapeutic area is a natural stepping stone. Shortly after the launch of our 2030 vision, we announced our partnership with argenx, which brings together the knowledge of disease biology, antibody expertise and next-generation technologies of argenx in immunology with Genmab’s expertise in oncology. Today, we have two discovery programs underway.

Antibodies have shown great promise in the field of precision medicine. How does Genmab foresee the next frontier of antibody research impacting the development of precision medicine, and what potential breakthroughs do you anticipate in this domain?

Tahi Ahmadi: Two key areas where we anticipate breakthroughs are technological advancements and new modalities.

First, the integration of AI, big data and high-performance computing has the potential to not only expedite the drug discovery process, but also could contribute to better understanding of diseases at the molecular level. In turn, this advent in AI and machine learning has the potential to lead to the discovery and development of more effective therapies.

Second, new modalities, such as antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific antibodies and cell and gene therapies, have shown great promise, offering potential in previously difficult-to-treat diseases, including advanced cancer and rare diseases.

With hundreds of antibodies undergoing pre-clinical and clinical development, it is anticipated that the number of antibody medications in clinical trials and approved by regulatory agencies will rise. As someone who has had a front-row seat in the oncology revolution, from research labs to clinical trials, I see great promise in the use of these targeted antibodies in hematological and solid malignancies. That’s why at Genmab we are continuing to unlock the full potential of our antibodies so that we can impact as many lives as possible.

As Genmab looks ahead, what are the key challenges and opportunities the company envisions in the realm of antibody therapeutics, and how is it positioned to address them?

Tahi Ahmadi: As a company committed to improving the lives of patients through differentiated antibodies, one of the most powerful tools we have at our fingertips is the patient voice — they are our north star. We must continue to listen to them throughout the development process, from discovery through commercialization. Patients put their trust in us as an industry, and we must continue to work with urgency to meet their expectations. When we keep them at the center, we are able to unlock even greater insights that will in turn allow us to bring new antibody medicines forward, faster.

As Genmab celebrates a quarter-century of pioneering advances in antibody therapeutics, the commitment to innovation and patient-centric care remains stronger than ever. With a robust track record of transformative therapies and exciting new ventures on the horizon, the company stands at the forefront of a new era in biomedicine. Guided by the voices of patients and propelled by a dedication to scientific excellence, Genmab is not just marking an anniversary — it’s paving the way toward a future where the potential of antibody therapies continues to unfold, promising new hope and improved outcomes for patients around the world.