Genmab Halts Acasunlimab Program to Prioritize $8B Late-Stage Epkinly, Petosemtamab and Rina-S
Genmab will discontinue acasunlimab development after four trials, reallocating resources to late-stage Epkinly, petosemtamab and Rina-S programs. Full-year 2025 guidance is unchanged and analyst forecasts project $300 million peak sales for acasunlimab versus $8 billion combined potential for the lead trio.
1. Strategic Pipeline Pruning
Genmab has elected to discontinue further clinical development of acasunlimab following a comprehensive review of its late-stage oncology portfolio and the evolving competitive landscape. Acasunlimab was enrolled in four trials—one Phase 3 study in non-small cell lung cancer, two Phase 2 trials in melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer, and a Phase 1 trial in solid tumors—but will be shelved to reallocate resources toward higher-value assets. This decision aligns with Genmab’s disciplined portfolio prioritization framework introduced in 2024.
2. Concentration on High-Potential Late-Stage Assets
The company will redirect R&D and commercial efforts to three lead candidates advancing in pivotal trials: Epkinly (epcoritamab), petosemtamab, and rinatabart sesutecan (Rina-S). Epkinly recently secured FDA approval for a pretreated blood cancer indication, marking the first U.S. authorization for a wholly-owned Genmab bispecific antibody. Petosemtamab and Rina-S are both in Phase 3 development, with combined enrollment exceeding 1,200 patients globally, positioning them for potential approvals in 2026.
3. Financial Guidance and Peak Sales Outlook
Genmab confirmed that discontinuing acasunlimab will not alter its full-year 2025 financial guidance, which currently forecasts mid-teens percentage revenue growth year-over-year. Analysts previously estimated peak sales of roughly $300 million for acasunlimab, but project combined peak revenues of up to $8 billion across Epkinly, petosemtamab and Rina-S. The shift underscores management’s confidence in steering capital toward assets with multi-hundred million to billion-dollar sales potential.
4. Analyst Commentary Reinforces Bullish Sentiment
William Blair analysts noted that acasunlimab represented a minimal contribution to Genmab’s overall revenue opportunity, while Evercore ISI and Jefferies maintain Outperform ratings based on the late-stage trio’s growth trajectory. Matt Phipps of Evercore highlighted that Epkinly’s early launch momentum in the U.S. and Europe could drive rapid uptake, estimating first-year sales north of $1.2 billion post-approval. Investor focus will remain on upcoming data readouts and regulatory submissions scheduled through 2025.