- Genmab to acquire ProfoundBio for USD 1.8 billion in cash
- Acquisition will give Genmab worldwide rights to three candidates in clinical development, including rinatabart sesutecan (Rina-S), plus ProfoundBio’s novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology platforms
- Rina-S is a novel, next-generation, potential best-in-class Topo1 ADC targeting folate receptor alpha (FRα) in development for the treatment of ovarian cancer and other solid tumors
COPENHAGEN, Denmark and SEATTLE, Washington; April 3, 2024 – Genmab A/S (Nasdaq: GMAB) and ProfoundBio, Inc. announced today that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement for Genmab to acquire ProfoundBio in an all-cash transaction. ProfoundBio is a privately-owned clinical-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation ADCs and ADC technologies for the treatment of certain cancers, including ovarian cancer and other FRα-expressing solid tumors. Genmab will acquire ProfoundBio for USD 1.8 billion in cash, payable at closing (subject to adjustment for ProfoundBio’s closing net debt and transaction expenses).
The transaction will further broaden Genmab’s mid- to late-stage clinical pipeline and strengthen and complement Genmab’s already validated suite of proprietary technology platforms. The acquisition will give Genmab worldwide rights to ProfoundBio’s portfolio of next-generation ADCs, which consists of three clinical and multiple preclinical programs including Rina-S, a potential best-in-class, clinical-stage, FRα-targeted, Topo1 ADC, currently in Phase 2 of a Phase 1/2 clinical trial, for the treatment of ovarian cancer and other FRα-expressing solid tumors. In addition, the combination of ProfoundBio’s novel ADC technology platforms with Genmab’s proprietary antibody platforms will potentially create new opportunities to generate and develop new medicines with the potential to transform the treatment of cancer and improve the lives of patients.
The addition of Rina-S to Genmab’s portfolio will enable Genmab to deepen its presence in the gynecologic oncology space and establish a firm foundation in solid tumors. As a potential best-in-class ADC, Rina-S aims to address a broader patient population than first-generation FRα-targeted ADCs. Based on the data from the ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial Genmab intends to broaden the development plans for Rina-S within ovarian cancer and other FRα-expressing solid tumors. In January 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) granted Fast Track designation to Rina-S for the treatment of patients with FRα-expressing high-grade serous or endometrioid platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.
“The proposed acquisition of ProfoundBio firmly aligns with our long-term strategy and our ambitious 2030 vision, to impact the lives of patients through innovative antibody medicines,” said Jan van de Winkel, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Genmab. “We believe that ProfoundBio’s ADC candidates, proprietary technology platforms and talented team will be a great addition to Genmab and that, together, we will be able to accelerate the development of innovative, differentiated antibody therapies for cancer patients.”
“Genmab shares our team’s mission of developing novel therapies to improve outcomes for cancer patients. Genmab’s deep expertise in antibody drug development and commercialization makes this a compelling union that will allow us to rapidly develop and realize the full potential of our ADC therapies to benefit patients,” said Baiteng Zhao, Ph.D., ProfoundBio’s co-founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board.
About Genmab
Genmab is an international biotechnology company with a core purpose guiding its unstoppable team to strive towards improving the lives of patients through innovative and differentiated antibody therapeutics. For 25 years, its passionate, innovative and collaborative team has invented next-generation antibody technology platforms and leveraged translational, quantitative, and data sciences, resulting in a proprietary pipeline including bispecific T-cell engagers, next-generation immune checkpoint modulators, effector function enhanced antibodies, and antibody-drug conjugates. To help develop and deliver novel antibody therapies to patients, Genmab has formed 20+ strategic partnerships with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. By 2030, Genmab’s vision is to transform the lives of people with cancer and other serious diseases with knock-your-socks-off (KYSO®) antibody medicines.
Established in 1999, Genmab is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark with locations in Utrecht, the Netherlands, Princeton, New Jersey, U.S., and Tokyo, Japan. For more information, please visit Genmab.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X.
About ProfoundBio
ProfoundBio is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of novel antibody-based therapeutics for patients with cancer. Built on internally developed, innovative, and proprietary technology platforms, ProfoundBio has developed a pipeline consisting of multiple ADC drug candidates targeting solid tumors and hematological malignancies. The company's disclosed development pipeline consists of rinatabart sesutecan (Rina-S; PRO1184), an ADC targeting FRα; PRO1160, an ADC targeting CD70; PRO1107, an ADC targeting PTK7; and PRO1286, a bispecific ADC targeting EGFR and cMET. ProfoundBio is headquartered in Seattle, Washington with an R&D center of innovation in Suzhou, China.
Source: ProfoundBio
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