Summary: Genmab will receive a milestone payment of approximately DKK 116
million from GSK for the FDA approval of Arzerra™ for the treatment of patients
with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) refractory to fludarabine and
alemtuzumab.
Copenhagen, Denmark; October 27, 2009 - Genmab A/S (OMX: GEN) announced today it
has reached a milestone for Arzerra™ (ofatumumab) under the terms of its
collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). A milestone payment of approximately
DKK 116 million (approximately USD 23 million) was triggered by the FDA approval
of Arzerra for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
that is refractory to fludarabine and alemtuzumab.
“The approval of Arzerra marks a key milestone for Genmab as it is our first
antibody to reach the market. We are happy that we can now offer a new
treatment to these refractory CLL patients, especially as it is Genmab's goal to
develop products for life threatening and debilitating unmet medical needs,”
said Lisa N. Drakeman, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Genmab.
Arzerra is a monoclonal antibody that causes the body's immune response to fight
against normal and cancerous B-cells. Arzerra attaches to the small and large
loop epitopes - on a molecule called CD20, which is found on the surface of
B-cells, the type of cell which becomes cancerous in CLL.
About Genmab A/S
Genmab is a leading international biotechnology company focused on developing
fully human antibody therapeutics for the potential treatment of cancer.
Genmab's world class discovery, development and manufacturing teams are using
cutting-edge technology to create and develop products to address unmet medical
needs. Our primary goal is to improve the lives of patients who are in urgent
need of new treatment options. For more information on Genmab's products and
technology, visit www.genmab.com.
This Stock Exchange Release contains forward looking statements. The words
“believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “intend” and “plan” and similar expressions
identify forward looking statements. Actual results or performance may differ
materially from any future results or performance expressed or implied by such
statements. The important factors that could cause our actual results or
performance to differ materially include, among others, risks associated with
product discovery and development, uncertainties related to the outcome and
conduct of clinical trials including unforeseen safety issues, uncertainties
related to product manufacturing, the lack of market acceptance of our products,
our inability to manage growth, the competitive environment in relation to our
business area and markets, our inability to attract and retain suitably
qualified personnel, the unenforceability or lack of protection of our patents
and proprietary rights, our relationships with affiliated entities, changes and
developments in technology which may render our products obsolete, and other
factors. For a further discussion of these risks, please refer to the section
“Risk Management” in Genmab's Annual Report, which is available on
www.genmab.com. Genmab does not undertake any obligation to update or revise
forward looking statements in this Stock Exchange Release nor to confirm such
statements in relation to actual results, unless required by law.
Genmab(R); the Y-shaped Genmab logo(R); HuMax(R); HuMax-CD20(R); HuMax-EGFr(TM);
HuMax-IL8(TM); HuMax-TAC(TM); HuMax-HepC(TM); HuMax-CD38(TM); HuMax-CD32b(TM);
HuMax-TF(TM); HuMax-Her2(TM); HuMax-VEGF(TM) and UniBody(R) are all trademarks
of Genmab A/S. Arzerra(TM) is a trademark of GlaxoSmithKline.
Contact: Helle Husted, Vice President, Investor Relations, T: +45 33 44 77 30,
M: +45 25 27 47 13, E: h.husted@genmab.com
Stock Exchange Release no. 40/2009
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