Genmab and AbbVie Report Epcoritamab Plus R-CHOP Cuts Frontline DLBCL Progression/Death Risk 51%
Genmab and AbbVie reported positive topline results from the Phase 3 EPCORE DLBCL-2 trial of fixed-duration subcutaneous epcoritamab plus R-CHOP versus R-CHOP alone in newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients with International Prognostic Index scores of 2–5. The trial met its primary progression-free survival endpoint in the IPI 3–5 population, reducing the risk of disease progression or death by 51% (HR 0.49; p<0.0001). Safety was generally well tolerated and consistent with known profiles; the companies plan global regulatory discussions, but the combination remains investigational and unapproved.
A direct company announcement supports a new, material clinical milestone: Genmab and AbbVie reported positive topline Phase 3 EPCORE DLBCL-2 results, with the primary progression-free survival endpoint met and a reported 51% reduction in the risk of progression or death. This is forward-looking because it can increase the probability of a frontline regulatory expansion, affect treatment positioning, and expand the potential commercial opportunity for epcoritamab; however, the combination remains investigational and no approval has been announced, so clinical_study is more appropriate than regulatory_approval. The October 5, 2026 announcement date is explicit; 18:49 UTC is the best available announcement-time proxy from the primary news record and is therefore estimated rather than certain. GMAB and ABBV are direct stakeholders. REGN and RHHBY are included as explicitly identified competing frontline CD20×CD3 bispecific developers; more distant later-line competitors are excluded because their potential impact is more indirect and speculative. The prior event match is retained because this readout is a continuation of the epcoritamab clinical and regulatory pathway and is distinct from the earlier scheduled-readout development.
Genmab reported topline Phase 3 data showing epcoritamab + R-CHOP reduced risk of progression or death by 51% vs R-CHOP in newly diagnosed DLBCL (HR 0.49; p<0.0001). Safety was generally consistent; the companies plan regulatory discussions.
Genmab and US drugmaker AbbVie NYSE:ABBV on Monday said their combination treatment for patients newly diagnosed with a type of lymphoma reduced the risk of disease progression or death in a late-stage study.