Epcoritamab Shows Efficacy
Genmab's Epcoritamab Monotherapy and Combinations Show High DLBCL Response
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Genmab's cancer drug epcoritamab delivered striking results in elderly patients with newly diagnosed Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common form of blood cancer worldwide. Two new studies show the drug — used alone or paired with reduced-dose chemotherapy — achieved response rates that experts at the European Hematology Association (EHA) 2026 Congress in Stockholm are calling "unprecedented" for a non-chemo therapy, according to Rutland Herald.
Genmab announced the findings on June 13, 2026, alongside a simultaneous publication in The Lancet Haematology. The results matter most for elderly patients — typically 75 and older — who cannot tolerate standard aggressive chemotherapy and have previously had few good options, according to Post Register.
Chemo-Free Option Shows 58% Complete Response Rate
The Phase 2 EPCORE DLBCL-3 trial tested epcoritamab as a stand-alone therapy in elderly patients unfit for standard chemotherapy. The drug hit an overall response rate (ORR) of 67% and a complete response (CR) rate of 58%, according to Weekly Voice. One year after starting treatment, 65% of patients were still alive and 54% had not seen their disease progress.
Lead investigator Dr. Umberto Vitolo of the Candiolo Cancer Institute in Italy called the monotherapy results a vital "chemo-free option" for patients who otherwise had no good treatment path. Epcoritamab works by linking a patient's own T-cells to cancer cells, forcing the immune system to destroy the tumor — no chemotherapy required.
Combination With Reduced Chemo Pushes Response to 93%
The second study, EPCORE NHL-2, combined epcoritamab with R-mini-CHOP — a lower-dose version of standard chemotherapy designed for older, frailer patients. That combination hit a 93% ORR and an 86% complete response rate, according to Rutland Herald. High rates of minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity were also recorded, suggesting the remissions were deep and durable, not just temporary.
Financial analysts have called the 93% combination result a potential "category-killer." The data suggest epcoritamab could become the standard backbone treatment for all elderly DLBCL patients, putting it ahead of rival drugs like Roche's glofitamab in this fast-growing market segment.
Side Effects Are Manageable but Require Close Monitoring
The most common side effect is Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) — a flu-like immune overreaction. CRS appeared in 53% of patients across trials, but only 3% of cases were severe (Grade 3). Neurotoxicity, known as ICANS, was rare, with only 1% of patients experiencing severe symptoms, according to Post Register.
The Lancet Haematology emphasized that CRS remains a key concern in older populations and requires active monitoring. On a positive note, 92% of patients in a related study were able to be monitored in outpatient settings after their first full dose — a critical benefit for elderly patients who want to avoid long hospital stays.
Genmab and AbbVie Now Eye Full FDA and EMA Approval
Epcoritamab, marketed as EPKINLY®, already holds accelerated approval for patients whose DLBCL has come back after at least two prior treatments. These new first-line results are a major step forward. Genmab's Chief Development Officer Dr. Judith Klimovsky said the findings "underscore the versatility of epcoritamab as a monotherapy, in combination regimens and as a potential core therapy across the spectrum of B-cell malignancies," according to Weekly Voice.
Genmab and its partner AbbVie confirmed they will approach the FDA and EMA to discuss expanding epcoritamab's label to cover first-line use in elderly and unfit patients. Tens of thousands of patients who were previously limited to palliative care or weakened chemotherapy doses could become eligible for this targeted treatment. Regulatory filings are expected within the next two fiscal quarters, according to Post Register.
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