On June 11, 2026 Genmab A/S (Nasdaq: GMAB) reported new data from a post-hoc subgroup analysis from the pivotal Phase 3 EPCORE FL-1 trial, evaluating epcoritamab, a subcutaneous T-cell engaging bispecific antibody, in combination with rituximab and lenalidomide (epcoritamab + R2) in adult patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) follicular lymphoma (FL), which showed that epcoritamab + R2 delivered consistent and sustained efficacy benefits across clinically relevant subgroups, including Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) score (0–2 vs 3–5), progression of disease less than or equal to two years from the date of initial frontline therapy (POD24) (POD24 vs non-POD24), and patient fitness (non-Hodgkin lymphoma 5 score). These results were presented during an oral presentation (abstract S229) at the European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper) 2026 Congress held in Stockholm, Sweden, June 11 -14, 2026.
Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:
Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing
Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!
"The EPCORE FL-1 trial, bolstered by this subgroup analysis, established fixed-duration epcoritamab in combination with R2 for relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma," said Benoit Tessoulin, M.D., Ph.D., Nantes University School of Medicine & University Hospital. "It delivers consistent efficacy and a manageable safety profile, regardless of comorbidity burden."
The EPCORE FL-1 trial randomized a total of 481 patients, with 243 receiving epcoritamab + R2 and 238 receiving R2 alone. The subgroup analysis of the Phase 3 EPCORE FL-1 trial was performed to assess the benefit and tolerability of epcoritamab + R2 across clinically relevant subgroups, including patients with higher- and lower-risk disease features, compared with standard of care R2.
The data demonstrated that progression-free survival (PFS) benefits continued to favor epcoritamab + R2, with hazard ratios (HR) consistently below 0.3 across FLIPI 0–2 (0.18 [0.10–0.33]) and FLIPI 3–5 (0.25 [0.15–0.42]), POD24 (HR 0.22 [95% CI 0.13–0.37]), and non-Hodgkin lymphoma 5 (NHL-5) subgroups (low: HR 0.27 [0.17–0.42]; H+I, high and intermediate: HR 0.14 [0.06–0.29]), indicating a substantially reduced risk of disease progression or death.
Additionally, overall response rates (ORR) were higher with the combination of epcoritamab and R² compared to R² alone across different FLIPI risk groups. For patients with FLIPI scores of 0–2, the ORR was 96.5% with the combination versus 84.8% for R2 alone. In patients with FLIPI scores of 3–5, the ORR was 93.0% with the combination compared to 72.6% with R2 alone. Moreover, complete response rates (CRR) were consistently higher with epcoritamab and R² across all analyzed subgroups. In patients with lower FLIPI scores (0–2), the CRR was 86.6% with the combination, compared to 62.1% for R2 alone. Among those with higher FLIPI scores (3–5), the CRR was 77.0% for the combination versus 35.4% for R² alone. Similar improvements in CRR were noted among non-POD24 patients (85.5% vs. 57.6%) and across various patient fitness categories, including NHL-5 low-risk patients (81.3% vs. 50.3%) and H+I patients (85.7% vs. 49.0%).
The safety profile of epcoritamab + R2 was manageable across all patient subgroups and consistent with that observed in the overall trial population, with no new safety signals identified. Although adverse events such as neutropenia and infections were more frequent among patients receiving lower lenalidomide doses, the consistent and sustained efficacy of epcoritamab + R2 compared with R² alone was maintained in this subgroup. These findings are consistent with standard clinical practice, in which lenalidomide dose reductions are routinely implemented to manage adverse events while preserving treatment benefit in combination with epcoritamab.
"The EPCORE FL-1 subgroup analysis demonstrated consistent and deep responses with a manageable safety profile across all patient characteristics, including varying risk profiles and lenalidomide dosing schedule, which validate the potential of the combination therapy," said Dr. Judith Klimovsky, Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer of Genmab. "These data strongly reinforce our belief that epcoritamab, combined with rituximab and lenalidomide, is poised to transform the treatment paradigm, offering a highly effective and broadly accessible option for relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma."
About the EPCORE FL-1 Trial
EPCORE FL-1 (NCT05409066) is a Phase 3 open-label interventional trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of epcoritamab plus rituximab and lenalidomide (R2) versus R2 alone in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) follicular lymphoma (FL). Patients were randomized to receive EPKINLY in combination with rituximab and lenalidomide (n=243) or rituximab and lenalidomide alone (n=245). Patients received EPKINLY in 28-day cycles for a total of 12 cycles or until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity, whichever occurred first. Efficacy was established based on the dual primary endpoints of progression free survival (PFS) and overall response rate (ORR) determined by Lugano 2014 criteria as assessed by Independent Review Committee (IRC). Additional efficacy outcome measures include complete response (CR) and duration of response (DOR).
More information on this trial can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov/.
About Follicular Lymphoma (FL)
Follicular lymphoma (FL) is typically an indolent, or slow-growing, form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), that arises from B-lymphocytes. The second most common form of NHL, FL accounts for 20-30% of all NHL cases.i FL is considered incurable.ii Patients often relapse, and with each relapse the remission and time to next treatment shorten.iii Over time, transformation to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), an aggressive form of NHL associated with poor survival outcomes, can occur in more than 25% of FL patients.iii,iv
About Epcoritamab
Epcoritamab is an IgG1-bispecific antibody created using Genmab’s proprietary DuoBody technology and administered subcutaneously. Genmab’s DuoBody-CD3 technology is designed to direct cytotoxic T cells selectively to elicit an immune response toward target cell types. Epcoritamab is designed to simultaneously bind to CD3 on T cells and CD20 on B cells and induces T-cell-mediated killing of CD20+ cells.v
Epcoritamab (approved under the brand name EPKINLY in the U.S. and Japan, and TEPKINLY in the EU) has received regulatory approval in certain lymphoma indications in more than 65 territories. Where approved, epcoritamab is a readily accessible therapy. Epcoritamab is being co-developed by Genmab and AbbVie as part of the companies’ oncology collaboration. The companies share commercial responsibilities in the U.S. and Japan, with AbbVie responsible for further global commercialization. Both companies will pursue additional international regulatory approvals for the investigational relapsed or refractory (R/R) follicular lymphoma (FL) indication and additional approvals for the R/R diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) indication.
Genmab and AbbVie continue to evaluate the use of epcoritamab as a monotherapy, and in combination, across lines of therapy in a range of hematologic malignancies. This includes several Phase 3, open-label, randomized trials, including a trial evaluating epcoritamab in combination with R-CHOP in adult patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL (NCT05578976), a trial evaluating epcoritamab in combination with lenalidomide compared to chemotherapy infusion in patients with R/R DLBCL (NCT06508658), and a trial evaluating epcoritamab in combination with lenalidomide and rituximab (R2) compared to chemoimmunotherapy in patients with previously untreated FL (NCT06191744). The safety and efficacy of epcoritamab has not been established for these investigational uses. Please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov for more information.
(Press release, Genmab, JUN 11, 2026, View Source [SID1234666577])