GenmabEdit
Genmab A/S is a Danish biotechnology company headquartered in Copenhagen that focuses on discovering, developing, and partnering monoclonal antibody therapies and related antibody constructs for cancer and other diseases. Since its founding in the late 1990s, Genmab has established itself as a prominent example of how European biotech firms can scale through collaboration with large multinational pharmaceutical companies. The company emphasizes proprietary antibody engineering platforms and a business model built around milestone payments, royalties, and licensing arrangements rather than relying solely on in-house commercialization.
Genmab’s approach combines a strong emphasis on science with strategic alliances that bring products to market. Its pipeline and marketed therapies have benefited from partnerships with major industry players, which has allowed Genmab to share development risk while achieving global reach. In particular, collaborations with Janssen Biotech (a unit of Johnson & Johnson) have been central to bringing key antibody therapies to patients, including the monoclonal antibody daratumumab. Daratumumab is marketed under the brand name Darzalex and is used to treat multiple myeloma and other plasma cell disorders. For tisotumab vedotin, Genmab has worked with Seagen (Seattle Genetics) on the development and commercialization of Tivdak, a antibody-drug conjugate targeting cervical cancer and other indications. The company has also pursued partnerships with other major firms, including AbbVie for additional bispecific antibody programs such as epcoritamab.
History
Genmab was established in Copenhagen in 1999 by researchers and entrepreneurs connected to Denmark’s biotech ecosystem and the University of Copenhagen. The company entered public markets in the following years and built a global footprint through collaboration and licensing agreements rather than large-scale in-house manufacturing of every product. Its growth has been driven by the value of its antibody engineering platforms and by licensing advances to global pharmaceutical partners. The Danish origin and European location are often noted as part of Genmab’s identity, alongside the company’s ability to attract international investment and collaboration.
Technology and products
Platforms and capabilities: Genmab has invested in proprietary antibody technologies designed to accelerate the creation of effective cancer therapies. Core elements include bispecific antibody design platforms and Fc-engineering approaches intended to improve immune system engagement and therapeutic activity. These platforms have been branded in the industry as DuoBody and HexaBody in public descriptions of Genmab’s technology portfolio.
Notable marketed therapies and programs:
- Daratumumab (brand name Darzalex): a monoclonal antibody developed in collaboration with Janssen Biotech for multiple myeloma and other hematologic malignancies. Daratumumab
- Tisotumab vedotin (brand name Tivdak): an antibody-drug conjugate developed with Seagen for cervical cancer and other solid tumors. Tisotumab vedotin
- Epcoritamab (DuoBody-CD3xCD20 bispecific): a program pursued in collaboration with AbbVie, illustrating Genmab’s emphasis on bispecific antibody therapeutics. Epcoritamab (and AbbVie as partner)
Other collaborations: Genmab continues to engage with a range of biopharmaceutical companies to advance additional bispecific and antibody-based candidates, sharing development risk and potential rewards with partners.
Business model, policy, and market position
Genmab’s reliance on collaboration-based development reflects a broader pattern in the contemporary biopharmaceutical industry: private sector investment and risk-sharing arrangements can accelerate bringing complex biologics to market. Milestone-driven income, royalties, and upfront payments from licensing agreements enable Genmab to fund ongoing research while leveraging the regulatory and commercial capabilities of larger partners. This model is often cited as a practical way to translate fundamental science into patient-accessible therapies without bearing all the costs of full in-house commercialization.
From a market-focused perspective, Genmab’s strategy highlights several enduring debates in health policy and industry strategy. Proponents of the model argue that strong intellectual property protections, predictable milestones, and the prospect of returns on innovation are essential for sustaining high-risk, high-cost drug research. Critics, however, contend that high prices and payer-led negotiations can limit patient access and place pressure on healthcare systems. In this context, the company’s products and partnerships sit at the intersection of innovation incentives and market access.
Controversies and debates
Drug pricing and access: Biopharmaceutical pricing remains a controversial topic. Supporters of the Genmab model argue that the costs of discovering and developing complex antibody therapies justify premium pricing and milestone-based revenue, which in turn funds continued innovation. Critics contend that high prices impede access, particularly in low- and middle-income settings, and call for greater transparency, price negotiation, or government-led affordability measures. The debate often centers on balancing the incentives needed to innovate with the social imperative of broad patient access.
Intellectual property and exclusivity: The proprietary platforms and patent protections that undergird Genmab’s therapies are credited with driving investment in new biologics. Detractors worry that extended exclusivity can delay competition and keep prices elevated. Proponents counter that robust IP protections are essential to recover billions of dollars in research and development and to enable risky, long lead times for biologic programs to succeed.
Global collaboration versus local manufacturing: Genmab’s collaboration-heavy model allows rapid global reach without building a fully centralized manufacturing footprint in every region. This approach can raise questions about supply chain resilience and pricing dynamics, while supporters point to efficiency and the ability to leverage the specialized capabilities of multinational partners.
Public policy and governance: As with many innovative biotech firms, Genmab’s activities sit at the heart of discussions about how public investment, private enterprise, and regulatory processes should interact to maximize patient benefit while maintaining incentives for groundbreaking science.