The small but diverse LGR5 pipeline

Phase III results from Genmab’s first-in-class petosemtamab in head and neck cancer are expected next half, but the bispecific’s LGR5 target hasn’t seen the crowding that has become common after an initial clinical success in cancer drug development. Only three other disclosed programs are in the development pipeline.

Last year, Genmab A/S (CSE:GMAB; NASDAQ:GMAB) agreed to acquire Merus N.V. for $8 billion. The acquisition followed clinical data reported for petosemtamab at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conference, where the LGR5 x EGFR bispecific outshined other EGFR-directed therapies as first-line treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)...