Genmab Announces US Court Judgment in Favor of Arzerra in Patent Infringement Lawsuit


- US Court enters judgment that Arzerra does not infringe Genentech and Biogen Idec US patent covering methods of treating CLL with anti-CD20 antibodies

Copenhagen, Denmark; November 17, 2011 – Genmab A/S (OMX: GEN) announced today that a US District Court entered final judgment in favour of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in a patent infringement case involving Arzerra brought against GSK by Genentech and Biogen Idec.


Genentech and Biogen Idec filed the patent infringement lawsuit in Q1 2010 with the US District Court in San Diego, California claiming Arzerra infringed US Patent No 7,682,612 covering methods of treating Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) with anti-CD20 antibodies. GSK denied infringement and claimed the patent was invalid and unenforceable.

The decision in favour of GSK came after the court defined certain terms of the patent claims. Based on this Genentech and Biogen Idec conceded to a judgment in favour of GSK’s counterclaim of non-infringement. Genentech and Biogen Idec will have the option to appeal the decision concerning the interpretation of the patent claims.

Arzerra, Genmab’s anti-CD20 antibody, is partnered with GSK and marketed in the US and Europe for the treatment of fludarabine and alemtuzumab refractory CLL.

About Genmab A/S

Genmab is a publicly traded, international biotechnology company specializing in the creation and development of differentiated human antibody therapeutics for the treatment of cancer.  Founded in 1999, the company’s first marketed antibody, Arzerra® (ofatumumab), was approved to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia that is refractory to fludarabine and alemtuzumab after less than eight years in development.  Genmab’s validated and next generation antibody technologies are expected to provide a steady stream of future product candidates.  Partnering of innovative product candidates and technologies is a key focus of Genmab’s strategy and the company has alliances with top tier pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.  For more information visit www.genmab.com.

Contact:           
Rachel Curtis Gravesen, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Communication
T: +45 33 44 77 20; M: +45 25 12 62 60; E: r.gravesen@genmab.com

This Company Announcement contains forward looking statements. The words “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “intend” and “plan” and similar expressions identify forward looking statements. Actual results or performance may differ materially from any future results or performance expressed or implied by such statements. The important factors that could cause our actual results or performance to differ materially include, among others, risks associated with pre-clinical and clinical development of products, uncertainties related to the outcome and conduct of clinical trials including unforeseen safety issues, uncertainties related to product manufacturing, the lack of market acceptance of our products, our inability to manage growth, the competitive environment in relation to our business area and markets, our inability to attract and retain suitably qualified personnel, the unenforceability or lack of protection of our patents and proprietary rights, our relationships with affiliated entities, changes and developments in technology which may render our products obsolete, and other factors. For a further discussion of these risks, please refer to the risk management sections in Genmab’s most recent financial reports, which are available on www.genmab.com. Genmab does not undertake any obligation to update or revise forward looking statements in this Company Announcement nor to confirm such statements in relation to actual results, unless required by law. 

Genmab®; the Y-shaped Genmab logo®; HuMax®; HuMax-CD20®; HuMax®-EGFr; HuMax®-IL8; HuMax®-TAC; HuMax®-CD38; HuMax®-TF; HuMax®-Her2; HuMax®-cMet, HuMax®-CD74, DuoBody™ and UniBody® are all trademarks of Genmab A/S. Arzerra® is a trademark of GlaxoSmithKline.


Company Announcement no. 31
CVR no. 2102 3884

Genmab A/S
Bredgade 34
1260 Copenhagen K
Denmark

 


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