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Genmab and Incyte Plan Colorectal Cancer Combination Trial

lite News Desk 2 min read

Genmab and Incyte plan to test two investigational drugs alongside standard chemotherapy for the initial treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer carrying the KRAS G12D mutation. The collaboration, announced by the companies on October 24, 2026, covers a proposed Phase 1/2 trial combining petosemtamab with INCB161734 and chemotherapy.

The drugs have different targets, according to the companies. Petosemtamab is an antibody developed to attach to both EGFR and LGR5. INCB161734 is a small-molecule inhibitor taken orally that targets KRAS G12D. Both remain investigational, and the planned study concerns their use together with chemotherapy in this mutation-defined patient group.

In its release, Genmab estimates that roughly 40% of colorectal cancers have KRAS mutations. The company identifies G12D as the most frequent KRAS variant and separately puts its occurrence at about 15% of colorectal cancers.

Under the study arrangements described by the companies, responsibility for conducting the Phase 1/2 trial rests with Genmab. Incyte’s planned contribution includes sharing the funding and providing INCB161734 for use in the trial.

Genmab said petosemtamab’s intended mechanisms include blocking ligand attachment to disrupt EGFR signaling. The antibody is also designed to encourage the breakdown of EGFR in cancer stem-like cells expressing both EGFR and LGR5, and to engage natural killer cells and macrophages. These descriptions concern how the drug is designed to work, rather than findings from the proposed combination trial.

The collaboration concerns a different mutation-defined population from the RAS/BRAF wild-type group in Genmab’s existing Phase 3 colorectal cancer programme. According to the company, those trials are evaluating petosemtamab alongside chemotherapy in metastatic disease, covering both first-line and second-line treatment.

Other studies described in the release concern INCB161734 in KRAS G12D-mutated cancers. A Phase 1 trial is evaluating the drug in solid tumors, with treatment given either on its own or alongside chemotherapy. The release also identifies a Phase 3 trial pairing INCB161734 with chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer carrying that mutation. That pancreatic cancer study concerns patients who have not previously received treatment.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.

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