AbbVie and Genmab said Epkinly, their T-cell engager bispecific with standard chemotherapy, cut the risk of disease progression or death by nearly half in a phase 3 trial in newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The companies framed the result as surpassing investor expectations and clearing a path toward potential first-line approval. In the trial, 900 participants at intermediate or high risk were randomized to R-CHOP plus Epkinly or placebo. The drug’s performance also topped results from a rival Roche product tested in clinical development, and AbbVie/Genmab positioned Epkinly to challenge Roche’s Polivy in the first-line setting. The outcome strengthens the competitive landscape for bispecific antibodies in frontline lymphoma, where delivery and immune-related side effects have been key operational considerations.