Copenhagen, Denmark – October 8, 2001 - Genmab A/S (CSE: GEN and Neuer Markt: GE9D) announced today that it has entered a new collaborative agreement with Immunex Corporation (Nasdaq: IMNX) to discover and develop a fully human antibody against a proprietary Immunex cancer target. Initially, this new antibody is expected be used to treat lymphoma.

Under the terms of the collaboration, Genmab will be responsible for creating the antibody, to be called HuMax™-Lymphoma, and for developing it through Phase II clinical trials. Immunex retains an exclusive option for the product through Phase II. Should Immunex exercise its option, Immunex would complete the clinical development of HuMax-Lymphoma and would pay Genmab a license fee, milestones and share profits upon commercialization. Alternately, Genmab will retain the right to continue to develop and potentially commercialize the antibody and would pay milestone fees and royalties to Immunex.

HuMax-Lymphoma will target the IL-15 receptor, which is covered by a broad Immunex patent estate. This receptor is found on a number of tumor types, including T cell and Natural Killer cell lymphomas, as well as multiple myeloma. The cytokine IL-15 contributes to cell growth and proliferation and helps prevent programmed cell death (apoptosis). Blocking tumor receptors for IL-15 with HuMax-Lymphoma has the potential to result in very specifically targeted anti-cancer therapy.

HuMax-Lymphoma will be the second product to result from the Immunex-Genmab collaboration. The first product, HuMax-IL15 to treat rheumatoid arthritis, is currently in Phase I/II clinical trials.

“Genmab is delighted to expand its work with Immunex,” said Lisa N. Drakeman, Ph.D. “We are also hopeful that HuMax-Lymphoma will bring a much needed new cancer treatment to the many thousands of patients suffering from these aggressive forms of cancer .”