Genmab, Glaxo cancer drug meets goal in key trial

LONDON (Reuters) - An experimental treatment for leukaemia being developed by Danish biotech company Genmab (GEN.CO) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.L) has proved effective in a pivotal Phase III trial, the companies said on Thursday.

Ofatumumab, or HuMax-CD20, met its primary endpoint in the study in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

An objective response rate of 51 percent was achieved in patients refractory to fludarabine and alemtuzumab. In the fludarabine refractory, alemtuzumab inappropriate patient group, the objective response rate was 44 percent.

The positive result clears the way for the antibody medicine -- the most important product in Genmab's pipeline -- to be submitted to U.S. and European regulators for approval as early as this year.

(Reporting by Ben Hirschler)