AbbVie Inc. / argenx SE

Solid Tumors (Immuno-Oncology)

Disease Overview

Solid tumor immuno-oncology aims to release T-cell brakes and re-arm anti-tumor immunity. While anti-PD-(L)1 checkpoint inhibitors (Keytruda, Opdivo, Tecentriq) transformed multiple cancers, most patients still fail to respond or relapse, driving extensive search for next-wave targets that disable regulatory T cells, TGF-beta signaling, or tumor microenvironment immunosuppression.

Competitive Landscape

When AbbVie optioned ARGX-115 in April 2016, the IO field was dominated by Bristol Myers Squibb's Opdivo (nivolumab) and Merck's Keytruda (pembrolizumab) anti-PD-1s, with Roche's Tecentriq (atezolizumab) anti-PD-L1 advancing; AbbVie itself lacked a marketed IO drug and its in-house anti-PD-1 (later budigalimab) was only in early trials, framing the deal as a strategic catch-up move. ARGX-115 (now livmoniplimab / ABBV-151) targets GARP, a receptor on regulatory T cells that anchors latent TGF-beta1; blocking it offers a more localized way to disable Treg-mediated immunosuppression than systemic TGF-beta inhibition, where Lilly's galunisertib was the leading Phase 2/3 competitor. AbbVie exercised the option in August 2018 and is now combining livmoniplimab with budigalimab across multiple Phase 2/3 Livigno trials in HCC, 1L non-squamous NSCLC, and urothelial cancer. Early results have been mixed - monotherapy produced no responses in 23 patients and combination therapy delivered 12% ORR overall (33% in liver cancer), drawing analyst skepticism over Phase 3 acceleration on what ApexOnco called 'mediocre' prior data. The deal validates GARP as a target but commercial conviction remains uncertain.