A Danish drug just cut the risk of death by half in a hard-to-treat head and neck cancer

Head and neck cancers are among the hardest to treat well. Genmab, the Danish drugmaker, reported that in a late-stage trial, its drug petosemtamab combined with the immunotherapy Keytruda cut the risk of death by half compared with Keytruda alone, as a first treatment for people whose tumours carry a common marker — meeting both of the trial's main goals on responses and survival. Analysts say the result could help set a new standard of care. Genmab will now take the full data to regulators around the world.

SDG 3 · Good health and well-being — Mechanism: tech innovation