AbbVie stock slides after Epkinly trial misses survival goal

18 January 2026

New York, Jan 18, 2026, 11:03 EST — Market closed

AbbVie shares ended Friday at $214.35, dropping 1.1%
The partner drug epcoritamab for blood cancer failed to meet the primary overall-survival endpoint in a Phase 3 trial
Attention now turns to Epkinly’s regulatory prospects and AbbVie’s earnings report set for Feb. 4

AbbVie’s stock dropped on Friday after partner Genmab announced that a late-stage trial of epcoritamab failed to meet its primary endpoint of improving overall survival in blood cancer patients. AbbVie closed at $214.35, down 1.1%. Genmab’s U.S.-listed shares tumbled over 7%. The companies said they still expect data from two other late-stage epcoritamab trials in 2026, including studies combining the drug with standard chemotherapy and Bristol Myers Squibb’s Revlimid.

Why this matters now: AbbVie is hunting for fresh growth drivers as investors question the staying power of its lineup after Humira. Epcoritamab figures prominently in that narrative, and a setback here hits especially hard since it’s the clearest read on success.

Overall survival means just what it says — whether patients live longer. The study also looked at progression-free survival, tracking how long patients go before their cancer advances. That’s still important to doctors and regulators, but it’s a different standard.

AbbVie reported that its Phase 3 EPCORE DLBCL-1 trial demonstrated a progression-free survival benefit, with a hazard ratio of 0.74. However, the study did not achieve a statistically significant improvement in overall survival, which showed a hazard ratio of 0.96. The company plans to submit the data for presentation at an upcoming medical conference and will consult with global regulators on the next steps. AbbVie is also considering the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and newer lymphoma treatments on the trial outcomes.

AbbVie’s move came amid a choppy session ahead of a long weekend. The S&P 500 healthcare sector slipped 0.8% on Friday, with U.S. markets closed Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. “Most investors will take that as a win,” said Ameriprise Financial chief market strategist Anthony Saglimbene, referring to the market holding near the 7,000 level. Reuters

AbbVie traders are eyeing Tuesday’s session, wondering if Friday’s sell-off was a one-off or just the beginning. The company hasn’t dropped the full data yet, and that uncertainty often supports some buying amid the swings.

There’s a tangible risk here: if upcoming data raise further doubts about the survival outlook, regulators might demand additional studies before allowing broader use in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Plus, competition in lymphoma has ramped up, and evolving standards of care can cloud trial results—even when secondary endpoints improve.

Investors are eyeing a key date: AbbVie plans to release its full-year and fourth-quarter 2025 results on Feb. 4, before markets open. The company will then host a webcast at 8 a.m. Central time.

For now, the market’s focus is sharp: how ABBV performs once U.S. markets reopen Tuesday, and what management reveals about the oncology franchise and guidance during the Feb. 4 report.

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Khadija Saeed is a financial markets reporter at TS2.tech. Her coverage ranges from stocks and technology to emerging industries and developments across global markets. She studied economics and finance at the London School of Economics and worked in market research before becoming a financial journalist. Follow Khadija Saeed on Google News.

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