(Photo by Andrei Jackamets/Genmab)

In 2020, the Princeton Catalysis Initiative (PCI) launched a partnership with Genmab, a Danish biotech company with U.S. headquarters in Plainsboro.  

PCI fosters interdisciplinary collaborations both internally among faculty as well as externally with industry partners to scale emerging science. These partnerships help bring research and discovery at Princeton into the broader world to produce a positive impact on society. 

“Princeton has a strong reputation for tackling major human health challenges through groundbreaking work in biomedical, biological and computational sciences—areas that align closely with Genmab’s focus,” said Mark Fereshteh, vice president and global head of Precision Medicine at Genmab. “Forging close partnerships with world-class academic institutions is deeply embedded in Genmab’s DNA.” 

Genmab is a global biotechnology company focused on developing innovative, differentiated antibody therapeutics for cancer and other serious diseases. Established in 1999, the company is headquartered in Denmark, with sites in the U.S., Netherlands, Japan, and China. With eight approved medicines based on Genmab’s innovation and more than 40 INDs, Genmab’s mission is to create truly transformative, “knock-your-socks-off” medicines that improve the lives of patients around the world. 

The partnership between Genmab and the University has sparked a wave of innovative projects: 

  • Testing Drug Combination Therapies with AI: In a collaboration with Mengdi Wang, associate professor at Princeton’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Center for Statistics and Machine Learning, researchers are using computer simulations to help predict the most effective drug combinations for shrinking tumors. 
  • CRISPR and the Fight Against Resistance: Working with Britt Adamson, assistant professor of molecular biology and the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, teams are using single-cell CRISPR-based technology to pinpoint genes linked to resistance against antibody therapies—paving the way for more effective treatments. 
  • Mapping the Tumor’s Inner Workings: Led by Nobel laureate David MacMillan, the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry, another initiative focuses on locating antigen target proteins within tumor cells and understanding how these targets interact with other proteins within the cell membrane.  
  • Nature’s Secrets to Surviving Radiation: With Genmab’s support, Shane Campbell-Staton, assistant professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and postdoctoral researcher Cara Love are studying Chernobyl’s resilient wolf population. These wolves, thriving despite living in an area with dangerously high radiation levels, could hold the key to unlocking new cancer therapies inspired by nature’s own evolutionary solutions. 

In addition to research collaborations, Genmab scientists regularly participate in University-hosted workshops and convenings, including the New Jersey AI Summit, Celebrate Princeton Innovation, and Drug Discovery Day.  The internship program at Genmab gives Princeton students the opportunity to work alongside industry experts and contribute to real-world biomedical advancements.  

Expanding Presence 

In March 2024, Genmab announced plans to expand and renovate their Plainsboro facilities and grow their team, solidifying their presence in the region’s innovation ecosystem anchored by the university. They now occupy 270,000 square feet at the Princeton Forrestal Innovation Park in Plainsboro, once home to Bristol-Myers Squibb.  

The expansion is supported by the New Jersey Economic Develop Authority (NJEDA)’s Emerge Program, which has awarded Genmab $8.4 million in tax credits over seven years.  

“Securing a new Genmab location in the state is another mile marker in New Jersey’s history of being a national leader in biotechnology innovation,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy proclaimed at the time of the announcement. “For over two decades Genmab has been a prominent leader in the international fight against cancer. Its expanded presence in New Jersey puts us front and center in that fight. The increased economic activity in Middlesex County and hundreds of new jobs will help build a stronger future for the Garden State.”