News Summaries

Chinese Cancer Drugs Steal the Spotlight at ESMO 2026 – A Potential Game‑Changer for Global Treatment?

From October 23‑27, the European Society for Medical Oncology’s (ESMO) 2026 Congress in Madrid turned into a showcase for Chinese innovation. A record 47 studies from China were selected for oral presentations or Late‑Breaking Abstracts, 29 of them in the coveted LBA slot. Innovent Biologics unveiled tanconaltotamab, an antibody‑drug conjugate (ADC) that targets the CLDN18.2 protein in advanced gastric cancer. The Phase III trial showed clear gains in both progression‑free and overall survival, making it the first CLDN18.2‑ADC to seek marketing approval worldwide. SinoBiopharma highlighted TQB2102, a HER2‑low breast‑cancer ADC that also cleared Phase III, earning a Breakthrough Therapy Designation from China’s regulator and a pending marketing filing. Hansoh Pharmaceutical presented Ruikanglifutuo‑tamab, a B7‑H3‑targeted ADC for osteosarcoma, earning a top‑tier Chair’s Forum slot. Baili Tianheng announced landmark results for lunconilontamab, the world’s first EGFR×HER3 bispecific ADC, showing strong outcomes in EGFR‑mutated non‑small‑cell lung cancer; the data were published in The Lancet. Zai Lab reported early success for a platinum‑free combo of its drug zoci with atezolizumab in extensive‑stage small‑cell lung cancer, noting high response rates and manageable safety. Analysts say the wave of Chinese ADCs and bispecific antibodies is moving from early‑stage promise to global Phase III validation, poised to reshape treatment guidelines, accelerate overseas licensing, and influence cancer care worldwide over the next decade.

Breakthrough in Small‑Cell Lung Cancer: Amgen Sets New Survival Record, Zai Lab Offers Chemo‑Free Hope

The fight against extensive‑stage small‑cell lung cancer (SCLC) got a major boost at the recent ESMO meeting. Amgen announced that its experimental drug tarlatamab, given together with the immune‑checkpoint blocker durvalumab, pushed the median overall survival for first‑line patients to 21.1 months – a new record for the disease. The Phase III DeLLphi‑305 trial showed this combination can replace the current maintenance drug lurbinectedin, although the response rate in the maintenance phase was modest (about 26%) and the regimen requires careful monitoring for side‑effects like cytokine release syndrome. While Amgen’s data are promising, Chinese biotech Zai Lab unveiled early results from its own Phase Ib study of a chemo‑free regimen that pairs its bispecific antibody zoci with atezolizumab. The combo delivered high response rates, durable disease control and a clean safety profile, hinting that patients might soon avoid chemotherapy altogether in the first‑line setting. Both developments highlight a shifting landscape: the old standard of platinum‑etoposide plus immunotherapy, which often caused severe toxicity, is being challenged. However, the new treatments bring their own logistical hurdles, such as infusion‑center requirements and management of immune‑related toxicities, meaning access may still be limited to major hospitals. The next few years will determine whether these innovations become the new norm for SCLC patients worldwide.