The 2026 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) meeting highlighted a wave of breakthroughs from Chinese biotech firms, especially in antibody‑drug conjugates (ADCs) and bispecific antibodies. Researchers unveiled data showing that several home‑grown ADCs are extending survival for patients with hard‑to‑treat cancers such as lung, breast, gastric, ovarian and colorectal tumors. Notably, Hengrui’s SHR‑A2009 slowed disease progression in patients whose lung cancers no longer responded to standard EGFR drugs, while its SHR‑A1811 delivered benefits for HER2‑low breast cancer. Innovent’s IBI3001, an ADC targeting EGFR and B7H3, showed early activity in pancreatic cancer, and its IBI343 achieved both progression‑free and overall‑survival gains in gastric cancer with the CLDN18.2 marker. Bispecific antibodies also moved from proof‑of‑concept to real‑world impact. The PD‑1/VEGF bispecific ivonescimab demonstrated activity in biliary, kidney and thymic cancers, and Innovent’s PD‑1/IL‑2α bispecific IBI363 balanced efficacy and safety in lung and gastric cancers. Analysts say these results signal a shift for China’s pharma sector—from copying foreign drugs to leading first‑in‑class innovations—potentially reshaping global cancer treatment pipelines and attracting more investor interest.
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