European Society for Medical Oncology

Next-generation anti-CD30 ADC outperforms brentuximab vedotin

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Researchers from Mabqi SAS presented the preclinical profile of MQI-181, an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) composed of a human anti-CD30 antibody (18D03) linked to the cytotoxic payload monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) via a cleavable MC-VC-PAB linker, with a drug-antibody ratio of 4.

More than two to tango: multispecifics at ESMO TAT

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Multispecifics took center stage at this year’s ESMO TAT, emerging as one of the hottest trends in oncology research. Unlike traditional small-molecule drugs or monoclonal antibodies that typically target a single protein, multispecific compounds are engineered to harness multiple mechanisms of action within a single molecule. They orchestrate biology rather than just blocking it.

DIO3 inhibition: a new approach for ovarian cancer treatment

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Researchers from Dio Tree Ltd. discussed the inhibition of DIO3 as a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

DLL3-targeted T-cell therapy shows efficacy in MTC models

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare, often aggressive, neuroendocrine thyroid tumor with limited targeted treatment options, arising from calcitonin-producing C cells and sometimes associated with RET mutations. Researchers from the Mayo Clinic reported the potential of targeting DLL3 as a therapeutic strategy in MTC.

INCB-161734 KRAS G12D inhibitor enhances PDAC therapy

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Researchers from Incyte Corp. reported the efficacy of INCB-161734, a KRAS G12D inhibitor, in combination with various strategies in models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs).

First-in-class anti-TRPV6 antibody for advanced prostate cancer

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

At the ESMO Targeted Anticancer Therapies Congress held this week in Paris, researchers at Mabqi SAS presented the preclinical characterization of MQI-201, an anti-TRPV6 therapeutic antibody in models of metastatic prostate cancer.

ESMO TAT: Targeted radionuclide therapy on the rise

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Once confined to a niche in nuclear medicine, targeted radionuclide therapy is rapidly gaining momentum and becoming one of the fastest-growing strategies in oncology. Evidence of this surge was clear at the 2026 European Society of Medical Oncology Targeted Anticancer Therapy (ESMO TAT) congress, where the topic was highlighted both at the ESMO Colloquium and in the session titled “The Future of Radioligands: Insights from Industry, Regulation and Clinical Practice,” with various speakers sharing their perspectives on the modality’s current role and future potential.

ESMO TAT: Early-phase trials leading the way

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0400

In the opening sessions of this year’s ESMO Targeted Anticancer Therapies Congress, Elena Garralda, director of the Molecular Therapeutics Research Unit at Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology in Barcelona, described ESMO TAT as “the house of phase I,” a fitting label for a meeting centered on translational research and early drug development, where first-in-human data and new trial designs help shape the next generation of cancer therapies.

LGTX-101 limits off-tumor toxicity through avidity-driven selectivity

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Nectin-4 is a cell-surface protein that is highly expressed in a variety of solid tumors, including bladder, head and neck, and certain aggressive breast cancers. Its low-level expression in some normal tissues creates a challenge for therapies, which can unintentionally damage healthy cells and trigger severe side effects.

Lunan’s LNF-2102 performs well in preclinical gastric cancer

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0400

The overexpression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2b (FGFR2b) is tied to tumor progression in several malignancies, such as cholangiocarcinoma, HER2-negative gastric cancer and breast cancer. Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Corp. has developed a novel IgG1 monoclonal antibody against FGFR2b, LNF-2102, for the potential treatment of cancer.

RMC-8839 shows promise for KRAS codon 13 mutant lung cancer

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Revolution Medicines Inc. has developed and presented data for their KRAS codon 13-targeting compound, RMC-8839, for treating non-small-cell lung cancers.

CVL-006 antibody shows superior efficacy when given in combination

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Convalife Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. has presented data for their bispecific antibody CVL-006, which targets both PD-1 and VEGF-A. CVL-006 blocks both the PD-1-driven immune pathway plus VEGF-A-driven angiogenesis, thus conferring a dual mechanism for superior antitumoral activity.

Delcath’s Chemosat plus ICIs triples PFS in uveal melanoma

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0400

While positive results from the investigator-led phase II CHOPIN trial at ESMO 2025 failed to get investors dancing, they were no doubt music to management’s ears, particularly with Delcath Systems Inc.’s third quarter earnings report missing a beat.

ADC space has plenty of room to grow, say ESMO 2025 panelists

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 11:00:00 -0400

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are a mature technology. The first ADC, Mylotarg, was initially approved in 2000, and there are now 14 approved agents in both leukemias and solid tumors. According to Clarivate’s Cortellis Drug Discovery & Intelligence, those drugs collectively accounted for $13.55 billion in sales in 2024 – a figure that Cortellis projects will rise to $16 billion in 2025.

Celcuity nears NDA filing with gedatolisib breast cancer win

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 11:00:00 -0400

Detailed Viktoria-1 results of Celcuity Inc.’s gedatolisib positions the pan-PI3K/mTORC1/2 inhibitor as a top contender for second-line treatment of HR+/HER2- PIK3CA wild-type advanced breast cancer – a multibillion-dollar indication in need of new treatments.

Olema slides despite positive breast cancer data with palazestrant

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 11:00:00 -0400

Despite a recent stock surge, Olema Oncology Inc. shares (NASDAQ:OLMA) slipped 17% on Oct. 20 to close at $7.77 each in the wake of updated and positive phase Ib/II results for palazestrant, the company’s metastatic breast cancer drug.

Tissue-agnostic therapies should get ‘transformative acceleration’

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 11:00:00 -0400

The 2025 Annual Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) featured a track on tumor-agnostic therapies – the first time such a track has been included at ESMO, or at any major medical oncology meeting. “It’s a milestone,” Vivek Subbiah told the audience at a session on how to accelerate tumor-agnostic drug development.

Exelixis plans NDA for zanzalintinib on colorectal cancer data

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 11:00:00 -0400

Much-awaited detailed data from Exelixis Inc.’s phase III Stellar-303 study of zanzalintinib, presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology meeting, showed the third-generation, oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor in combination with Tecentriq (atezolizumab, Roche AG) reduced the risk of death by 20% vs. Stivarga (regorafenib, Bayer AG) in patients with previously treated non-microsatellite instability (MSI)-high metastatic colorectal cancer and are expected to pave the way for an NDA filing later this year.

Grail's DNA blood test improves early cancer detection sevenfold

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 10:00:00 -0400

Grail LLC has presented data showing that when added to standard screening procedures for breast, cervical, colorectal and lung cancers, its Galleri circulating tumor DNA test led to a sevenfold increase in the number of cancers detected.

China clears Mabwell’s Mailisheng injection to treat neutropenia

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 11:00:00 -0400

Mabwell (Shanghai) Bioscience Co. Ltd. on May 30 gained Chinese approval of Mailisheng (albipagrastim alfa; 8MW-0511) as a subcutaneous injection to treat febrile neutropenia induced by myelosuppressive anticancer treatment, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

China clears Mabwell’s Mailisheng injection to treat neutropenia

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 11:00:00 -0400

INA-03 demonstrates efficacy in preclinical models of triple-negative breast cancer

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0400

Inatherys SAS recently presented preclinical data for INA-03, an anti-transferrin receptor (TfR1/CD71) antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), being developed for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). INA-03 was constructed by conjugating an antimitotic payload (MMAE) to a humanized IgG4 anti-human CD71 antibody using a novel valine-citrulline linker.

Bifunctional antibody targeting T-cell receptor is effective against aggressive prostate tumors

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Prostate cancer (PC), often referred to as a cold tumor, typically presents a poor immune response, making it difficult for immune-based therapies to be effective. Metastatic castration-resistant PC (mCRPC) presents a highly aggressive phenotype often refractory to systemic treatment.

Cybrexa’s new peptide-drug conjugate shows strong antitumor activity

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Antibody-drug conjugates, a well-established antitumor strategy, are used for targeted delivery of cytotoxic drugs through antibodies. As cancer research progresses, other technologies with different mechanisms are advancing in the oncologic pipeline. Researchers from Cybrexa Therapeutics Inc. presented new preclinical data on CBX-15, a peptide-drug conjugate (PDC) consisting of a pH-low insertion peptide (pHLIP) linked to monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE).

Lirum’s LX-101 shows potent antitumoral effects in aggressive tumors

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0500

Lirum Therapeutics Inc. has presented data regarding their insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R) antagonist LX-101, which couples an IGF-1 variant to a cytotoxic methotrexate payload. The antitumoral activity of LX-101 was investigated in Ewing sarcoma and desmoplastic small round cell tumor.

RBD-8088, a BBB-penetrating oligonucleotide with efficacy in glioblastoma models

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Suzhou Ribo Life Science Co. Ltd. recently reported on the development and preclinical characterization of a novel blood-brain barrier (BBB)-penetrating oligonucleotide drug, RBD-8088, for the treatment of glioblastoma.

New eIF4E inhibitor shows efficacy with SOC in KRAS-mutant NSCLC

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Ribometrix Inc. recently discussed the discovery and preclinical evaluation of a novel potent and selective eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eiF4E) inhibitor, RBX-6610, being developed for the treatment of KRAS-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

ESMO 2024: Innovent’s IBI-354 shows promise across tumor types

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 12:00:00 -0400

Innovent Biologics Inc. unveiled for the first time safety and efficacy data of IBI-354, an HER2 monoclonal antibody-camptothecin derivative conjugate that shows promising efficacy signals across a range of advanced solid tumors, during the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2024 Congress. An HER2-targeted antibody-drug conjugate developed using Innovent's topoisomerase inhibitor NT3 platform, IBI-354 combines a hydrophilic linker design with a hydrophobic payload to enhance the bystander effect, targeting adjacent antigen-low or negative tumor cells.

CDR-813 demonstrates high target-specific binding and antitumor potency in preclinical models

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0400

CDR-Life Inc. has reported preclinical data for the CDR-813, a novel antibody fragment-based bivalent T-cell engager targeting preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma (PRAME) on HLA-A*02:01.

Data clang on Street for Prelude but SMARCA2 overtures continue

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 12:00:00 -0400

Wall Street apparently wanted more from Prelude Therapeutics Inc.’s phase I data with SMARCA2 enzyme degrader PRT-3789 in cancer, which rolled out Sept. 13 during the recent European Society of Medical Oncology Congress in Barcelona, but hopes are still high for other prospects in the class pushed forward by various developers.