'Latest data on anticancer drugs to be unveiled'…ASCO

Long-term survival· treatment optimization data on Leclaza combination therapy will be presented

Competition among TROP2 ADCs intensifies…numerous presentations by Korean researchers scheduled

Major studies on next-generation oncology treatment strategies, including targeted therapies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and bispecific antibodies, will be unveiled at the world's largest cancer conference.

At the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting (ASCO 2026), which will be held in Chicago, USA, for five days starting on the 29th of this month, the latest data on various novel anticancer drugs will be presented, including long-term survival and treatment optimization data for the 'Leclaza (lazertinib)' + 'Rybrevant (amivantamab)' combination therapy, cancer type expansion strategies for TROP2-targeted ADCs, and novel bispecific antibody-based therapeutic approaches.

With research presentations in gastric, liver, breast, and head and neck cancers involving Korean researchers scheduled, the role of Korean researchers will be confirmed as well as global trends in cancer treatment.

At this year's ASCO, the attention in oncological strategies appears to be shifting beyond therapeutic efficacy competition toward long-term survival, convenience of administration, biomarker-based patient selection, and novel platform battles. In particular, EGFR-mutated lung cancer and the TROP2 ADC field are considered the most fiercely competitive arenas for next-generation treatment strategies.

Leclaza and Rybrevant, from long-term survival to SC conversion

Non-small cell lung cancer treatments Leclaza and Rybrevant

Janssen will present multiple studies on the Leclaza + Rybrevant combination strategy at this conference. In particular, the company will present full life-cycle data spanning long-term survival outcomes, subcutaneous (SC) conversion, adverse event management strategies, and cost-effectiveness, moving beyond mere improvements in historic therapeutic outcomes.

Leclaza is a novel EGFR-positive non-small cell lung cancer drug developed by Yuhan Corp. This drug is a third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) targeting exon 19 deletions and exon 21 (L858R) mutations.

Janssen has secured the global commercial rights to Leclaza and has been conducting clinical studies evaluating its efficacy in combination with Rybrevant. This targeted therapeutic option targets exon 20 insertion and MET mutations. This combination therapy previously demonstrated the longest overall survival (OS) outcomes in the Phase III MARIPOSA study.

At this year's conference, results from the CHRYSALIS-2 study will be unveiled. This clinical trial analyzed the long-term OS outcomes of the Leclaza/Rybrevant combination in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer harboring atypical EGFR mutations.

Considering that patients with atypical EGFR mutations have been classified as a poor-prognosis subgroup with relatively low response rates to conventional EGFR-targeted therapies, these data will serve as a benchmark to assess the potential expansion of the scope of combination therapy.

Furthermore, findings from the COPERNICUS study, which evaluated the initial safety of the Rybrevant SC and Leclaza combination, will be presented. The core focus is determining the extent to which administration time, infusion-related reactions (IRRs), thromboembolism, and dermatological toxicities (previously flagged as burdens in intravenous-based therapy) can be mitigated under concurrent prophylactic skin toxicity management and anticoagulation therapy. A key point is whether converting Rybrevant to a subcutaneous formulation can enhance treatment sustainability and patient convenience.

For EGFR-positive lung cancer targeted therapies, most approved options, including Leclaza, 'Tagrisso (osimertinib)', and 'Giotrif (afatinib)', are oral medications, whereas Rybrevant is an injectable. This explains why focus is being placed on the commercialization of the Rybrevant SC formulation, which significantly reduces administration time.

Furthermore, an economic analysis comparing the cost-effectiveness against Tagrisso-based therapeutic strategies will be disclosed. This research explores which strategy will provide a competitive edge, accounting for treatment costs and healthcare expenditures alongside clinical efficacy.

TROP2 ADC competition intensifies following Trodelby…Expanded indication accelerates

View of ASCO 2025 (Source: ASCO).

Competition among TROP2-targeted ADCs is also a key topic at ASCO. With Gilead's 'Trodelby (sacituzumab govitecan)' and Daiichi Sankyo·AstraZeneca's 'Datroway (datopotamab deruxtecan)' having preempted the market, MSD, Astellas, and Chinese biotechs are accelerating the development of next-generation candidates.

MSD will present a digital pathology-based biomarker study for its TROP2-targeted ADC, 'sacituzumab tirumotecan'. The research explores whether using artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance the predictability of treatment response compared with legacy TROP2 expression assessment methodologies, suggesting the potential refinement of future patient stratification strategies.

Currently, sacituzumab tirumotecan is being evaluated across a total of 17 global Phase III programs, including endometrial cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, gastric cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, and bladder cancer. Among these, 10 Phase III trials are ongoing in gynecological and breast malignancies areas.

Recently disclosed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) data are regarded as a key example demonstrating the expansion potential of sacituzumab tirumotecan.

According to the abstract released at ASCO, the combination of sacituzumab govitecan and Keytruda reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 65% compared with Keytruda monotherapy in treatment-naïve, PD-L1-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients in the Chinese OptiTROP-Lung05 study.

Additionally, move toward expanding scope of applicable cancer types are anticipated. With research analyzing TROP2 expression and exploring therapeutic targeting viability in metastatic anal cancer, where subsequent treatment options are highly constrained, being unveiled, attention is focused on whether TROP2 ADCs can expand beyond breast and lung cancers into orphan malignancies. In thyroid cancer, research on TROP2-based PET imaging technology will be presented, demonstrating potential expansion into the diagnostic realm.

Platform competitions among latecomers are also intensifying. Astellas will present initial clinical data for 'ASP2998', a TROP2 ADC conjugated with a stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonist payload, showcasing a next-generation ADC strategy. Alphamab Oncology, a Chinese biotech, plans to present data on its TROP2·HER3 bispecific ADC (JSKN016), highlighting its potential to target HER2-negative breast cancer. The competitive landscape is broadening beyond cytotoxic payload delivery toward dual-targeting and immune-activation strategies.

Presentations by several Korean researchers...Unveiling research in major solid tumors

Numerous presentations involving Korean researchers are also scheduled.

Professor Hong Jae Chon of Bundang Cha Medical Center will unveil the first clinical data for BeOne Medicines' GPC3 × 4-1BB bispecific antibody 'BGB-B2033', which is currently under development primarily for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The core endpoints focus on initial safety profiles and anti-tumor activity signals in a liver cancer cohort with limited options following prior immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

Professor Sun Young Ra of Yonsei Cancer Hospital will present the PD-L1 subgroup analysis results of a BeOne Medicines' 'Ziihera (zanidatamab)'-containing combination therapy in the first-line treatment of HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer. This research examines whether the clinical benefit is sustained regardless of PD-L1 expression status, which could inform potential future expansions of the target patient population.

Ziihera is a bispecific antibody that simultaneously binds to two distinct domains of the HER2 receptor, developed to enhance signal blockade and immune response induction concurrently compared to legacy monospecific antibodies.

In particular, this strategy has the potential combination with BeOne Medicines' immuno-oncology agent, 'Tevimbra (tislelizumab)'. The approach aims to maximize therapeutic efficacy by proposing a triplet regimen combining HER2-targeted therapy and immune checkpoint inhibition.

Professor Yeon Hee Park of Samsung Medical Center will present clinical outcome analysis based on treatment durability and response of an 'Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan)' combination therapy. Professor Hye Ryun Kim of Yonsei Cancer Hospital will present a combination strategy combining Tiumbio's TGFβRI/VEGFR2 dual inhibitor 'tosposertib' with an immune checkpoint inhibitor. Lastly, Professor Han Sang Kim of Yonsei Cancer Hospital will introduce a study examining the predictability of biomarker-based response in second-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer.