The 2026 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), a premier global oncology event, will take place from May 29 to June 2 in Chicago, USA. The first batch of abstracts has now been officially released. A total of 95 studies led by Chinese researchers, including those from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, have been selected for Oral Abstract, Rapid Oral Abstract, Clinical Science Symposium, and Education Session presentations. This marks a new record high and represents the third consecutive year of significant growth.

Among the published abstracts, the HARMONi-6 study led by Akeso has been chosen for the Plenary Session, marking the second time a Chinese study has been selected for this prestigious platform. Additionally, Kelun-Biotech and Merck will disclose key Phase III clinical data for an ADC plus PD-1 combination therapy. These two studies have the potential to become core treatments for non-small cell lung cancer over the next five years. Another highlight is the inclusion of a triple-negative breast cancer study on iza-bren, a drug independently developed by Baili Pharmaceutical, as a Late-Breaking Abstract (LBA).

Key Focus 1: Chinese Research Returns to ASCO's Highest-Level Presentation Platform The annual ASCO meeting is the most influential academic conference in oncology, showcasing cutting-edge clinical research and innovative treatment strategies worldwide. An analysis of the accepted abstracts reveals that ADC drugs and bispecific antibodies represent the most concentrated areas of innovation for Chinese pharmaceutical companies and form the core theme of China's international breakthroughs in anti-cancer research this year.

A major highlight of this year's ASCO is the HARMONi-6 study, led by Professor Shun Lu from Shanghai Chest Hospital and sponsored by Akeso. It will be presented as LBA4 in the Plenary Session, signifying a major milestone for Chinese original research on the global stage.

The Plenary Session is ASCO's most prestigious platform. According to analysis, this session selects only five top-tier LBA studies each year, representing the most significant global breakthroughs in cancer treatment. The inclusion of a domestically developed bispecific antibody regimen breaks the long-standing dominance of international pharmaceutical companies in this top academic arena and marks China's official entry into the global first tier of oncology drug innovation.

It is understood that since its inception 60 years ago, the HARMONi-6 study is only the second clinical study of an original Chinese drug to be featured in the ASCO Plenary Session, highlighting China's sustained breakthroughs and deep expertise in innovative oncology therapeutics.

HARMONi-6 is a large-scale, pivotal Phase III trial. Its core objective is a head-to-head comparison evaluating the efficacy and safety of ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy versus tislelizumab combined with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer.

Squamous lung cancer accounts for 25% to 30% of all lung cancer cases. Its clinical management has long been challenging due to a scarcity of actionable driver gene mutations, limiting targeted therapy options. PD-1 inhibitors have been the optimal treatment, but their efficacy has plateaued, creating an urgent need for next-generation therapies. Notably, tislelizumab is currently the highest-selling PD-1 inhibitor in China, making the results of this head-to-head study highly significant for the future lung cancer treatment landscape.

During last year's ESMO congress, interim results from HARMONi-6 were announced. The ivonescimab plus chemotherapy group demonstrated a median progression-free survival (mPFS) of 11.14 months, a significant extension of 4.24 months compared to the standard treatment, with a hazard ratio of 0.60 and high statistical significance. However, overall survival (OS) data, a key endpoint, were not released at that time, leading to market speculation. The forthcoming presentation of OS data at the ASCO Plenary Session is expected to further solidify ivonescimab's efficacy profile and potentially usher in a new era of bispecific antibody plus chemotherapy treatment for advanced squamous lung cancer.

Key Focus 2: Kelun-Biotech Phase III Study Reveals Key Data on PD-1 + ADC Combination Mirroring trends from 2025, ADCs and bispecific antibodies remain a primary focus for Chinese researchers this year, representing a core strategy for domestic companies to differentiate themselves and move beyond homogeneous competition. Among the notable presentations, the OptiTROP-Lung05 study, led by Professor Caicun Zhou from Tongji University Affiliated Shanghai East Hospital, will present key data in an oral report, warranting particular attention.

OptiTROP-Lung05 evaluates the combination of Kelun-Biotech's sacituzumab tirumotecan (SKB264) with pembrolizumab as a first-line treatment for PD-L1 positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer. In November 2025, the study successfully met its primary PFS endpoint, demonstrating both statistical significance and clinical benefit. A positive trend in overall survival was also observed. This study offers a new combination therapy option for PD-L1 positive NSCLC patients and is the first global Phase III study of an ADC plus immunotherapy to report positive results in this specific indication, marking a milestone achievement.

Other domestic companies, including Hengrui Pharmaceuticals, Junshi Biosciences, and RemeGen, are also actively developing PD-1 + ADC combinations. The concurrent presentations of HARMONi-6 and OptiTROP-Lung05 at ASCO represent not only a direct comparison of these two therapeutic approaches but, more importantly, may help determine the dominant first-line treatment paradigm for lung cancer in the coming decade.

Key Focus 3: Baili Pharmaceutical's Iza-bren Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Study Selected as LBA Among the array of Chinese ADC studies, iza-bren (BL-B01D1), independently developed by Baili Pharmaceutical, stands out as the world's first EGFR×HER3 bispecific antibody ADC to enter Phase III clinical trials.

At this year's ASCO meeting, a triple-negative breast cancer study on iza-bren has been selected as an LBA. It will be presented orally by Professor Ling Wu from Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center. The study is a randomized Phase III clinical trial comparing iza-bren versus physician's choice of chemotherapy for treating unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer is highly aggressive with limited treatment options, representing a major unmet clinical need. This study has the potential to address a significant gap in the treatment of refractory breast cancer.

LBA presentations feature the most critical findings at ASCO, with a very high selection threshold. They typically represent major breakthroughs capable of changing clinical practice and are kept under strict embargo until their first public release at the conference, making them the most anticipated and impactful studies of the entire event.

Additionally, another oral presentation on iza-bren, focusing on advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progressing after immunotherapy and also meeting dual endpoints, will be delivered by Professor Zhihao Lu from Peking University Cancer Hospital.

As Chinese innovative drugs reach parity on the global stage, showcasing capabilities at international forums has become routine for innovative pharmaceutical companies. Analysis indicates that recently issued state council guidelines represent a comprehensive policy package supporting innovation through pricing, diversified payment mechanisms, and intelligent regulation. This reflects continued top-level, full-chain support for innovative drugs, suggesting that revenue from innovative drugs for many domestic companies is poised for sustained rapid growth, with the commercial value of high-level innovations likely to be fully realized, promoting the industry's high-quality development.