Key facts
- Amgen's Imdyetra is approved in Europe for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.
- Imdyetra showed a 40% reduction in the risk of death compared to chemotherapy.
- D3 Bio's elisrasib monotherapy in first-line NSCLC achieved a 78.0% ORR and 12.4 months median PFS.
- Elisrasib in combination with pembrolizumab achieved an 81.3% ORR in first-line NSCLC.
- Novartis' experimental drug showed anti-tumour activity in prostate cancer patients.
- Over 52% of previously treated prostate cancer patients saw PSA levels fall by half with Novartis' drug.
- Aqtual, Inc. developed a blood test analyzing immune, stromal, and tumor genomic biology.
- IDEAYA Biosciences and Roche will collaborate on a pancreatic cancer drug trial.
- Ansun Biopharma's Phase 3 development of DAS181 will continue.
- Biond Biologics and GIBF closed an $8 million investment and collaboration.
- WuXi Biologics' Singapore CRDMO Hub topped out its Drug Product facility.
- Astrana Health, Inc. was named to the 2026 Fortune 1000 List.
Several biopharmaceutical companies are reporting significant advancements in cancer treatment and drug development. Amgen's Imdyetra has received approval from the European Commission for the treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. This approval is based on Phase 3 trial results that indicated a 40% reduction in the risk of death compared to traditional chemotherapy, offering a new therapeutic option for patients. D3 Bio presented preliminary data for elisrasib, a KRAS G12C inhibitor, in the first-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The monotherapy demonstrated an objective response rate (ORR) of 78.0% and a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 12.4 months. When combined with pembrolizumab, the treatment achieved an even higher ORR of 81.3%, with manageable safety profiles reported.
Novartis' experimental actinium-based drug has shown anti-tumour activity in an early study involving prostate cancer patients. Notably, over 52% of patients who had previously received Pluvicto experienced a reduction in their PSA levels by half. Higher response rates were observed in treatment-naive patients. Analysts suggest that managing potential side effects will be a critical factor as Novartis progresses to larger trials. Aqtual, Inc. has announced new findings on its blood-based active chromatin cell-free DNA platform. This test is designed to simultaneously evaluate immune, stromal, and tumor genomic biology from a single blood sample, potentially enabling non-invasive monitoring of tumor microenvironment changes and the development of treatment resistance.
In other oncology news, IDEAYA Biosciences and Roche are entering into a collaboration to conduct a clinical trial evaluating IDEAYA's drug candidate IDE892 in combination with Roche's RG6505 for pancreatic cancer. This agreement includes upfront and potential milestone payments to IDEAYA. Ansun Biopharma's Phase 3 development of DAS181 for immunocompromised patients with parainfluenza infection will continue, following a recommendation from its independent Data Monitoring Committee. The committee suggested expanding the sample size after an interim analysis indicated the study is in a promising zone. Mezzion Pharma has completed a regulatory milestone for its FUEL-2 Phase 3 study, with an independent review confirming the study will proceed as planned and enrollment is on track for completion in 2026. Biond Biologics and Guangzhou-Israel Biotechnology Fund (GIBF) have closed an $8 million investment and collaboration to advance oncology programs in China. WuXi Biologics announced the topping out of its Drug Product facility at its Singapore CRDMO Hub, marking progress in integrated drug development and manufacturing services.
Beyond cancer, Satsuma Pharmaceuticals will present findings from its migraine treatment development program at the American Headache Society's 68th Annual Scientific Meeting. Aphranel celebrated its first anniversary on May 20, 2026, having achieved EU MDR certification and launched its Arc product line, delivering over 150,000 syringes since its launch on May 8, 2025. Astrana Health, Inc. has been named to the 2026 Fortune 1000 List, recognizing its substantial revenue growth. Vaniam Group and Women Leaders in Oncology, through Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation, presented the 2026 Young Investigator Awards to physician-scientists Nia Beckley and Jordyn Silverstein. Bio Ascend, a Vaniam Group company, has assumed stewardship of the iwNHL and iwMyeloma workshops. Ferretti S.p.A. held its Annual General Meeting on May 14, 2026, where shareholders approved a new board of directors, with FIH and Weichai Group reaffirming their support.