ASCO26: Key Readouts in Lung Cancer

Why It Matters

The data signal potential new standards of care for high‑risk NSCLC subpopulations, expanding treatment options and reshaping market dynamics among oncology giants. Investors and clinicians will watch regulatory filings closely as these agents move toward approval.

Key Takeaways

• BMS/BioNTech's pumitamig shows 70% ORR in early NSCLC trial
• Kelun's lunbotinib achieves 81% ORR in RET‑positive NSCLC patients
• J&J's Rybrevant‑Lazcluze yields median OS of 3.5 years in atypical EGFR NSCLC
• Pfizer's Lorbrena delivers 55% seven‑year PFS probability versus 3% for crizotinib
• PD‑L1/VEGF combos show high response rates in squamous and non‑squamous NSCLC

Pulse Analysis

The ASCO 2026 congress highlighted a wave of late‑stage data that could redefine therapeutic sequencing in non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). BMS and BioNTech’s bispecific antibody pumitamig, targeting PD‑L1 and VEGF, posted a 70% overall response rate in a small interim cohort, with an especially high 82% response in squamous disease. While safety signals remain modest, the efficacy rivals that of established PD‑1/PD‑L1 combos, suggesting that bispecific platforms may soon compete for first‑line market share alongside Merck’s Keytruda and other PD‑L1/VEGF candidates.

Equally compelling is Kelun’s lung‑focused RET inhibitor lunbotinib, which delivered over 80% response rates in both treatment‑naïve and pre‑treated RET‑positive patients and demonstrated intracranial activity. The drug’s favorable toxicity profile and pending Chinese approval could accelerate global development, positioning it against Lilly’s selpercatinib and Roche’s pralsetinib. Meanwhile, J&J’s amivantamab‑lazertinib regimen extended median overall survival to 3.5 years for patients with atypical EGFR mutations—a subgroup that historically lags behind common exon 19/21 alterations—potentially expanding the label of its already approved combination.

Pfizer’s seven‑year follow‑up of Lorbrena (lorlatinib) in the CROWN trial reinforced its dominance over first‑generation ALK inhibitors, with a 55% probability of remaining progression‑free after seven years and a 94% reduction in intracranial progression risk. Although dose reductions for CNS toxicity remain a concern, the durability of benefit underscores the value of next‑generation ALK inhibitors in long‑term disease control. Collectively, these readouts illustrate a broader trend: precision‑focused agents are delivering deeper, more durable responses across molecular niches, prompting a shift toward earlier‑line use and intensifying competition among the major oncology players.