Biotech companies present new ADC clinical data at ESMO 2026

At the 2026 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress, two biotechnology companies released significant clinical data regarding antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for treating advanced cancers.

Kelun-Biotech announced Phase II results for sac-TMT (SKB264) in combination with pembrolizumab for patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who are cisplatin-ineligible. The study reported an objective response rate (ORR) of 68% and a disease control rate (DCR) of 88%. The combination demonstrated promising antitumor activity regardless of TROP2 or PD-L1 expression levels, with a manageable safety profile.

Innovent Biologics (indicated via context of CM518D1) presented Phase I data for its CDH17-targeted ADC, CM518D1, for advanced solid tumors. In a cohort of patients with advanced colorectal cancer who had undergone multiple lines of therapy, the 4.8 mg/kg dose group achieved an ORR of 33.3% and a DCR of 93.3%. The data suggests the drug has potential for long-term use with controllable safety and efficacy in targeting digestive system tumors.