Kelun-Biotech's Lung Cancer Drugs Show Strong ASCO 2026 Data
Event summary
- Kelun-Biotech's sac-TMT plus pembrolizumab combination showed significant PFS improvement in PD-L1 positive advanced NSCLC, with median PFS not reached vs. 5.7 months (HR=0.35, p<0.0001).
- Lunbotinib demonstrated high ORR (87.1% in pre-treated, 81.3% in treatment-naïve) and manageable safety profile in RET-fusion positive NSCLC.
- Both drugs' applications have been accepted for review by NMPA, with sac-TMT's combination regimen in priority review.
- Kelun-Biotech has licensed sac-TMT to MSD for global development outside Greater China and lunbotinib to Ellipses Pharma for international markets.
The big picture
Kelun-Biotech's ASCO 2026 presentations highlight its growing pipeline in targeted lung cancer therapies, with both sac-TMT and lunbotinib showing promising efficacy data. The company's strategic partnerships with MSD and Ellipses Pharma position it for global expansion, while NMPA's priority review process could accelerate domestic commercialization. The results underscore the competitive dynamics in oncology, where targeted therapies and ADCs are reshaping treatment paradigms.
What we're watching
- Regulatory Approval
- Whether NMPA will grant priority approval for sac-TMT's combination regimen based on the Phase III data.
- Global Expansion
- The pace at which MSD and Ellipses Pharma advance sac-TMT and lunbotinib in international markets.
- Competitive Positioning
- How Kelun-Biotech's ADC and RET inhibitor platforms will compete against established and emerging oncology treatments.
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