China innovative drugs at ESMO 2026: China innovative drugs take a prominent role in ESMO 2026 late-breaking abstracts

Overview

This event preview reviews Chinese oncology-drug abstracts selected for ESMO 2026. Nomura views the breadth and prominence of the presentations as a positive signal for China innovative biopharma and identifies key Phase 3 and other clinical-data releases to follow in October.

Core views

Nomura reviews the abstracts released ahead of the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2026, scheduled for Madrid on 23-27 October. The institution notes that ESMO is a major global oncology meeting at which pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies disclose updates on novel therapies. Using Pharmcube data, it finds that Chinese drug developers will present readouts across multiple modalities—including small-molecule TKIs, bispecific antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates—and across cancers such as non-small-cell lung cancer, breast cancer and gastroesophageal cancer. The headline evidence is the scale and prominence of the Chinese contribution: 29 of the 96 late-breaking abstracts are from China. More notably, five Chinese abstracts—LBA6, LBA7, LBA8, LBA9 and LBA11—are included in the 12 presentations scheduled for the presidential symposium. Nomura interprets this combination of volume and high-profile session selection as reflecting a rising quantity and quality of China innovative drugs. The report’s abstract table spans numerous late-stage and earlier clinical programs. Presidential-symposium examples include Hutchmed/AstraZeneca’s savolitinib plus osimertinib in EGFR-mutated, MET-overexpressed or amplified advanced NSCLC after osimertinib; Keymed/Lepu/AstraZeneca’s CLDN18.2-targeting sonesitatug vedotin in advanced or metastatic gastroesophageal carcinoma; Akeso/Summit’s ivonescimab plus chemotherapy in first-line advanced biliary tract cancer; Hansoh/GSK’s B7-H3 therapy risvutatug rezetecan in relapsed or refractory osteosarcoma; and Kelun-Biotech/Merck’s sacituzumab tirumotecan in previously treated advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer. Nomura calls for particular attention to LBA7 and LBA77, LBA11 and LBA66 and LBA67, LBA71, and LBA1 when full outcomes are released in October. These include CLDN18.2 programs in gastric or gastroesophageal-junction cancer; Kelun-Biotech/Merck’s TROP2 program across endometrial cancer, first-line PD-L1-negative advanced non-squamous NSCLC and EGFR-mutated NSCLC after EGFR-TKI progression; Biokin/Bristol Myers Squibb’s EGFR/HER3-targeting iza-bren in EGFR-mutant non-squamous NSCLC after third-generation EGFR-TKI treatment; and the Nterpath-001 individualized mRNA neoantigen therapy combined with Keytruda. The report does not provide efficacy outcomes, ratings, target prices or investment recommendations; its focus is the forthcoming clinical-data catalysts.

Analysis framework

Nomura uses Pharmcube data and the released ESMO abstract list to count Chinese late-breaking abstracts, identify their placement in the presidential symposium, and organize relevant programs by company, drug, target, indication and study description. It then highlights selected abstracts for monitoring once detailed clinical results become available.

Methodology notes

• Other

  Conference abstract and clinical-data tracking

  The report reviews released ESMO abstracts and their study characteristics to identify upcoming oncology-data catalysts rather than applying a valuation framework.

Asset mapping & comparison

Structured mapping from thesis to named assets (strengths, weaknesses, peers, risks).

• Keymed / Lepu / AstraZeneca — sonesitatug vedotin (LBA7)

  Highlighted for attention; Phase 3 CLDN18.2-positive advanced or metastatic gastroesophageal-cancer study.

  Strengths

  Selected for the ESMO presidential symposium.

  Risks

  Detailed study outcomes had not yet been released.

• Kelun-Biotech / Merck — sacituzumab tirumotecan (LBA11, LBA66, LBA67)

  Highlighted for attention across endometrial cancer and NSCLC studies.

  Strengths

  LBA11 is included in the presidential symposium; the program has multiple ESMO readouts.

  Comparison

  LBA66 compares sacituzumab tirumotecan plus pembrolizumab with chemotherapy plus pembrolizumab; LBA67 compares it with platinum-based chemotherapy.

  Risks

  Detailed October results remain pending.

• Biokin / Bristol Myers Squibb — izalontamab brengitecan (LBA71)

  Highlighted for attention in EGFR-mutant non-squamous NSCLC after third-generation EGFR-TKI progression.

  Strengths

  Phase 3 study presentation.

  Risks

  Detailed research outcomes remain pending.

• Innovent / Takeda — arcotatug tavat ecan (LBA77)

  Highlighted for attention in previously treated advanced gastric or gastroesophageal-junction adenocarcinoma.

  Strengths

  Phase 3 first interim analysis.

  Comparison

  Compared with treatment of physician's choice.

  Risks

  Detailed research outcomes remain pending.

Key data

• ESMO 2026 dates23-27 October 2026The congress will take place in Madrid, Spain.
• Chinese late-breaking abstracts29 out of 96Nomura's count of Chinese LBAs using Pharmcube data.
• Chinese presidential-symposium LBAs5 out of 12LBA6, LBA7, LBA8, LBA9 and LBA11 are scheduled for the presidential symposium.

Impact & implications

Nomura considers the concentration of Chinese programs among late-breaking abstracts and presidential-symposium presentations a sign of greater visibility and advancing quality for China innovative-drug development. The detailed October readouts are the near-term evidence needed to assess the highlighted programs.

What to watch

• Detailed outcomes from LBA7, LBA77, LBA11, LBA66, LBA67, LBA71 and LBA1 when released in October.
• Clinical results from the five Chinese presidential-symposium abstracts: LBA6, LBA7, LBA8, LBA9 and LBA11.