The European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2026 meeting in Madrid will showcase groundbreaking cancer research, with a focus on antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), a cancer vaccine from Merck and Moderna, and a bispecific therapy from Summit Therapeutics and Akeso. Analysts anticipate significant advancements that could reshape cancer treatment strategies.
Merck and Moderna’s mRNA-based personalized cancer vaccine, intismeran autogene, combined with Keytruda, will be a highlight. The Phase 3 INTerpath-001 trial showed that the combination extended survival without disease recurrence in melanoma patients. Detailed findings will be presented on Saturday, with analysts expecting a recurrence-free survival benefit of at least 30%. The vaccine’s potential extends beyond melanoma, with trials ongoing in renal cell carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and bladder cancer.
Merck will also present Phase 3 data for sacituzumab tirumotecan (sac-TMT), an ADC partnered with Kelun-Biotech. The OptiTROP-Lung06 trial combines sac-TMT with Keytruda and chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer, showing improved progression-free survival and a positive trend in overall survival. This could challenge platinum-based chemotherapy as a first-line treatment.
Other notable presentations include AstraZeneca’s sone-ve, an ADC targeting Claudin-18.2, being tested in advanced gastric cancer. Analysts believe these innovations could significantly impact cancer treatment and commercial opportunities.