Paclitaxel is a taxane antineoplastic chemotherapy drug used in multiple solid tumors including breast, ovarian, lung, and Kaposi's sarcoma settings. It acts on microtubules to arrest mitosis and induce tumor-cell death. Paclitaxel was approved for medical use in 1993.
Three trials show ultra-low-dose checkpoint inhibitors retain efficacy with reduced toxicity and dramatically lower costs. DELII and Patil et al. trials tested low-dose nivolumab in solid tumors and HNSCC; NIVIPIT tested intratumoral low-dose ipilimumab in melanoma.
MSD said sacituzumab tirumotecan improved overall survival and progression-free survival in the Phase III TroFuse-005 trial in endometrial cancer. The study also met its objective response rate endpoint.
Sensei Biotherapeutics dosed the first patient in a Phase 1b/2 trial of PIKTOR (sapanisertib + serabelisib) in HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer. The multi-node PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitor previously showed a 47% overall response rate in a Phase 1b trial.
Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy showed a 51.5% pathological complete response rate in 127 patients with resectable squamous cell lung cancer. Grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 11.8% of patients.
Compass Therapeutics reported mixed Phase 2/3 data for tovecimig in biliary tract cancer and plans to meet with the FDA for a BLA discussion. The study met its primary ORR endpoint (17% vs 5%), while PFS and OS data are due late this quarter.
The FDA approved Keytruda and Keytruda Qlex with paclitaxel, with or without bevacizumab, for PD-L1-positive platinum-resistant ovarian-related cancers. The Phase III KEYNOTE-B96 trial showed improved progression-free and overall survival versus placebo.
Merck received FDA approval in early February 2026 for KEYTRUDA and KEYTRUDA QLEX in PD-L1-positive platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The decision marks the first approval of a PD-1 inhibitor regimen for this setting.
Ten-year follow-up of the phase 3 ESPATUE trial found similar overall and progression-free survival with chemoradiotherapy boost or surgery in resectable advanced NSCLC after induction therapy.
ALX Oncology has multiple 2026 catalysts for Evorpacept and ALX2004. Interim ASPEN-09 data are expected in Q3 2026, while an initial safety update from the phase 1 ALX2004 trial is expected in 1H 2026.
Moderna and Merck advance a Phase 2 trial of mRNA cancer vaccine V940 with pembrolizumab and chemotherapy for metastatic squamous NSCLC. In biliary tract cancer, first-line treatment combines chemotherapy with immunotherapy, while targeted therapy resistance prompts liquid biopsy. ImmunityBio tests a chemotherapy-free NK-cell regimen in non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
| NCT ID | Title | Status | Phase |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCT07604766 |
An Extension Study to Assess the Efficacy of Rina-S Compared to Treatment of Investigator's Choice in Participants With Platinum Resistant Ovarian Cancer in China |
NOT_YET_RECRUITING | PHASE3 |
| NCT07594548 |
Futibatinib With Paclitaxel and Ramucirumab for the Treatment of Locally Advanced or Unresectable Gastric, Gastroesophageal Junction, or Esophageal Adenocarcinoma |
NOT_YET_RECRUITING | PHASE1 |
| NCT07564141 |
Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Rina-S With or Without Bevacizumab Compared to Investigator's Choice of Platinum-based Chemotherapy With or Without Bevacizumab as Second-line Treatment in Participants With Recurrent Platinum-sensitive Ovarian Cancer |
NOT_YET_RECRUITING | PHASE3 |
| NCT07554456 |
A Study of BL-B01D1 in Combination With Tislelizumab ±5-Fluorouracil Versus Platinum-Based Chemotherapy Plus Tislelizumab as First-line Treatment in Patients With Unresectable, Locally Advanced Recurrent or Metastatic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma(PANKU-Esophagus02) |
NOT_YET_RECRUITING | PHASE2/PHASE3 |
| NCT07546812 |
Study of Denikitug (GS-1811) Given Alone or With Nivolumab or Chemotherapy in Adults With Metastatic Gastric, Gastroesophageal Junction (GEJ), and Esophageal Adenocarcinomas |
RECRUITING | PHASE2 |
| NCT07545460 |
A Study Comparing BL-M07D1 With Physician's Choice of Chemotherapy in Patients With HER2-Expressing Platinum-Resistant Recurrent Epithelial Ovarian Cancer, Fallopian Tube Cancer, and Primary Peritoneal Cancer |
NOT_YET_RECRUITING | PHASE3 |
| NCT07529483 |
Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Chemoablation for the Treatment of Pancreatic Cystic Neoplasms |
RECRUITING | PHASE2 |
| NCT07518147 |
A Study Comparing BL-M05D1 With the Investigator's Choice of Treatment Regimen in Patients With Claudin (CLDN)18.2-Positive Advanced Gastric Cancer or Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma (GC/GEJC) Who Have Received Prior First-Line Treatment |
NOT_YET_RECRUITING | PHASE3 |
| NCT07492680 |
A Study of BMS-986504 Monotherapy and in Combination With Other Agents in Participants With Advanced and/or Metastatic Solid Tumors With Homozygous MTAP Deletion (MountainTAP-5) |
NOT_YET_RECRUITING | PHASE2 |
| NCT07487896 |
A Study of YL201 Versus Investigator's Choice of Chemotherapy in Participants With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma After Failure of First-Line Therapy |
NOT_YET_RECRUITING | PHASE3 |
