Oncology Pipeline in Focus: ASCO 2026, Soft Tissue Sarcoma Updates, and Radiopharma Expansion

AstraZeneca is set to showcase a broad oncology pipeline at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting from 29 May to 2 June 2026, with more than 85 abstracts covering 10 approved medicines and 13 potential new therapies, including 25 oral presentations spanning oncology and rare disease programs.

Among the headline studies, the EMERALD-3 trial evaluates the combination of Imfinzi (durvalumab) and Imjudo (tremelimumab), with or without lenvatinib and transarterial chemoembolisation, in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. In breast cancer, the SERENA-6 trial reports final progression-free survival 2 data for camizestrant combined with CDK4/6 inhibitors in HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer with emergent ESR1 mutations. The BLUESTAR study updates safety and efficacy for the investigational antibody-drug conjugate puxitatug samrotecan in B7-H4-positive endometrial and ovarian cancers, which recently received FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation. Early-stage data include first-in-human results for AZD3470 in Hodgkin lymphoma and NT-175 T-cell receptor therapy in TP53-mutated solid tumours, along with the TROPION-Breast02 and DESTINY-Breast09 trials and five-year survival data from the POTOMAC study in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Separately, the soft tissue sarcoma pipeline has seen several regulatory and clinical developments. The FDA granted orphan drug designation to THE001 (DPPG2-TSL-DOX), a thermosensitive liposomal doxorubicin formulation, for soft tissue sarcoma, following a similar designation from the European Medicines Agency. Adcendo's ADCE-D01 received Fast Track designation for soft tissue sarcoma. In August 2025, data from a Phase 3 study showed that anlotinib combined with epirubicin provided significant efficacy advantages over epirubicin alone in advanced soft tissue sarcoma. Results from the Phase 2 CONGRATS trial showed that nivolumab, alone or with relatlimab, outperformed historical standards in patients with tertiary lymphoid structure-positive soft tissue sarcoma. In a Phase 2a trial, eight of ten evaluable patients treated with tigilanol tiglate experienced complete or partial tumor ablation.

Sun Pharma's oncology pipeline saw mixed news. Phase II trials for Fibromun (L19TNF) — the FLASH study in soft tissue sarcoma (94 patients) and the GLIOSTAR trial in glioblastoma (163 patients) — did not meet their primary efficacy endpoints. However, the partnered therapy Nidlegy demonstrated a 52.6% complete pathological response rate in the Phase II 'Duncan' study in basal cell carcinoma. Philogen, Sun Pharma's development partner, anticipates regulatory advice for a new Phase III FIBROSARC-2 study in Q2 2026, and enrollment for Nidlegy registrational studies in basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is set to begin in Q2 2026, with a fourth registrational study planned by mid-2026. Nidlegy's marketing authorization application for melanoma was withdrawn from the European Medicines Agency in June 2025 due to data submission delays, with a resubmission planned.

Peptide and nanobody drug conjugates are emerging as a visible segment of the global development pipeline. A Citeline analysis presented at PEGS 2026 identified 106 active programs worldwide, with several late-stage candidates expected to reach regulators within the year. The global peptide drug conjugates market was valued at USD 4.53 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow to USD 22.45 billion by 2034, a CAGR of 19.46%, according to a market forecast. The space is seeing investment in prostate cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, and radiopharmaceutical innovations.

The radiopharmaceutical field is also broadening beyond prostate cancer into multitumor programs. The radiopharmaceuticals market is forecast to grow from $9.1 billion in 2023 to $26.5 billion in 2031, according to a 2025 report by Insight Partners. Novartis is investigating Pluvicto in the Phase III PSMA-DC trial for PSMA-positive metachronous oligometastatic prostate cancer. AstraZeneca is developing FPI-2265 in Phase II for PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and AZD2068 in Phase I for advanced solid tumors. Bayer is expanding Xofigo through combination therapies in earlier, asymptomatic metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, and Eli Lilly entered the radiopharma space in 2023 with the $1.4 billion acquisition of Point Biopharma, followed by a deal with Aktis Oncology worth up to $1.1 billion.

Product pipelines, across a range of disease settings, are expanding in breadth and complexity, with a growing focus on durability, safety, manufacturability, and real-world value.