AstraZeneca is set to present overall survival data from four pivotal Phase III cancer trials at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2026.

 

Thus, putting its experimental therapies and combination treatments in the spotlight as the company pushes to improve outcomes for patients with advanced cancers.

 

The data, scheduled for presentation from 23 to 27 October, will feature in four Presidential Symposia, with more than 100 abstracts covering the pharmaceutical giant’s oncology portfolio and development pipeline.

 

Among the most significant findings is the Phase III CLARITY-Gastric01 trial of sonesitatug vedotin (Sone-Ve), AstraZeneca’s wholly owned antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting Claudin-18.2 (CLDN18.2). 

 

The company said the trial is the first Phase III study in its setting to demonstrate a statistically significant and clinically meaningful overall survival benefit with an anti-CLDN18.2 ADC in patients with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer.

 

The results could mark a significant step towards expanding treatment options for patients whose tumours express the CLDN18.2 protein and whose disease has progressed after earlier treatment.

 

Two other key trials will examine whether combining established cancer medicines with newer agents can deliver greater clinical benefits.

 

The Phase III SAFFRON trial will assess Tagrisso (osimertinib) combined with Orpathys (savolitinib) against platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with MET-driven, EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer whose disease has progressed following prior treatment.

 

Meanwhile, the VOLGA trial will evaluate a perioperative Imfinzi (durvalumab)-based regimen incorporating enfortumab vedotin in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer who cannot receive, or have declined, cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

 

The fourth major study, DeLLphi-305, led by Amgen, will assess tarlatamab combined with Imfinzi as first-line maintenance treatment for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, compared with Imfinzi alone.

 

Together, the trials will test approaches designed to extend survival and improve treatment outcomes across some of the most challenging forms of cancer. However, the implications for clinical practice will depend on the full trial findings and their interpretation.

 

Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President, Oncology Haematology R&D, AstraZeneca, said: "AstraZeneca’s portfolio of scientific data at ESMO is our strongest to date, showcasing transformative combinations including emerging modalities. 

 

"Findings from VOLGA, DeLLphi-305 and SAFFRON demonstrate the potential of combination regimens with complementary mechanisms to improve on today’s standards of care, extend treatment benefit and meaningfully improve survival outcomes for more patients. These data, alongside practice-changing results for our first wholly owned ADC Sone-Ve from CLARITY-Gastric01 underscore how AstraZeneca is transforming cancer care."

 

Dave Fredrickson, Executive Vice President, Oncology Haematology Business Unit, AstraZeneca, said: “At ESMO, we are presenting pivotal data that demonstrate how we are advancing new standards of care by adding novel medicines to AstraZeneca’s proven backbone therapies. 

 

"Results from VOLGA, DeLLphi-305 and SAFFRON highlight the potential of innovative Imfinzi- and Tagrisso-based regimens to improve outcomes for patients across bladder and lung cancers, reinforcing our commitment to continually raising the bar for patients with cancer across the treatment landscape."

 

Beyond the four Presidential Symposium trials, AstraZeneca’s ESMO programme will feature additional studies spanning lung, ovarian, breast and liver cancers.

 

The Phase III SANOVO trial, led by Hutchmed, will evaluate Tagrisso plus Orpathys in previously untreated patients with MET-overexpressed, EGFR-mutated locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer in China.

 

The company will also present updated results from FONTANA, a Phase I/IIa study of torvutatug samrotecan, an FRα-targeting ADC, in patients with platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer.

 

Other presentations will examine circulating tumour DNA clearance and clinical outcomes in perioperative lung cancer treatment, as well as updated findings from a Phase I trial of C-CAR031, a GPC3-targeted CAR-T cell therapy, in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

 

Additional data will cover antibody-drug conjugates and treatment strategies for breast cancer, including studies involving trastuzumab deruxtecan and datopotamab deruxtecan.

 

The breadth of the programme underscores AstraZeneca’s strategy of combining targeted therapies, immuno-oncology medicines and ADCs to tackle cancer through multiple mechanisms.