On October 19, 2026 AstraZeneca reported its ambition to revolutionise cancer care with new data across its diverse, industry-leading portfolio and pipeline at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress, 23-27 October 2026.

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More than 100 abstracts will be presented, including data from five pivotal Phase III trials, four of which will be featured in Presidential Symposia. This breadth of data will demonstrate how AstraZeneca is redefining the way cancer is treated with innovative combinations, precision medicine and antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) across bladder, lung and gastric cancers. Highlights include:

CLARITY-Gastric01: Phase III trial of sonesitatug vedotin (Sone-Ve), a wholly owned Claudin-18.2 (CLDN18.2) ADC, in 2nd and later-line CLDN18.2-positive (≥25%) advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancers versus investigator’s choice of therapy. This is the first Phase III trial to show a statistically significant and clinically meaningful overall survival (OS) benefit with an anti-CLDN18.2 ADC in this setting. Approximately 60% of patients have CLDN18.2 expression ≥25% in this setting. (Presidential Symposium 2 Abstract #LBA7).
SAFFRON: Phase III trial of Tagrisso (osimertinib) plus Orpathys (savolitinib) in patients with MET-driven, epidermal growth factor receptor-mutated (EGFRm) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who progressed on prior treatment versus platinum-based chemotherapy (Presidential Symposium 2 Abstract #LBA6).
DeLLphi-305: Amgen-led Phase III trial of Imfinzi (durvalumab) plus tarlatamab as a 1st-line maintenance treatment for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer versus Imfinzi alone (Presidential Symposium 1 Abstract #LBA3).
VOLGA: Phase III trial of perioperative Imfinzi in combination with neoadjuvant enfortumab vedotin in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer who are ineligible for or have refused cisplatin-based chemotherapy, versus surgery with or without approved adjuvant treatment (Presidential Symposium 1 Abstract #LBA2).
SANOVO: Hutchmed-led Phase III trial of Tagrisso plus Orpathys in treatment-naïve patients with MET-overexpressed, EGFRm locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC versus Tagrisso alone in China (Proffered Paper Abstract #LBA69).
NeoCOAST-2: Association of ctDNA clearance with clinical outcomes in a global platform Phase II perioperative trial of Imfinzi combinations with Datroway (datopotomab deruxtecan), oleclumab and monalizumab in NSCLC (Rapid Oral Session Abstract #4244RO).
FONTANA: Phase I/IIa trial of torvutatug samrotecan (Torvu-Sam), a folate receptor α (FRα)-targeting ADC as monotherapy in patients with platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer (Rapid Oral Session Abstract #1245RO).
AZD7003: Updated results from a Phase I trial of C-CAR031, a Glypican 3 (GPC3) CAR-T, in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (Rapid Oral Session Abstract #1680RO).
Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President, Oncology Haematology R&D, AstraZeneca, said: "AstraZeneca’s portfolio of scientific data at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 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 (Free ESMO Whitepaper), 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."

Key AstraZeneca presentations during ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 20261

Lead Author

Abstract Title

Presentation details (CEST)

Antibody drug conjugates

Xu, R-H

CLARITY-Gastric01 (CG-01): a Phase III trial of Sone-Ve in second or later-line (2L+) advanced or metastatic Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2) positive gastroesophageal carcinoma (GEC)

Abstract #LBA7

Presidential Symposium 2

25 October 2026

4:30 PM

Meric-Bernstam, F

Updated results from FONTANA: Torvutatug samrotecan (torvu-sam), a folate receptor α (FRα)-targeted antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), in patients (pts) with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC)

Abstract #1245RO

Rapid Oral Session

24 October 2026

Dent, R

First-line (1L) datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) vs chemotherapy in patients (pts) with locally recurrent inoperable or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) for whom immunotherapy was not an option: Exploratory analysis of pts with brain metastases in TROPION-Breast02 (TB-02)

Abstract #LBA96

Proffered Paper Session

24 October 2026

8:30 AM

Boileau, JF

DESTINY-Breast11 (DB-11): MRI-assessed objective responses during neoadjuvant treatment (NAT) with trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) followed by paclitaxel + trastuzumab + pertuzumab (THP) vs dose-

dense doxorubicin + cyclophosphamide followed by THP (ddAC-THP) in HER2+ early breast cancer (eBC)

Abstract #543RO

Rapid Oral Session

23 October 2026

4:15 PM

Novello, S

First-line (1L) trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) in patients (pts) with HER2-mutant (HER2m) NSCLC: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) from DESTINY-Lung04 (DL-04)

Abstract #LBA74

Rapid Oral Session

24 October 2026

9:00 AM

Manich, S

A DESTINY-Breast09 (DB-09) analysis of trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) + pertuzumab (P) vs taxane + trastuzumab + pertuzumab (THP) for patients (pts) with HER2+ advanced/metastatic breast cancer (a/mBC) and baseline (BL) brain metastases (BMs)

Abstract #LBA49

Rapid Oral Session

26 October 2026

10:15 AM

Immuno-oncology

Powles, T

Perioperative durvalumab with or without tremelimumab plus neoadjuvant enfortumab vedotin in muscle-invasive bladder cancer: results from the Phase 3 VOLGA trial

Abstract #LBA2

Presidential Symposium 1

24 October 2026

4:30 PM

Sands, J

Tarlatamab plus durvalumab (durva) vs durva as 1L maintenance (1LM) therapy following durva, platinum, and etoposide (1L durva + EP) in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC): Primary analysis of the phase 3 DeLLphi-305 trial

Abstract #LBA3

Presidential Symposium 1

24 October 2026

4:30 PM

Kudo, M

Liver function trajectory and post-progression outcomes in the Phase III EMERALD-3 trial of tremelimumab (T) + durvalumab (D) ± lenvatinib

(L) + transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) in participants (pts) with

embolisation-eligible hepatocellular carcinoma (eeHCC)

Abstract #LBA48

Proffered Paper Session

24 October 2026

10:15 AM

Westin, S

Durvalumab (D) plus carboplatin/paclitaxel (CP) followed by D with or without olaparib (O) in advanced/recurrent endometrial cancer (a/rEC): interim overall survival (OS) and safety from the randomised Phase III DUO-E/GOG-3041/ENGOT-EN10 trial

Abstract #LBA37

Proffered Paper Session

24 October 2026

2:45 PM

De Santis, M

Durvalumab (D) in Combination With BCG Induction and Maintenance (I+M) for BCG-Naïve, High-Risk Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC): Early Recurrence and Cystectomy-Free Survival in Patients (pts) With Papillary Only Tumours From POTOMAC

Abstract #4737RO

Rapid Oral Session

24 October 2026

10:15 AM

Cascone, T

NeoCOAST-2: Association of ctDNA clearance with clinical outcomes in a global platform Phase III perioperative trial

Abstract #4244RO

Rapid Oral Session

25 October 2026

8:30 AM

Spicer, J

ctDNA clearance (CL) during neoadjuvant treatment (neoadj Tx) and its association with outcomes in patients (pts) with resectable/borderline resectable stage IIB–IIIB NSCLC from MDT-BRIDGE

Abstract #LBA69

Rapid Oral Session

26 October 2026

10:15 AM

Lorenza, R

Seven-year overall survival (OS) and OS by tumour response measures from the Phase III HIMALAYA trial of tremelimumab plus durvalumab in first-line (1L) unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC)

Abstract #1683P

Poster Session

25 October 2026

12:00 PM

Tumour drivers and resistance

Lu, S

Osimertinib (osi) + savolitinib (savo) vs platinum–pemetrexed (plat–pem) in EGFRm MET-overexpressed (OE) and/or -amplified (AMP) advanced NSCLC post-osi: SAFFRON Phase III primary results

Abstract #LBA6

Presidential Symposium 2

25 October 2026

4:30 PM

Wu, YL

Savolitinib or Placebo Combined with Osimertinib in Treatment-Naïve Advanced NSCLC with EGFR Mutation and MET Overexpression: Results from the Phase III SANOVO trial

Abstract #LBA69

Proffered Paper Session

26 October 2026

8:30 AM

Fizazi, K

Capivasertib (capi) + abiraterone (abi) vs placebo (pbo) + abi in patients (pts) with PTEN-deficient metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC): updated overall survival (OS) from CAPItello-281

Abstract #LBA56

Rapid Oral Session

23 October 2026

1:30 PM

Cell therapy

Liang, T

Phase I trial of C-CAR031, a GPC3-targeted TGFβRIIDN armored autologous CAR-T, in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC): Updated Results

Abstract #1680RO

Rapid Oral Session

26 October 2026

2:45 PM

(Press release, AstraZeneca, OCT 19, 2026, View Source [SID1234673577])