On July 24, 2026 AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo reported Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) in combination with pertuzumab has been recommended for approval in the European Union (EU) for the 1st-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer.

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The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) based its positive opinion on results from the DESTINY-Breast09 Phase III trial presented at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting and subsequently published in The New England Journal of Medicine.1

Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President, Oncology Haematology R&D, AstraZeneca, said: "HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer is an aggressive subtype, so starting patients on an effective HER2-targeted treatment early and continuing it for as long as they benefit can have a meaningful impact on long-term outcomes. DESTINY-Breast09 sets a new benchmark with a median progression-free survival of more than three years, underscoring the potential of Enhertu plus pertuzumab to redefine first-line treatment for patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer."

John Tsai, Global Head, R&D, Daiichi Sankyo, said: "Enhertu in combination with pertuzumab improved progression-free survival by more than one year compared with the current first-line standard of care, representing a meaningful advantage early in the treatment of patients with metastatic HER2-positive disease. Today’s positive CHMP opinion brings us closer to making Enhertu available in the EU as a first-line treatment option for eligible patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, marking an important milestone in moving this medicine earlier in the treatment pathway."

In DESTINY-Breast09, Enhertu in combination with pertuzumab reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 44% versus a taxane, trastuzumab and pertuzumab (THP) (based on a hazard ratio of 0.56; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.44-0.71; p<0.00001) in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer who had not received prior chemotherapy or HER2-targeted therapy or had received neoadjuvant or adjuvant HER2-targeted therapy more than six months before the diagnosis of advanced or metastatic disease. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 40.7 months with Enhertu in combination with pertuzumab compared to 26.9 months with THP. The PFS benefit was consistent across subgroups, including for the prespecified stratification factors of hormone receptor status, de novo or recurrent disease and PIK3CA mutation status.

The safety profile of Enhertu plus pertuzumab was consistent with the known profiles of each individual therapy with no new safety concerns identified.

Enhertu in combination with pertuzumab is approved in the US, Switzerland and other countries as a 1st-line treatment for patients with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer based on the results from the DESTINY-Breast09 trial.

Enhertu is also under review in the EU for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer who have residual invasive disease after neoadjuvant HER2-targeted treatment based on data from the DESTINY-Breast05 trial.

Enhertu is a specifically engineered HER2-directed DXd antibody drug conjugate (ADC) discovered by Daiichi Sankyo and being jointly developed and commercialised by AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo.

Notes

HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide and the leading cause of cancer-related death among women.2 Approximately, 2.4 million breast cancer cases were diagnosed in 2024, with more than 690,000 deaths globally.2 In Europe, approximately 540,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed annually, with more than 140,000 deaths.3 While survival rates are high for those diagnosed with early breast cancer, only about 30% of patients diagnosed with or whose disease has progressed to metastatic disease are expected to live five years following diagnosis.4

HER2 is a tyrosine kinase receptor growth-promoting protein expressed on the surface of many types of tumours including breast cancer.5 HER2 protein overexpression may occur as a result of HER2 gene amplification.4 Approximately one in five cases of breast cancer is considered HER2-positive.5

HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer is an aggressive disease driven by overexpression or amplification of HER2 that affects 15% to 20% of patients with metastatic breast cancer.6 While HER2-targeted therapies have improved outcomes, prognosis remains poor with most patients experiencing disease progression within two years of first-line treatment with THP, which has been the standard of care for more than a decade.6-8 Further, approximately one in three patients do not receive any treatment following first-line therapy due to disease progression or death.10,11

DESTINY-Breast09
DESTINY-Breast09 is a global, multicentre, randomised, open-label, Phase III trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of Enhertu (5.4 mg/kg) either alone or in combination with pertuzumab versus standard of care THP as first-line treatment in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer who had not received prior chemotherapy or HER2-targeted therapy or had received neoadjuvant or adjuvant HER2-targeted therapy more than six months before the diagnosis of advanced or metastatic disease.

Patients were randomised 1:1:1 to receive either Enhertu monotherapy with a pertuzumab matching placebo; Enhertu in combination with pertuzumab; or THP. Randomisation was stratified by prior treatment (de novo metastatic disease versus progression from early-stage disease), hormone receptor (HR) status and PIK3CA mutation status.

The primary endpoint of DESTINY-Breast09 is PFS as assessed by BICR in both the Enhertu monotherapy and Enhertu combination arms. Secondary endpoints include investigator-assessed PFS, overall survival, ORR, duration of response, pharmacokinetics and safety. The investigational arm assessing Enhertu monotherapy versus THP remains blinded to patients and investigators and will continue to the final PFS analysis.

DESTINY-Breast09 enrolled 1,157 patients across multiple sites in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America. For more information about the trial, visit ClinicalTrials.gov.

Enhertu
Enhertu is a HER2-directed ADC. Designed using Daiichi Sankyo’s proprietary DXd ADC Technology, Enhertu is the lead ADC in the oncology portfolio of Daiichi Sankyo and the most advanced programme in AstraZeneca’s ADC scientific platform. Enhertu consists of a HER2 monoclonal antibody attached to a number of topoisomerase I inhibitor payloads (an exatecan derivative, DXd) via tetrapeptide-based cleavable linkers.

Enhertu (5.4mg/kg) followed by THP is approved in the US, China and Singapore as a neoadjuvant treatment for adult patients with HER2-positive (IHC 3+ or ISH+) Stage II or III breast cancer based on the results from the DESTINY-Breast11 trial. Continued approval in China for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial.

Enhertu (5.4mg/kg) is approved in the US as an adjuvant treatment for adult patients with HER2-positive (IHC 3+ or ISH+) breast cancer who have residual invasive disease following trastuzumab (with or without pertuzumab) and taxane-based treatment based on the DESTINY-Breast05 trial.

Enhertu (5.4mg/kg) in combination with pertuzumab is approved in the US, Switzerland, India, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Korea and Singapore as a 1st-line treatment for adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive (IHC 3+ or ISH+) breast cancer based on the results from the DESTINY-Breast09 trial.

Enhertu (5.4mg/kg) is approved in more than 100 countries/regions worldwide for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive (IHC 3+ or ISH+) breast cancer who have received a prior anti-HER2-based regimen, either in the metastatic setting or in the neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting, and have developed disease recurrence during or within six months of completing therapy based on the results from the DESTINY-Breast03 trial.

Enhertu (5.4mg/kg) is approved in more than 75 countries/regions worldwide for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-low (IHC 1+ or IHC 2+/ ISH-) or HER2-ultralow (IHC 0 with membrane staining) breast cancer, as determined by a locally or regionally authorised test, that have progressed on one or more endocrine therapies in the metastatic setting based on the results from the DESTINY-Breast06 trial.

Enhertu (5.4mg/kg) is approved in more than 100 countries/regions worldwide for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-low (IHC 1+ or IHC 2+/ISH-) breast cancer who have received a prior systemic therapy in the metastatic setting or developed disease recurrence during or within six months of completing adjuvant chemotherapy based on the results from the DESTINY-Breast04 trial.

Enhertu (5.4mg/kg) is approved in more than 80 countries/regions worldwide for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumours have activating HER2 (ERBB2) mutations, as detected by a locally or regionally approved test, and who have received a prior systemic therapy based on the results from the DESTINY-Lung02 and/or DESTINY-Lung05 trials. Continued approval in China and the US for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial.

Enhertu (6.4mg/kg) is approved in more than 90 countries/regions worldwide for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive (IHC 3+ or IHC 2+/ISH+) gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma who have received a prior trastuzumab-based regimen based on the results from the DESTINY-Gastric01, DESTINY-Gastric02 and/or DESTINY-Gastric04 trials.

Enhertu (5.4mg/kg) is approved in more than 45 countries/regions worldwide for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive (IHC 3+) solid tumours who have received prior systemic treatment and have no satisfactory alternative treatment options based on efficacy results from the DESTINY-PanTumor02, DESTINY-Lung01, DESTINY-CRC02 and/or HERALD trials. Continued approval in the US for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial.

Enhertu clinical development programme
A comprehensive global clinical development programme is underway evaluating the efficacy and safety of Enhertu as a monotherapy, in combination or sequentially with other cancer medicines across multiple HER2-targetable cancers.

(Press release, AstraZeneca, JUL 24, 2026, View Source [SID1234669415])

On July 24, 2026 Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) reported that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has adopted a positive opinion, recommending the marketing authorization of Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) in combination with Keytruda (pembrolizumab), for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) who have not received prior systemic therapy for metastatic disease and whose tumors express PD-L1 with a combined positive score (CPS ≥10). The European Commission decision on this indication is anticipated later in 2026.

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Metastatic TNBC is an aggressive form of breast cancer that is associated with rapid disease progression and poor prognosis. Approximately 40% of metastatic TNBC tumors are PD-L1 positive. These tumors are considered more aggressive and associated with shorter survival, creating urgency to initiate treatment with effective regimens as soon as possible. For many living with metastatic TNBC, the most aggressive form of breast cancer, first-line therapy may be their only line of treatment.

"People with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer need effective treatment options as early as possible in the course of their disease, particularly when their tumors express PD-L1," said Evandro de Azambuja, MD, PhD, Head of the Medical Support Team, Jules Bordet Institute and Investigator of the ASCENT-04 study. "This positive opinion is welcome news for our patients and the entire clinical community. If authorized, Trodelvy plus Keytruda would build on the recent approval of Trodelvy monotherapy and help establish a Trodelvy-based approach as a first-line treatment option for patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer across PD-L1 status."

The CHMP’s recommendation is based on data from the Phase 3 ASCENT-04 study/KEYNOTE-D19 which demonstrated a highly statistically significant and clinically meaningful progression-free survival of Trodelvy plus Keytruda versus the combination of standard of care chemotherapy plus Keytruda as a first-line treatment in PD-L1 positive patients. In ASCENT-04/KEYNOTE-D19, Trodelvy plus Keytruda demonstrated a 35% reduced risk of disease progression or death in patients with PD-L1 positive metastatic TNBC. The ASCENT-04/KEYNOTE-D19 study utilized a patient-centered crossover design, which allowed patients in the chemotherapy arm to receive Trodelvy after their disease progressed.

"Building on our established leadership in metastatic TNBC, this positive opinion reinforces our commitment to the breast cancer community," said Mika Kakefuda Derynck, MD, Senior Vice President, Clinical Development, Oncology at Gilead Sciences. "People with metastatic TNBC desperately need new options as early as possible. This positive opinion, coupled with the recent EMA approval of Trodelvy monotherapy, is an important step in changing outcomes for these patients."

The European Commission has approved the use of Trodelvy as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic TNBC who have not received prior systemic therapy for metastatic disease and are not candidates for PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor therapy.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Trodelvy for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic TNBC. Trodelvy is approved for: either as a single agent for patients who are not candidates for PD-(L)1 inhibitor-based therapy or in combination with Keytruda (pembrolizumab) or Keytruda Qlex (pembrolizumab and berahyaluronidase alfa-mph) for patients whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥10) as determined by an FDA-authorized test.

KEYTRUDA and KEYTRUDA QLEX are trademarks of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA

About Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

TNBC is the most aggressive type of breast cancer and has historically been difficult to treat, accounting for approximately 15% of all breast cancers. TNBC disproportionally impacts younger, premenopausal, and Black and Hispanic women. TNBC cells do not have estrogen and progesterone receptors and have limited HER2 expression. Due to the nature of TNBC, treatment options are extremely limited compared with other breast cancer types. TNBC has a higher chance of recurrence and metastases than other breast cancer types. The average time to metastatic recurrence for TNBC is approximately 2.6 years compared with 5 years for other breast cancers, and the relative five-year survival rate is much lower. Among women with metastatic TNBC, the five-year survival rate is 12%, compared with 28% for those with other types of mBC.

About Trodelvy

Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) is a first-in-class Trop-2-directed antibody-drug conjugate. Trop-2 is a cell surface antigen highly expressed in multiple tumor types, including in more than 90% of breast. Trodelvy is intentionally designed with a proprietary hydrolyzable linker attached to SN-38, a topoisomerase I inhibitor payload. This unique combination delivers potent activity to both Trop-2 expressing cells and the tumor microenvironment through a bystander effect.

Trodelvy is globally approved for use in certain patients with metastatic TNBC and pre-treated HR+HER2- metastatic breast cancer. Healthcare professionals have substantial clinical experience with Trodelvy, with more than 75,000 breast cancer patients treated since 2020. It is the only ADC with four positive Phase 3 trials in HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer and the only Trop-2-directed ADC to demonstrate a meaningful overall survival benefit in two distinct types of metastatic breast cancer.

Trodelvy is currently being evaluated in multiple ongoing Phase 3 trials across a range of tumor types with high Trop-2 expression, including in lung and gynecologic cancers, where previous proof-of-concept studies have demonstrated clinical activity.

U.S. INDICATIONS FOR TRODELVY

TRODELVY (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) is a Trop-2–directed antibody and topoisomerase inhibitor conjugate indicated in adult patients:

Locally Advanced or Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

First Line

As a single agent for the first-line treatment of unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) who are not candidates for PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor-based therapy
In combination with pembrolizumab or pembrolizumab and berahyaluronidase alfa-pmph for the first-line treatment of unresectable locally advanced or mTNBC whose tumors express PD-L1 [Combined Positive Score (CPS ≥10)] as determined by an FDA-authorized test
Second Line or Later

For the treatment of unresectable locally advanced or mTNBC who have received two or more prior systemic therapies, at least one of them for metastatic disease.
Locally Advanced or Metastatic HR-positive, HER2-negative Breast Cancer

For the treatment of unresectable locally advanced or metastatic hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative (IHC 0, IHC 1+, or IHC 2+/ISH–) breast cancer who have received endocrine-based therapy and at least two additional systemic therapies in the metastatic setting.
U.S. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR TRODELVY

BOXED WARNING: NEUTROPENIA AND DIARRHEA

TRODELVY can cause severe, life-threatening, or fatal neutropenia. Withhold TRODELVY for absolute neutrophil count below 1500/mm3 or neutropenic fever. Monitor blood cell counts periodically during treatment. Primary prophylaxis with G-CSF is recommended for all patients at increased risk of febrile neutropenia. Initiate anti-infective treatment in patients with febrile neutropenia without delay.
TRODELVY can cause severe diarrhea. Monitor patients with diarrhea and give fluid and electrolytes as needed. At the onset of diarrhea, evaluate for infectious causes and, if negative, promptly initiate loperamide. If severe diarrhea occurs, withhold TRODELVY until resolved to ≤Grade 1 and reduce subsequent doses.
CONTRAINDICATIONS

Severe hypersensitivity reaction to TRODELVY.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Neutropenia: Severe, life-threatening, or fatal neutropenia can occur as early as the first cycle of treatment and may require dose modification. Neutropenia occurred in 64% of patients treated with TRODELVY. Grade 3-4 neutropenia occurred in 48% of patients. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 6%. Neutropenic colitis occurred in 1.4%. Primary prophylaxis with G-CSF is recommended starting in the first cycle of treatment in all patients at increased risk of febrile neutropenia, including older patients, patients with previous neutropenia, poor performance status, organ dysfunction, or multiple comorbidities. Monitor absolute neutrophil count (ANC) during treatment. Withhold TRODELVY for ANC below 1500/mm3 on Day 1 of any cycle or below 1000/mm3 on Day 8 of any cycle. Withhold TRODELVY for neutropenic fever. Treat neutropenia with G-CSF and administer prophylaxis in subsequent cycles as clinically indicated or indicated in Table 2 of USPI.

Diarrhea: Diarrhea occurred in 62% of all patients treated with TRODELVY. Grade 3-4 diarrhea occurred in 10% of patients. One patient had intestinal perforation following diarrhea. Diarrhea that led to dehydration and subsequent acute kidney injury occurred in 0.6% of all patients. Withhold TRODELVY for Grade 3-4 diarrhea and resume when resolved to ≤Grade 1. At onset, evaluate for infectious causes and, if negative, promptly initiate loperamide, 4 mg initially followed by 2 mg with every episode of diarrhea for a maximum of 16 mg daily. Discontinue loperamide 12 hours after diarrhea resolves. Additional supportive measures (eg, fluid and electrolyte replacement) may also be employed as clinically indicated. Patients who exhibit an excessive cholinergic response to treatment can receive appropriate premedication (eg, atropine) for subsequent treatments.

Hypersensitivity and Infusion-Related Reactions: TRODELVY can cause serious hypersensitivity reactions, including life-threatening anaphylactic reactions. Severe signs and symptoms included cardiac arrest, hypotension, wheezing, angioedema, swelling, and skin reactions. Hypersensitivity reactions occurred in 28% of patients with 13% occurring within 24 hours of dosage. Grade 3-4 hypersensitivity occurred in 1.5% of patients with 0.4% of these occurring within 24 hours of dosage. The incidence of hypersensitivity reactions leading to permanent discontinuation of TRODELVY was 0.4%. The incidence of anaphylactic reaction was <0.1%. Pre-infusion medication is recommended. Have medications and emergency equipment to treat such reactions available for immediate use. Closely monitor patients for hypersensitivity and infusion-related reactions during each infusion and for at least 30 minutes after completion of each infusion. Permanently discontinue TRODELVY for Grade 4 infusion-related reactions.

Nausea and Vomiting: TRODELVY is emetogenic and can cause severe nausea and vomiting. Nausea occurred in 63% of all patients treated with TRODELVY, and Grade 3-4 nausea occurred in 3% of these patients. Vomiting occurred in 33% of patients, and Grade 3-4 vomiting occurred in 2% of these patients. Premedicate with a two- or three-drug combination regimen (eg, dexamethasone with either a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist or an NK1 receptor antagonist, as well as other drugs as indicated) for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Withhold TRODELVY doses for Grade 3 nausea or Grade 3-4 vomiting and resume with additional supportive measures when resolved to ≤Grade 1. Additional antiemetics and other supportive measures may also be employed as clinically indicated. All patients should be given take-home medications with clear instructions for prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting.

Increased Risk of Adverse Reactions in Patients with Reduced UGT1A1 Activity: Patients homozygous for the uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyl transferase 1A1 (UGT1A1)*28 allele are at increased risk for neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, and anemia and may be at increased risk for other adverse reactions with TRODELVY. The incidence of Grade 3-4 neutropenia was 57% in patients homozygous for the UGT1A1*28 allele, 48% in patients heterozygous for the UGT1A1*28 allele, and 41% in patients homozygous for the wild-type allele. The incidence of Grade 3-4 anemia was 17% in patients homozygous for the UGT1A1*28 allele, 9% in patients heterozygous for the UGT1A1*28 allele, and 8% in patients homozygous for the wild-type allele. Closely monitor patients with known reduced UGT1A1 activity for adverse reactions. Withhold or permanently discontinue TRODELVY based on clinical assessment of the onset, duration, and severity of the observed adverse reactions in patients with evidence of acute early-onset or unusually severe adverse reactions, which may indicate reduced UGT1A1 function.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Based on its mechanism of action, TRODELVY can cause teratogenicity and/or embryo-fetal lethality when administered to a pregnant woman. TRODELVY contains a genotoxic component, SN-38, and targets rapidly dividing cells. Advise pregnant women and females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with TRODELVY and for 6 months after the last dose. Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with TRODELVY and for 3 months after the last dose.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

In the pooled safety population of TRODELVY as a single agent, the most common (≥25%) adverse reactions, including laboratory abnormalities, were decreased leukocyte count (83%), decreased neutrophil count (77%), decreased hemoglobin (71%), nausea (63%), diarrhea (62%), decreased lymphocyte count (60%), fatigue (59%), alopecia (47%), increased glucose (40%), constipation (37%), vomiting (33%), decreased albumin (32%), increased alkaline phosphatase (30%), decreased appetite (28%), abdominal pain (27%), decreased creatinine clearance (27%), decreased magnesium and potassium (26% each).

In the safety population of TRODELVY in combination with pembrolizumab, the most common (≥25%) adverse reactions, including laboratory abnormalities, were decreased neutrophil count and hemoglobin (86% each), decreased leukocyte count (84%), diarrhea (72%), nausea (68%), decreased lymphocyte count (61%), fatigue (58%), alopecia (52%), increased alkaline phosphatase and glucose (50% each), increased alanine aminotransferase (47%), constipation (41%), increased aspartate aminotransferase (40%), rash (37%), decreased potassium (35%), increased lactate dehydrogenase (34%), vomiting (29%), abdominal pain, headache, and increased eosinophils (26% each), and decreased albumin (25%).

In the ASCENT-03 study (single agent in previously untreated, unresectable locally advanced or mTNBC), the most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥25%) were nausea, diarrhea, alopecia, fatigue, constipation, and vomiting. The most frequent serious adverse reactions (SAR) (>2%) were diarrhea, febrile neutropenia, and neutropenia (3.6% each), and pneumonia (2.9%). SAR occurred in 26% of patients, and 3.6% permanently discontinued TRODELVY due to adverse reactions. Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 2.5% of patients and included sepsis (1.1%), and acute respiratory failure, neutropenic colitis, pneumonia, and septic shock (0.4% each). The most common Grade 3-4 lab abnormalities (incidence ≥25%) were decreased neutrophils and leukocytes.

In the ASCENT-04 study (in combination with pembrolizumab in previously untreated, unresectable locally advanced or mTNBC whose tumors express PD-L1), the most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥25%) were diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, alopecia, constipation, rash, vomiting, abdominal pain, and headache. The most frequent SAR (≥2%) were febrile neutropenia (7%), neutropenia (6%), diarrhea (5%), and fatigue and pneumonia (2.3% each). SAR occurred in 38% of patients, and 7% permanently discontinued TRODELVY due to adverse reactions. Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 3.2% of patients and included death (unknown cause) (0.9%) and completed suicide, neutropenic sepsis, sepsis, pneumonia, and pulmonary embolism (0.5% each). The most common Grade 3-4 lab abnormalities (incidence ≥25%) were decreased neutrophils and leukocytes.

In the ASCENT study (previously treated locally advanced or mTNBC), the most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥25%) were fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, alopecia, constipation, vomiting, abdominal pain, and decreased appetite. The most frequent SAR (>1%) were neutropenia (7%), diarrhea (4%), and pneumonia (3%). SAR occurred in 27% of patients, and 5% permanently discontinued TRODELVY due to adverse reactions. Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 1.2% of patients and included respiratory failure (0.8%) and pneumonia (0.4%). The most common Grade 3-4 lab abnormalities (incidence ≥25%) were decreased neutrophils, leukocytes, and lymphocytes.

In the TROPiCS-02 study (locally advanced or metastatic HR+/HER2– breast cancer), the most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥25%) were diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, alopecia, and constipation. The most frequent SAR (>1%) were diarrhea (5%), febrile neutropenia (4.1%), neutropenia (3%), abdominal pain (2.2%), neutropenic colitis and vomiting (1.9% each), and colitis and pneumonia (1.5% each). SAR occurred in 28% of patients, and 6% permanently discontinued TRODELVY due to adverse reactions. Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 2.2% of patients and included arrhythmia, COVID-19 pneumonia, pneumonia, nervous system disorder, pulmonary embolism, and septic shock (0.4% each). The most common Grade 3-4 lab abnormalities (incidence ≥25%) were decreased neutrophils and leukocytes.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

UGT1A1 Inhibitors: Avoid administering UGT1A1 inhibitors with TRODELVY. SN-38 is a UGT1A1 substrate. Concomitant administration of TRODELVY with inhibitors of UGT1A1 may increase the incidence of adverse reactions due to potential increase in systemic exposure to SN-38.

UGT1A1 Inducers: Avoid administering UGT1A1 inducers with TRODELVY. SN-38 is a UGT1A1 substrate. Concomitant administration of TRODELVY with inducers of UGT1A1 may reduce exposure to SN-38.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including BOXED WARNING.

(Press release, Gilead Sciences, JUL 24, 2026, View Source [SID1234669416])

On July 23, 2026 Harbour BioMed (the "Company"; HKEX: 02142), a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel antibody therapeutics in immunology, oncology and other areas, reported a positive profit alert for the six months ended June 30, 2026 (the "Reporting Period").

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Based on a preliminary review of the Company’s unaudited management accounts for the Reporting Period, the revenue is expected to range between US$120 million (equivalent to approximately HK$941 million) and US$125 million (equivalent to approximately HK$980 million), representing an increase of approximately 19% to 24% compared with approximately US$101 million for the corresponding period in 2025. The profit for the Reporting Period is expected to range between US$62 million (equivalent to approximately HK$486 million) and US$67 million (equivalent to approximately HK$525 million). Total adjusted profit [1] is expected to range between US$70 million (equivalent to approximately HK$549 million) and US$75 million (equivalent to approximately HK$588 million).

The expected revenue growth and scaled profitability are primarily attributable to:

Continued strategic collaborations with global multinational pharmaceutical companies, including the potential 10-year long-term strategic collaboration with AstraZeneca and the global strategic collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb.
Newly secured out-licensing and collaboration agreements for innovative products, such as the licensing agreement with Solstice Oncology, as well as milestone payments triggered by the advancement of previously out-licensed programs.
Strong business growth of Nona Biosciences, including revenue generated from antibody transactions and antibody discovery, such as the platform collaboration with Lonza in central nervous system.
With seven consecutive profitable half-years, Harbour BioMed has officially entered a phase of "normalized profitability," further validating the sustainability and replicability of the business model underpinning this platform-based biopharmaceutical group.

Dr. Jingsong Wang, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Harbour BioMed, commented: "Our expected profitability in the first half of 2026 marks an important milestone in Harbour BioMed’s development and strongly validates our differentiated business model. The value of our proprietary technology platforms is gaining recognition through a growing number of deep strategic partnerships with multinational pharmaceutical companies and leading global biotechnology companies. More importantly, these partnerships are not one-off transactions—they are evolving into a sustainable financial foundation that enables us to continuously discover and develop innovative biotherapeutics for patients worldwide. Looking ahead, we will build on this momentum through continued innovation and high-impact collaborations to deliver sustainable long-term growth."

Global Strategic Collaborations Fuel Continued Strong Revenue Growth

The Company’s strong earnings growth was primarily driven by the continued execution and expansion of high-value strategic collaborations with global partners. Harbour BioMed has successfully transformed its proprietary technology platforms and licensing business into a robust and recurring revenue engine.

During the Reporting Period, several major strategic collaborations made significant contributions to revenue. In December 2025, the Company entered into a long-term global strategic collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) to jointly discover and develop next-generation multi-specific antibodies. Under the terms of the agreement, Harbour BioMed could receive payments totaling $90 million, as well as development and commercial milestones of up to $1.035 billion. The Company also expanded its strategic collaboration with AstraZeneca to include antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and T-cell engager (TCE) therapeutics. In addition, previously announced licensing partnerships with AstraZeneca, Otsuka, Pfizer, Windward Bio and other global pharmaceutical companies continued to generate meaningful revenue. To date, Harbour BioMed’s proprietary technology platforms have been applied across more than 380 drug discovery programs spanning multiple therapeutic areas, with more than 20 molecules having advanced into IND-enabling studies or clinical development, reinforcing the Company’s leadership in next-generation biologics innovation.

Beyond licensing collaboration, Nona Biosciences has entered a period of rapid growth. Revenue generated from its platform-based technology licensing and discovery services, together with milestone payments from existing collaborations, has become another important pillar of the Company’s business. These collaborations not only reflect the strong recognition of the Harbour Mice platform by multinational pharmaceutical companies, innovative biotechnology companies and leading academic institutions worldwide, but also underscore Harbour BioMed’s successful transformation into a sustainable cash-generating business with enhanced financial resilience and a significantly strengthened risk profile.

Technology Platforms and AI Innovation Strengthen the Value Foundation

Harbour BioMed has embraced artificial intelligence (AI) as a core strategic priority, integrating AI technologies throughout the entire drug discovery and development process. In October 2025, the Company launched the first fully human AI-powered heavy-chain-only antibody (HCAb) generation and screening model enabled by its proprietary Hu-mAtrIx AI platform, establishing a closed-loop workflow encompassing AI-driven design, intelligent screening and experimental validation. The model has already demonstrated strong performance, achieving a target hit rate of 78.5%, significantly improving both discovery efficiency and developability.

During the same month, Harbour BioMed initiated the AI + Biopharmaceutical Ecosystem Alliance, bringing together organizations including Insilico Medicine, Molecule Mind and more to systematically transform the drug discovery process through AI-enabled innovation.

In May 2026, the Company reported encouraging preclinical data for LET003, its first next-generation ACVR2A/2B-targeting monoclonal antibody developed using the Hu-mAtrIx AI platform. In June 2026, Harbour BioMed further strengthened its AI strategy by entering into a comprehensive long-term strategic partnership with BioMap, a global leader in foundation AI models for life sciences. Together, the two companies established MegaStream TechBio, a joint venture dedicated to developing innovative AI-enabled drug pipelines for the global market. By integrating proprietary datasets, domain-specific foundation models and a broad portfolio of innovative programs, MegaStream TechBio aims to build a next-generation AI drug discovery engine centered on intelligent wet-lab/dry-lab integration and personalized, multimodal, multi-attribute generative AI models.

Clinical Pipeline Continues to Unlock Long-Term Value

Harbour BioMed continues to make meaningful progress across its differentiated pipeline. The Company now has nearly 30 innovative product candidates spanning immunology, oncology, obesity and metabolic diseases, and central nervous system (CNS) disorders—therapeutic areas with significant unmet medical needs. Multiple programs have advanced into clinical development.

For respiratory and immunological diseases, batoclimab, the Company’s anti-FcRn monoclonal antibody, is the first drug in China to have completed the full clinical development pathway from Phase 1 through pivotal clinical trials. The biologics license application (BLA) has been submitted, and the therapy has the potential to become an important treatment option across multiple autoimmune diseases. Phase 1 data for the Company’s ultra-long-acting anti-TSLP antibody HBM9378 demonstrated a substantially extended half-life, supporting the potential for twice-yearly dosing and reinforcing its best-in-class potential. Initial Phase 2 data in asthma are expected in the second half of 2026, while the Phase 2 SIRIUS study in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has already dosed its first patients. Meanwhile, another ultra-long-acting, TSLP-targeting bispecific antibody, HBM7575, has dosed the first subject in its Phase 1 study for atopic dermatitis and recently received IND clearance for the treatment of asthma.

For immuno-oncology, HBM4003, the Company’s anti-CTLA-4 heavy-chain-only antibody, has demonstrated best-in-class potential. In a Phase 2 study in microsatellite stable (MSS) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), HBM4003 in combination with tislelizumab achieved an objective response rate (ORR) of 34.8% and a median progression-free survival (mPFS) of 4.2 months. Based on these encouraging results, the Company entered into a licensing agreement and equity partnership with Solstice Oncology in February 2026, receiving upfront consideration valued at over $105 million and being eligible for milestone payments of up to approximately US$1.1 billion.

In addition, the Company’s HBM7004, a bispecific antibody for solid tumors, has received IND clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), while its IND application has been accepted by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).

From its foundational proprietary technology platforms and AI-driven innovation to the advancement of a differentiated clinical pipeline and the execution of high-value global partnerships, Harbour BioMed has built a self-reinforcing innovation ecosystem. The Company’s sustained profitability over multiple years demonstrates the successful execution of its unique business model, creating a virtuous cycle that converts technology innovation into long-term commercial value.

Looking ahead, supported by an expanding global partner network, a deeply integrated AI- and automation-enabled R&D platform, and a steadily advancing differentiated pipeline, Harbour BioMed is well positioned to continue delivering sustainable growth. With a strong financial foundation and industry-leading technological capabilities, the Company is evolving from a technology adopter to a technology leader, bringing more innovative antibody therapeutics to patients worldwide.

(Press release, Harbour BioMed, JUL 23, 2026, View Source [SID1234669399])

On July 23, 2026 Hoffmann-La Roche reported Half-Year Report 2026.

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(Presentation, Hoffmann-La Roche, JUL 23, 2026, View Source [SID1234670173])

On July 23, 2026 Bio-Thera Solutions, Ltd. (SH: 688177), a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company, reported that dosing has begun in a Phase 1 clinical study evaluating BAT8013, an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) that targets CD25. The clinical trial is a multicenter, open-label Phase 1 clinical study in patients with advanced solid tumors to evaluate the safety and tolerability of BAT8013 and to determine the recommended Phase 2 dose.

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CD25, also known as interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain (IL-2Rα), is a 55 kDa transmembrane glycoprotein encoded by the IL2RA gene, predominantly expressed on activated T and B cells, regulatory T cells (Tregs), and various hematologic malignancies. BAT8013 was developed using Bio-Thera’s anti-CD25 antibody and Bio-Thera’s proprietary ADC linker-payload combination that includes a systemically stable and cleavable linker and a small molecule topoisomerase I inhibitor. CD25 is differentially overexpressed on Tregs in the solid tumor microenvironment. Eliminating Tregs using BAT8013 is expected to potentiate the efficacy of other immune-oncology agents like PD-1 and PD-L1 mAbs.

A series of preclinical studies have shown that BAT8013 has good stability and safety and has high anti-tumor activity in combination with Bio-Thera’s PD-1 inhibitor, BAT1308. The small molecule topoisomerase I inhibitor payload carried by BAT8013 has a strong cell membrane penetration ability, so when the target Treg cells are killed, the payload can be released and further kill nearby Treg cells, producing a bystander. BAT8013 has demonstrated high anti-tumor activity and good safety in both in vitro and in vivo pharmacological studies and is a potential "best-in-class" ADC that targets CD25, representing another important milestone in the company’s research and development in the field of innovative oncology drugs.

The Phase 1, multi-center, open-label, dose-escalation clinical trial of BAT8013 is designed to assess the safety and tolerability of BAT8013. Key objectives of the study are to determine the maximum tolerated dose and recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D), and to evaluate pharmacokinetics and preliminary efficacy in patients with advanced solid tumor. In addition, Bio-Thera Solutions is developing several additional ADCs targeting Folate Receptor alpha, Trop2 and Her2 along with additional innovative oncology assets directed at important IO targets, including novel bispecific targeting PD-L1/4-1BB and PD1/IL15, all in early-stage clinical studies.

(Press release, BioThera Solutions, JUL 23, 2026, View Source [SID1234669401])