The 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting was held in Chicago from May 29 to June 2, 2026.

As one of the world’s most influential oncology conferences, ASCO has long served as an important indicator of global cancer drug innovation.

According to publicly available information, 13 studies from 12 Chinese innovative pharmaceutical companies were selected for the Plenary Session and Late-Breaking Abstract (LBA) sessions this year, representing a historic milestone for China’s biopharmaceutical industry.

This article reviews the most noteworthy Chinese innovative drug developments showcased at ASCO 2026, including PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibodies, IO 2.0 therapies, and next-generation bispecific ADCs, highlighting how Chinese innovators are becoming major contributors to global oncology.

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Chinese Innovative Drugs Step onto the Global Center Stage

Among all Chinese pharmaceutical companies attending ASCO 2026, Akeso attracted some of the greatest international attention.

Its Phase III HARMONi-6 study comparing:

• Ivonescimab + chemotherapy
• Tislelizumab + chemotherapy

was selected for the ASCO Plenary Session, becoming the only Chinese study presented in the conference’s highest-profile scientific session.

Earlier results presented at ESMO 2025 showed:

• Median PFS: 11.14 months (Ivonescimab group)
• Median PFS: 6.90 months (Tislelizumab group)
• Absolute improvement: 4.24 months
• HR = 0.60
• P < 0.0001

In first-line squamous NSCLC, PD-1 plus chemotherapy has already become an established treatment standard.

The strong progression-free survival benefit demonstrated by ivonescimab has attracted widespread global attention.

At ASCO 2026, investigators further reported overall survival (OS) findings—considered the most critical endpoint for determining whether ivonescimab could become a future first-line standard therapy.

Importantly, HARMONi-6 directly challenged China’s existing standard treatment regimen, making the study particularly significant both domestically and internationally.

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The IO 2.0 Era: Chinese Companies Accelerate Innovation

Traditional PD-1 antibodies launched China’s first wave of innovative immunotherapy.

However, increasing competition and market saturation have accelerated development of IO 2.0 therapies, designed to improve efficacy through novel immune mechanisms.

PD-1/VEGF Bispecific Antibodies Continue to Gain Momentum

Besides ivonescimab, 3SBio’s SSGJ-707 also drew considerable attention.

PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibodies simultaneously inhibit:

• PD-1
• VEGF

to improve anti-tumor immunity while remodeling the tumor microenvironment.

SSGJ-707 has already received:

• NMPA Breakthrough Therapy Designation
• FDA IND approval
• Ex-China licensing partnership with Pfizer

At ASCO 2026, 3SBio presented:

• Updated Phase II monotherapy data for PD-L1-positive NSCLC
• Combination chemotherapy results in advanced endometrial cancer

These studies are expected to guide future global Phase III development.

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PD-1/IL-2 Bispecific Therapy Moves Forward

Innovent Biologics showcased IBI363, a PD-1/IL-2 bispecific fusion protein.

Its design simultaneously:

• Blocks PD-1 immune suppression
• Selectively activates PD-1-positive effector T cells

while potentially reducing the toxicity associated with conventional IL-2 therapy.

ASCO presentations included:

• IO-resistant NSCLC
• First-line NSCLC combination therapy
• Global Phase III MarsLight-11 study design

These developments illustrate China’s transition from PD-1 followers to global immunotherapy innovators.

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Additional IO 2.0 Platforms Advance

Other notable presentations included:

• CStone Pharmaceuticals — PD-1/VEGFA/CTLA-4 trispecific antibody (CS2009)
• Zelgen — PD-1/TIGIT bispecific antibody (ZG005)
• Hengrui — PD-L1/TGF-β bispecific antibody
• Leads Biolabs — PD-1/4-1BB bispecific antibody (LBL-024)

Together, these programs demonstrate the rapid expansion of China’s next-generation immunotherapy pipeline.

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Bispecific ADCs Become One of ASCO 2026’s Biggest Highlights

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) remain one of oncology’s fastest-growing therapeutic areas.

As traditional single-target ADCs become increasingly competitive, bispecific ADCs are emerging as the industry’s next major innovation.

At ASCO 2026:

• Six bispecific ADCs reported clinical data
• Five originated from Chinese companies

Participating companies included:

• Biokin Pharmaceutical
• Alphamab Oncology
• Xadcera
• Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical
• Doma Biopharmaceutical

These programs target combinations such as:

• EGFR × HER3
• TROP2 × HER3
• MUC1 × HER3
• EGFR × c-MET

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Biokin Pharmaceutical Leads the Field

Biokin Pharmaceutical presented its EGFR × HER3 bispecific ADC, currently one of the world’s most advanced programs.

The therapy has already submitted marketing applications in China for:

• Nasopharyngeal carcinoma
• Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

making it the world’s first bispecific ADC to reach the regulatory submission stage.

ASCO featured Phase III data for recurrent or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

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Alphamab Oncology Advances TROP2 × HER3

Alphamab Oncology’s JSKN016 is the world’s first TROP2 × HER3 bispecific ADC entering clinical development.

Phase I results in HER2-negative advanced breast cancer suggest this dual-target strategy may improve tumor coverage and drug delivery compared with conventional TROP2 ADCs.

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Chinese Innovation Enters the Core of Global Competition

Historically, Chinese pharmaceutical companies primarily appeared at international meetings through poster presentations.

At ASCO 2026, Chinese innovators increasingly entered the conference’s most prestigious scientific sessions, including:

• Plenary Session
• Late-Breaking Abstract (LBA)

From Akeso’s ivonescimab to Innovent’s IO 2.0 pipeline and the emergence of multiple bispecific ADCs, Chinese companies are rapidly evolving from participants to global competitors.

This growing international presence reflects:

• Continuous technological innovation
• Stronger global clinical development capabilities
• Expanding international commercialization
• Increasing recognition of China’s biopharmaceutical ecosystem

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DengYueMed: Connecting Global Patients with China’s Innovative Medicines

As more Chinese innovative therapies gain international recognition, global patients are increasingly interested in learning how to access these treatments.

DengYueMed continues to monitor the latest developments in:

• Innovative oncology drugs
• Clinical trials
• Regulatory approvals
• Pharmaceutical distribution in China

Our goal is to provide healthcare professionals and international patients with timely information on innovative therapies and cross-border pharmaceutical access.

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Conclusion

ASCO 2026 represents another major milestone for China’s innovative pharmaceutical industry.

From ivonescimab entering the Plenary Session, to rapid advances in IO 2.0 immunotherapy, PD-1 bispecific antibodies, and next-generation bispecific ADCs, Chinese companies are becoming increasingly influential contributors to global oncology innovation.

As clinical evidence continues to accumulate and more therapies enter international regulatory pathways, Chinese innovative medicines are expected to play an even greater role in shaping future cancer treatment standards worldwide.