Kelun Biotech Presents New Drug Studies at ASCO Annual Meeting
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 22 2026
0mins
Two registrational studies of the trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2-directed antibody drug conjugate sacituzumab tirumotecan, or sac-TMT, and the next-generation selective rearranged during transfection inhibitor lunbotinib fumarate from Kelun-Biotech have been selected for oral presentation session on Lung Cancer - Non-Small Cell Metastatic at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting to be held in Chicago from May 29 to June 2, local time, the company reported. A total of 413 patients with previously untreated locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC without epidermal growth factor receptor or anaplastic lymphoma kinase alterations and with programmed death ligand 1 positive, covering both squamous and non-squamous histologies, were enrolled and randomized to receive sac-TMT plus pembrolizumab or pembrolizumab monotherapy. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival assessed by blinded independent central review, and the key secondary endpoint was overall survival. As of September 29, 2025, the median follow-up was 10.5 months. "OptiTROP-Lung05 is the first Phase III clinical study demonstrating a significant improvement in PFS and a positive trend in OS with an ADC combined with pembrolizumab compared to pembrolizumab in first-line treatment for PD-L1 positive advanced NSCLC. Based on these results, a supplemental New Drug Application for this combination regimen has been accepted for review and included in the priority review and approval process by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China," the company stated. In May 2022, the company licensed the exclusive rights to Merck to develop, use, manufacture and commercialize sac-TMT in all territories outside of Greater China, which includes Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.
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Analyst Views on MRK
Wall Street analysts forecast MRK stock price to fall
16 Analyst Rating
11 Buy
5 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 119.890
Low
95.00
Averages
119.53
High
139.00
Current: 119.890
Low
95.00
Averages
119.53
High
139.00
About MRK
Merck & Co., Inc. is a global health care company that delivers health solutions through its prescription medicines, including biologic therapies, vaccines and animal health products. Its Pharmaceutical segment includes human health pharmaceutical and vaccine products. The Company sells its human health pharmaceutical products primarily to drug wholesalers and retailers, hospitals, government agencies and managed health care providers. It sells these human health vaccines primarily to physicians, wholesalers, distributors and government entities. Its Animal Health segment discovers, develops, manufactures and markets a range of veterinary pharmaceutical and vaccine products, as well as health management solutions and services, for the prevention, treatment and control of disease in all livestock and companion animal species. Its products include KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) injection, for intravenous use; WELIREG (belzutifan) tablets, for oral use; Ohtuvayre (ensifentrine) and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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