Antibody‑drug conjugates (ADCs) experienced a breakout year as innovations in targets, linkers, payloads and conjugation chemistries expanded their therapeutic potential beyond the classic one‑target, one‑payload model. Conference reports and technical reviews documented a wave of new ADC designs aimed at improving therapeutic index and enabling novel indications. The diversification of ADC architectures is prompting pharma partners and investors to reassess ADC pipelines and to prioritize differentiated payloads or site‑specific conjugation technologies. Expect sustained R&D investment and strategic collaborations focused on next‑generation ADC platforms into 2026.