Zanidatamab showed promise in early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer in the NeoZanHER phase 2 trial, a next-generation approach aimed at treating patients before surgery. The study, published in Nature Communications (2026), evaluates the antibody in the neoadjuvant setting to potentially improve outcomes by shrinking tumors and engaging targets early. NeoZanHER’s design emphasizes the clinical question of how effectively zanidatamab can impact tumor biology pre-operatively and provide a signal that can translate into downstream regimen decisions. For HER2 developers, pre-surgical data remain a key proving ground for receptor-targeting strategies. Further details on pathologic response rates, tolerability, and biomarker-linked activity will determine whether the program can move toward confirmatory steps with a compelling rationale versus existing HER2 standards.