Merck and Kelun-Biotech’s sacituzumab tirumotecan (sac-TMT) posted a phase 3 win in China, cutting the risk of disease progression or death by 65% versus Keytruda (pembrolizumab) alone in treatment-naïve, PD-L1-positive non-small cell lung cancer. The interim progression-free survival benefit showed a clear separation, with Keytruda plus sac-TMT driving higher response rates. The findings were presented via ASCO 2026 abstracts, with overall survival data not yet mature at the cutoff used for the interim readout. Still, the efficacy signal establishes a new benchmark for ADC–checkpoint combinations in a frontline setting and sets up competitive pressure from other bispecific strategies targeting the same biology. In parallel, the ASCO abstract pipeline reinforced the breadth of late-breaking oncology efforts, including additional data streams that are likely to shape label discussions and trial sequencing during the next year.