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News
A novel combination of pumitamig and elfetabart drozuntecan (elfe-d) is showing strong early results in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) treatment. In the phase 1b/2 BNT324-01 trial, the duo delivered an overall response rate of 70.4% across all lines of therapy — and a remarkable 92.3% in first-line patients. The manageable safety profile and consistent responses across patient subgroups make this one of the more promising early-stage findings in SCLC in recent memory.
A novel combination therapy is generating significant interest in the small cell lung cancer (SCLC) space. Data from the global phase 1b/2 BNT324-01 trial, presented at the 2026 World Conference on Lung Cancer, showed that pumitamig — a PD-L1 x VEGF-A bispecific antibody — paired with elfetabart drozuntecan (elfe-d), a B7-H3 antibody-drug conjugate, produced an overall response rate (ORR) of 70.4% in 71 evaluable SCLC patients. Notably, responses held up regardless of smoking history or brain metastases — two factors that often complicate treatment outcomes.
The safety profile was equally reassuring. Treatment-related adverse events led to discontinuation in just 3.9% of patients and dose reduction in 8.6%, with no dose-limiting toxicities observed during escalation. A striking 96% of evaluated patients also showed declining circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) levels, with nearly half achieving full clearance by cycle 3.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: SCLC is notoriously aggressive and difficult to treat, with limited options beyond first-line therapy. This combination — the first to pair a PD-L1 x VEGF-A bispecific antibody with an ADC in lung cancer — could represent a meaningful step forward, especially for patients with brain metastases or those who have already exhausted prior treatments.
