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A new drug for hard-to-treat lung cancer is showing real promise. Cesalatamig, a next-gen PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody, demonstrated dose-dependent responses in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had already progressed on immunotherapy. At the highest tested dose, one-third of patients responded and 90% achieved disease control — encouraging results for a population with very few options.
A new investigational drug is turning heads in the lung cancer space. Cesalatamig (AI-081), a next-generation PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody, showed dose-dependent activity as monotherapy in patients with NSCLC who had already progressed on PD-(L)1 immunotherapy — a group with notoriously limited treatment options. The data, pooled from two phase 1/2 trials, were presented at the 2026 SITC Annual Meeting.
The drug is engineered to outperform earlier PD-1/VEGF bispecifics, boasting 46-fold higher VEGF affinity and additional mutations designed to protect immune T cells. Across dose levels, higher doses translated to better outcomes, with the 10 mg/kg every-3-weeks dose emerging as the provisional pivotal dose based on exposure-response analyses.
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Why it matters: For NSCLC patients who've exhausted immunotherapy and chemotherapy, effective salvage options are scarce. Cesalatamig's strong disease control rates and manageable safety profile — backed by FDA Fast Track designation — make it a meaningful candidate to watch as a phase 3 trial is planned for 2027.
