Oncology Today—June 22, 2026

This week’s Oncology update highlights regulatory progress, clinical trial advancement, encouraging efficacy signals, and continued investment across precision oncology and rare tumor programs

In Today’s Newsletter

Dive deeper

🧬 IDEAYA starts IDE892 combination trial in MTAP-deleted cancers [1] [US • 15 Jun 2026]

https://media.ideayabio.com/2026-06-15-IDEAYA-Biosciences-Announces-IDE892,-a-Potential-Best-in-Class-MTA-Cooperative-PRMT5-Inhibitor,-Initiates-a-Phase-1-2-Clinical-Combination-Study-in-MTAP-Deleted-Pancreatic-and-Lung-Cancers
Context: IDE892 is an MTA-cooperative PRMT5 inhibitor being tested with IDE397, a MAT2A inhibitor, in MTAP-deleted solid tumors.
Key point: IDEAYA enrolled the first patient in a Phase 1 combination study focused on pancreatic cancer and NSCLC.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.

🦴 Inhibrx BLA accepted for ozekibart in chondrosarcoma [2] [US • 15 Jun 2026]

https://inhibrxbiosciences.investorroom.com/2026-06-15-Inhibrx-Announces-U-S-FDA-Acceptance-of-BLA-for-Ozekibart-in-Patients-with-Conventional-Chondrosarcoma
Context: Ozekibart (INBRX-109) is a tetravalent DR5 agonist antibody for unresectable or metastatic conventional chondrosarcoma.
Key point: FDA accepted the BLA, found no filing review issues, and set a PDUFA date of 14 Apr 2027.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

🧫 Elicio reports post-study CRs after ELI-002 7P and nivolumab [3] [US • 17 Jun 2026]

https://www.biospace.com/press-releases/elicio-therapeutics-reports-multiple-complete-responses-after-eli-002-7p-treatment-and-subsequent-therapy-with-checkpoint-inhibition-in-metastatic-mkras-pancreatic-cancer
Context: Three AMPLIFY-7P patients progressed after ELI-002 7P, then received nivolumab-based subsequent therapy.
Key point: Elicio reported confirmed complete radiographic and metabolic responses in all three patients.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

🎯 Zai Lab receives EMA ODD for zoci in pulmonary NECs [4] [EU • 16 Jun 2026]

http://ir.zailaboratory.com/news-releases/news-release-details/zai-lab-receives-ema-orphan-drug-designation-zocilurtatug
Context: Zocilurtatug pelitecan (zoci, formerly ZL-1310) is a DLL3-targeting ADC for neuroendocrine carcinomas.
Key point: EMA granted Orphan Drug Designation for pulmonary NECs, citing preliminary data in relapsed or refractory extensive-stage SCLC.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.

🧩 NovaBridge gets FDA Fast Track for givastomig in gastric cancer [5] [US • 16 Jun 2026]

https://www.novabridge.com/news-releases/news-release-details/novabridge-biosciences-receives-fda-fast-track-designation
Context: Givastomig is a CLDN18.2 x 4-1BB bispecific antibody being combined with nivolumab and chemotherapy.
Key point: FDA granted Fast Track Designation in previously untreated HER2-negative advanced or metastatic GEA with CLDN18.2-positive and PD-L1-positive tumors.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

🧬 Verastem doses first patient in TARGET-D 201 for KRAS G12D mPDAC [6] [US • 16 Jun 2026]

https://investor.verastem.com/news-releases/news-release-details/verastem-oncology-doses-first-patient-target-d-201-phase-2
Context: VS-7375 is an investigational oral KRAS G12D ON/OFF inhibitor.
Key point: Verastem dosed the first patient in TARGET-D 201, a Phase 2 registration-directed trial in KRAS G12D-mutated metastatic PDAC.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

💵 MultiValent launches with Series A for MVB-101 [7] [US • 16 Jun 2026]

https://www.biospace.com/press-releases/multivalent-biotherapies-launches-with-27-million-series-a-financing-to-advance-development-of-targeted-prostate-cancer-drug-conjugate
Context: MVB-101 is a PSMA x FRα targeted drug conjugate licensed from Coherent Biopharma.
Key point: MultiValent launched with a $27.425 million Series A first closing to support a Phase 1b/2a prostate cancer trial.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.

📈 Verastem updates RAMP 205 pancreatic cancer data [8] [US • 17 Jun 2026]

https://investor.verastem.com/news-releases/news-release-details/verastem-oncology-announces-positive-updated-results-ramp-205-0
Context: RAMP 205 evaluated avutometinib plus defactinib with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in first-line metastatic PDAC.
Key point: In 29 patients at RP2D, Verastem reported 86% 6-month OS, 68% 6-month PFS, and 52% confirmed ORR.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

🧪 TORL presents ixotatug vedotin combination data in ovarian cancer [9] [18 Jun 2026]

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/torl-biotherapeutics-presents-preliminary-safety-and-efficacy-data-of-ixotatug-vedotin-torl-1-23-in-combination-with-bevacizumab-in-recurrent-ovarian-cancer-at-esmo-gynaecological-cancers-congress-2026-302803792.html
Context: Ixotatug vedotin (TORL-1-23) was evaluated with bevacizumab in recurrent ovarian cancer.
Key point: TORL presented preliminary safety and efficacy data at ESMO Gynaecological Cancers Congress 2026 (metrics not stated in submitted excerpt).
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

🧠 Elicera gets Swedish MPA feedback for ELC-401 glioma study [10] [EU • 18 Jun 2026]

https://www.elicera.com/press-releases/elicera-therapeutics-receives-positive-feedback-from-swedish-mpa-on-planned-clinical-study-with-elc-401-in-grade-iv-glioma
Context: ELC-401 is planned for clinical study in grade IV glioma.
Key point: Elicera received positive feedback from the Swedish Medical Products Agency on the planned study (design details not stated in submitted excerpt).
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion..

Why it matters

KRAS-driven and MTAP-deleted pancreatic cancer remain major precision-oncology battlegrounds, with IDEAYA, Elicio, and Verastem advancing distinct approaches.
Regulatory momentum is visible across rare and biomarker-defined tumors, including BLA acceptance, Fast Track Designation, and EMA Orphan Drug Designation.
ADCs, bispecifics, and targeted drug conjugates continue expanding beyond crowded tumor types into NECs, gastric cancer, prostate cancer, and ovarian cancer.
Several readouts are early or preliminary, so durability, safety, and confirmatory trial design remain the key gating items.

📚 View the full Oncology archive on our research hub page

🚀 Accelerate your success. Contact us now

📂 Explore our case studies. See examples of our work.

💡 Read our insights. Learn from our latest reports and analysis

🧰 See our full range of services. Discover how we can help you.

🎯 Catch up on the Top Oncology news from the past two weeks, curated by the LucidQuest team.

🎬 Watch on YouTube.

FAQ

What is the regulatory status of ozekibart (Inhibrx) in chondrosarcoma?

FDA accepted Inhibrx’s BLA for ozekibart in unresectable or metastatic conventional chondrosarcoma. The PDUFA date is 14 Apr 2027. [2]

Which pancreatic cancer programs are most prominent in this source pack?

IDEAYA’s IDE892 plus IDE397 targets MTAP-deleted pancreatic cancer, Elicio’s ELI-002 7P is being explored around mKRAS PDAC, and Verastem has VS-7375 plus RAMP 205 in metastatic PDAC. [1], [3], [6], [8]

What is givastomig (NovaBridge)?

Givastomig is a CLDN18.2 x 4-1BB bispecific antibody. FDA granted Fast Track for use with nivolumab and chemotherapy in selected first-line HER2-negative advanced or metastatic GEA. [5]

What does EMA Orphan Drug Designation mean for zoci (Zai Lab)?

It gives zoci regulatory and development incentives in pulmonary NECs. The submitted source says EMA cited preliminary clinical data in relapsed or refractory extensive-stage SCLC. [4]

What did Verastem report from RAMP 205?

Verastem reported updated Phase 1b/2a data for avutometinib plus defactinib with chemotherapy in first-line metastatic PDAC, including 86% 6-month OS in 29 patients at RP2D. [8]

Which items should be interpreted most cautiously?

TORL’s ixotatug vedotin item and Elicera’s ELC-401 item are visible mainly at headline level in the submitted excerpt. Metrics, endpoints, and full study design details are not stated there. [9], [10]

Entities / Keywords

IDEAYA Biosciences: IDE892, IDE397, PRMT5, MAT2A, MTAP-deleted solid tumors, pancreatic cancer, NSCLC
Inhibrx Biosciences: ozekibart, INBRX-109, DR5 agonist antibody, ChonDRAgon, conventional chondrosarcoma
Elicio Therapeutics: ELI-002 7P, AMPLIFY-7P, mKRAS pancreatic cancer, nivolumab, checkpoint inhibition
Zai Lab: zocilurtatug pelitecan, zoci, ZL-1310, DLL3 ADC, pulmonary NECs, SCLC, EMA ODD
NovaBridge Biosciences: givastomig, TJ033721, ABL111, CLDN18.2 x 4-1BB, HER2-negative GEA
Verastem Oncology: VS-7375, KRAS G12D ON/OFF inhibitor, TARGET-D 201, avutometinib, defactinib, RAMP 205, mPDAC
MultiValent Biotherapies: MVB-101, PSMA x FRα targeted drug conjugate, Coherent Biopharma, prostate cancer
TORL Biotherapeutics: ixotatug vedotin, TORL-1-23, bevacizumab, recurrent ovarian cancer
Elicera Therapeutics: ELC-401, Swedish MPA, grade IV glioma