(Yicai) Oct. 28 -- A record 29 Chinese innovative cancer drug studies were selected to showcase new findings at a leading global oncology conference, highlighting the country's growing ability to develop treatments that could change clinical practice worldwide.

The number of Chinese studies selected as late-breaking abstracts (LBAs) surged to 29 at this year's European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Madrid, Spain, from just seven in 2024, Yicai learned from Chinese participants at the event, which concluded yesterday. Of the 29 studies, 20 presented Phase III clinical trial results. Five were selected for the Presidential Symposium, which showcases the conference's most significant findings, compared with none in 2024.

The ESMO Congress is one of Europe's leading cancer research conferences, where drugmakers unveil major clinical breakthroughs. Its LBAs highlight potentially practice-changing findings vetted through international peer review. Chinese studies accounted for about one-third of the more than 90 LBAs selected this year, a record-high proportion.

The selected studies involved drug developers including Hutchmed, Keymed Biosciences, Lepu Biopharma, Akeso, Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group, and Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical, covering lung, gastrointestinal, and gynecological cancers.

Shift to Late-Stage Clinical Trials

Beyond the record number and share of selections, Chinese drugmakers are also making progress in the maturity of their research.

In previous years, most Chinese studies presented at the congress involved exploratory findings from early-stage Phase I and Phase II trials. This year, Phase III results dominated, marking a shift toward large-scale trials that typically precede regulatory approval.

The results suggest that China's innovative oncology drugs are moving beyond early proof-of-concept research toward randomized controlled trials capable of generating evidence that could change clinical practice, Xiangcai Securities said.

The brokerage noted that LBAs prioritize randomized Phase II and Phase III clinical trials and have stringent selection criteria. The growing body of late-stage evidence could accelerate updates to international treatment guidelines, overseas licensing deals, and commercialization.

Editor: Emmi Laine