Pfizer Moves Deeper Into ADCs With Pivotal Lung Cancer Trials

Pfizer advances an investigational ADC into Phase III lung cancer trials, testing monotherapy and combination approaches amid rising competition

19 Jan 2026

The race to redefine cancer treatment is picking up speed, and antibody-drug conjugates are firmly in the lead pack. The latest sign comes from lung cancer, where Pfizer has moved a closely watched experimental therapy into late-stage testing, underscoring how quickly this class of drugs is reshaping oncology.

The push follows Pfizer’s blockbuster acquisition of Seagen, a deal that signaled how central ADCs have become to future cancer pipelines. With the integration underway, Pfizer is advancing sigvotatug vedotin into multiple Phase III trials for non-small cell lung cancer, one of the most competitive and high-stakes markets in oncology.

Sigvotatug vedotin is engineered to ferry a potent chemotherapy payload directly to cancer cells, aiming to spare healthy tissue while amplifying tumor damage. In one Phase III study, the ADC is being tested head to head against docetaxel in patients whose disease has progressed after prior treatment. A separate trial is evaluating the drug in combination with pembrolizumab as a potential first-line option. Both studies are ongoing, and the therapy remains investigational.

Earlier Phase I and expansion studies offered early hints of antitumor activity, particularly in selected patient groups. Combination cohorts with immunotherapy also produced encouraging signals, though these results came from small, early-stage populations rather than definitive trials. Analysts see the program as part of a broader industry shift toward pairing ADCs with checkpoint inhibitors to deepen and prolong responses.

The opportunity is substantial, but so are the hurdles. Lung cancer trials face demanding regulatory benchmarks, with clear expectations for meaningful gains over established standards of care. Success would not only strengthen Pfizer’s oncology portfolio but also bolster confidence in integrin-targeted ADC approaches.

For now, the outcome is uncertain. Yet the direction is unmistakable. As scientific advances converge with industry consolidation, ADCs are moving from promise to proof, and Pfizer is positioning itself to be a major player in that next chapter.