AbbVie Highlights New Lung Cancer Research Data Across NSCLC and SCLC Programs at WCLC 2026
AbbVie is showcasing a broad collection of new research findings across its lung cancer development portfolio at the 2026 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC), highlighting ongoing efforts to advance treatment options for patients with both non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
The data presented at the meeting span early- and mid-stage clinical studies, translational research and real-world evidence. Together, the findings provide additional insight into investigational therapies, treatment-related safety, patient populations, biomarker expression and potential approaches for developing more personalized treatment strategies in lung cancer.
AbbVie’s research at WCLC reflects its broader strategy of developing complementary therapeutic approaches designed to address different biological mechanisms involved in lung cancer. The company is evaluating next-generation immunotherapies alongside targeted antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), with programs focused on targets such as PD-1, VEGF, c-Met and SEZ6.
According to Daejin Abidoye, M.D., vice president and therapeutic area head of oncology, solid tumor and hematology at AbbVie, the company is seeking to build a lung cancer pipeline that combines different therapeutic modalities. He highlighted ABBV-1480, an investigational PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody, and telisotuzumab adizutecan, also known as Temab-A, a c-Met-directed ADC, as important components of this strategy.
The company believes that understanding how these therapies perform individually and in combination could help support the development of more tailored treatment approaches for people living with lung cancer.
AbbVie Advances Novel Treatment Approaches in NSCLC
NSCLC represents the most common form of lung cancer and includes several biologically distinct subtypes. Because patients can have different molecular characteristics and treatment histories, identifying therapies that can address specific tumor biology remains an important area of research.
At WCLC 2026, AbbVie is presenting multiple analyses from its NSCLC pipeline. The research covers potential first-line treatment strategies, targeted ADC approaches and biomarker-driven patient selection.
ABBV-1480 Investigated as a Potential First-Line Therapy
One of the key programs featured at the meeting is ABBV-1480, also known as RC148, an investigational bispecific antibody targeting both PD-1 and VEGF. AbbVie is developing the therapy in partnership with RemeGen.
The Phase 1b program is evaluating ABBV-1480 in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy as a potential first-line treatment for patients with advanced NSCLC. The dual-targeting approach is intended to simultaneously influence immune checkpoint signaling and tumor-associated vascular pathways.
At the 10 mg/kg dose, which has been identified as the recommended Phase 3 dose for continued development in combination regimens across both squamous and non-squamous NSCLC, the investigational therapy demonstrated encouraging response rates.
Among patients with squamous NSCLC, the objective response rate (ORR) was 90.0%, representing responses in 27 of 30 patients. In the non-squamous NSCLC population, the ORR was 75.9%, with 22 of 29 patients achieving an objective response.
These early findings provide clinical support for continued investigation of the PD-1/VEGF bispecific approach. However, as an investigational therapy, ABBV-1480 will require additional clinical evaluation to determine its long-term efficacy, safety and potential role in the treatment of advanced NSCLC.
The safety findings from the 10 mg/kg combinations were described as generally manageable. The most frequently reported treatment-related adverse events included decreases in white blood cell counts, neutrophil counts and platelet counts, as well as anemia. Importantly, no grade 3 or higher hemorrhages were observed among patients receiving the 10 mg/kg combinations.
The results are supporting ongoing Phase 3 development of ABBV-1480 in combination-based treatment strategies.
Temab-A Expands AbbVie’s Targeted ADC Strategy
Another important component of AbbVie’s NSCLC research is telisotuzumab adizutecan, or Temab-A, an investigational ADC designed to target c-Met and deliver a topoisomerase 1 inhibitor (Top1i) payload directly to cancer cells.
ADC technologies are increasingly being investigated as a means of selectively delivering potent anti-cancer agents to tumors. Temab-A is being studied in several NSCLC settings, including patients whose disease has already received multiple lines of treatment.
Following encouraging preliminary activity in heavily pretreated patients, AbbVie has initiated the Phase 1b/2 M24-536 study to evaluate Temab-A in combination with a PD-1 inhibitor. The study is examining a platinum-free combination regimen as a potential first-line treatment for patients with advanced non-squamous NSCLC.
An important component of the research is biomarker analysis. Investigators are examining c-Met and PD-L1 expression to better understand which patients may be most likely to benefit from the combination.
Biomarker-driven treatment selection could ultimately become an important element of targeted cancer therapy because molecular characteristics can influence how tumors respond to specific treatments. The ongoing Temab-A studies are therefore designed not only to assess clinical activity but also to improve understanding of the biological characteristics associated with treatment response.
AbbVie is also evaluating Temab-A in patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC. The investigational ADC is being studied both as a monotherapy and in combination with osimertinib, expanding the potential development strategy into a molecularly defined patient population.
ABBV-706 Generates New Data in Small Cell Lung Cancer
AbbVie is also presenting new findings from its SCLC development program, with a particular focus on ABBV-706.
ABBV-706 is an investigational ADC directed against SEZ6, a target that has been identified as being expressed in SCLC. Like Temab-A, ABBV-706 uses a Top1i payload, but it is designed to deliver the payload through a different tumor-associated target.
Previous clinical findings showed promising activity for ABBV-706 in patients with relapsed or refractory SCLC following platinum-based chemotherapy. In the previously reported population of 17 patients, the investigational therapy achieved an ORR of 82%.
At WCLC 2026, AbbVie is providing additional safety information from a larger population of 240 patients who received ABBV-706 monotherapy. The new analysis offers a broader assessment of the therapy’s tolerability profile as clinical development continues.
The most frequently reported gastrointestinal treatment-related adverse events included nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Nausea occurred in 35.8% of patients, while vomiting was reported in 17.5% and diarrhea in 10.8%. According to AbbVie, these gastrointestinal events were generally low grade and, in most cases, did not require dose adjustments.
Hematologic toxicities were also among the most frequently reported treatment-related adverse events. These included anemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, which are important safety considerations for ADC therapies carrying cytotoxic payloads.
Grade 3 or higher treatment-related pneumonitis or interstitial lung disease was reported in 1.7% of patients receiving ABBV-706 monotherapy. Serious treatment-related adverse events occurred in 12.5% of patients.
The safety findings are intended to provide additional context as AbbVie advances the program into later-stage development.
Phase 3 Development Underway for ABBV-706
AbbVie is continuing to evaluate ABBV-706 in SCLC through multiple clinical development strategies. The investigational therapy is being studied as a monotherapy in a Phase 3 clinical trial and in combination with atezolizumab in a Phase 2 study.
The Phase 3 program is particularly important because randomized, later-stage studies are necessary to establish whether the promising activity observed in earlier clinical development can translate into meaningful benefits for a broader patient population.
The combination approach with atezolizumab is also designed to explore whether an ADC targeting SEZ6 can potentially complement immune checkpoint inhibition.
Real-World Evidence Supports SEZ6 as a Potential Biomarker
In addition to clinical data, AbbVie is presenting real-world research examining the expression of SEZ6 in patients with SCLC.
The analysis found that SEZ6 was broadly expressed, with expression identified in 91% of SCLC patients overall. Expression was reported in more than 96% of patients whose disease had spread to the brain or liver.
These findings are significant because the presence of a target across a large proportion of patients could potentially support the development of targeted therapies designed to exploit that biological feature.
The high prevalence of SEZ6 expression observed in the analysis further supports investigation of the target in SCLC and potentially in other tumors that express SEZ6. At the same time, additional clinical research will be necessary to determine how SEZ6 expression translates into treatment response and whether it can reliably serve as a predictive biomarker.
Broader Implications for Lung Cancer Research
AbbVie’s WCLC 2026 presentations illustrate the company’s effort to develop multiple therapeutic approaches for lung cancer rather than relying on a single treatment modality.
The company’s NSCLC portfolio includes immune-based approaches such as ABBV-1480 and targeted ADC development through Temab-A. Meanwhile, ABBV-706 represents a separate ADC strategy focused on SCLC and the SEZ6 target.
The combination of clinical, translational and real-world evidence may help AbbVie refine its understanding of which patients could benefit from specific investigational therapies. Biomarker research involving c-Met, PD-L1 and SEZ6 is particularly relevant as oncology continues to move toward more individualized treatment decisions.
Although the results presented at WCLC are encouraging, the investigational therapies remain under clinical evaluation, and further studies will be required to determine their eventual safety, efficacy and potential place in clinical practice.
Overall, the data presented at WCLC 2026 reinforce AbbVie’s continued investment in lung cancer research. By advancing next-generation immunotherapies and ADCs across NSCLC and SCLC, the company aims to expand the range of treatment strategies available to patients while developing a deeper understanding of tumor biology, biomarkers and treatment response.
About AbbVie
AbbVie’s mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people’s lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, neuroscience and oncology – and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
About AbbVie in Oncology
AbbVie is committed to elevating standards of care and bringing transformative therapies to patients worldwide living with difficult-to-treat cancers. We are advancing a dynamic pipeline of investigational therapies across a range of cancer types in both blood cancers and solid tumors. We are focusing on creating targeted medicines that either impede the reproduction of cancer cells or enable their elimination. We achieve this through various, targeted treatment modalities and biology interventions, including small molecule therapeutics, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), immuno-oncology-based therapeutics, multispecific antibody and novel CAR-T platforms. Our dedicated and experienced team joins forces with innovative partners to accelerate the delivery of potential breakthrough medicines.
Today, our expansive oncology portfolio comprises approved and investigational treatments for a wide range of blood cancers and solid tumors. We are evaluating more than 35 investigational medicines in multiple clinical trials across some of the world’s most widespread and debilitating cancers. As we work to have a remarkable impact on people’s lives, we are committed to exploring solutions to help patients obtain access to our cancer medicines.