Abbisko and AstraZeneca Partner on Oral PD-L1 Lung Cancer Therapy

The National Medical Products Administration cleared the investigational new drug application on May 20, 2026, setting the stage for a multicenter, open-label evaluation. Abbisko will lead the trial, with both companies sharing responsibility for clinical development. The collaboration seeks to address a specific gap in oncology: patients with both EGFR mutations and high PD-L1 expression often show limited response to standard third-generation EGFR-TKIs like Tagrisso.

Lumipodlin, an internally developed small molecule, works by binding to the PD-L1 receptor and inducing its internalization, a process intended to restore T-cell activation. While current immunotherapy standards rely on monoclonal antibodies, there are no currently approved orally bioavailable PD-1/PD-L1 small molecule drugs. If successful, this combination could offer a new oral treatment path for those with locally advanced or metastatic disease who currently face few effective alternatives.