Lung Cancer Breakthrough
New trial shows Ris-Rez reduces lung cancer death risk by 54 percent
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Key Points
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ARTEMIS-008 met its primary overall-survival endpoint after a median follow-up of 12.2 months, with a hazard ratio of 0.46 (95% CI, 0.35–0.62; p<0.0001).
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The trial included 230 patients treated with Ris-Rez and 231 treated with topotecan; the results were presented in a Presidential Symposium session at the 2026 World Conference on Lung Cancer in Seoul.
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Independent review committee-assessed median progression-free survival was 7.2 months with Ris-Rez versus 3.0 months with topotecan, corresponding to a hazard ratio of 0.33 (95% CI, 0.25–0.43).
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Hesham Abdullah, GSK’s senior vice president and global head of oncology R&D, said the survival results provide “further momentum” for developing Ris-Rez in both later-line and earlier treatment settings for small cell lung cancer.
GSK and Hansoh Pharmaceutical announced that Ris-Rez, an experimental cancer drug, cut the risk of death by 54% compared to the standard treatment topotecan in patients with relapsed small cell lung cancer. Endpoints News reported that in the phase 3 ARTEMIS-008 trial, patients taking Ris-Rez lived a median of 18.5 months, compared to just 10.3 months for those on topotecan—a major breakthrough in treating this aggressive lung cancer.
The trial tested 230 patients on Ris-Rez and 231 on topotecan in China, with results presented at the 2026 World Conference on Lung Cancer in Seoul. This marks the first phase 3 proof that B7-H3 antibody-drug conjugates can extend survival in cancer patients, paving the way for GSK to test the drug in earlier treatment stages and other solid tumors worldwide.
Drug Doubled Survival in Real-World Testing
The ARTEMIS-008 trial met its primary goal after tracking patients for an average of 12.2 months. Ris-Rez achieved a hazard ratio of 0.46—meaning patients faced less than half the death risk of those on topotecan (95% confidence interval: 0.35–0.62). IBTimes noted that GSK shares jumped 3.83% following the twin lung cancer trial wins, signaling investor confidence in the company's oncology pipeline.
The drug also crushed the standard measure of how long cancer stays under control. Median progression-free survival was 7.2 months with Ris-Rez versus just 3.0 months with topotecan, a 2.4-fold improvement. This means patients on the new drug went much longer before their cancer started growing again.
What Makes This Drug Different
Ris-Rez targets B7-H3, a protein found on cancer cells that helps them hide from the immune system. By blocking this protein, the drug allows the body's defenses to attack the tumor more effectively. Small cell lung cancer is notoriously aggressive and kills quickly—the jump from 10.3 to 18.5 months represents a fundamental shift in survival odds.
The treatment showed an encouraging safety profile, meaning patients tolerated it reasonably well. Yahoo Finance reported that GSK's $10.6 billion purchase of Nuvalent has already paid dividends with strong lung cancer results across multiple drugs in the company's portfolio. This Ris-Rez win validates GSK's strategy of acquiring and developing targeted oncology treatments.
Next Steps: Earlier Treatments and Broader Use
Hesham Abdullah, GSK's senior vice president for oncology R&D, said the survival data provide "further momentum" for Ris-Rez in both later-line and earlier treatment settings. This means GSK plans to test the drug in patients who just received their first diagnosis, not just those whose cancer has relapsed after previous treatments.
GSK also plans to explore Ris-Rez in other solid tumors outside Greater China. Since B7-H3 appears on many cancer types, the target protein could unlock benefits across lung, breast, and other cancers. A drug that doubles survival in one setting often shows promise in related diseases, making this a potential blockbuster in GSK's pipeline.
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