The week’s most important news on drugs in development, approvals, safety and deals, from around the world. Written by Phuturdex, with a link to the source.
Week of 25 October to 31 October 2026
6 news items
· Eli Lilly (USA)
Retatrutide beats semaglutide in type 2 diabetes
Retatrutide, Lilly's investigational drug acting on three hormone receptors (GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon), outperformed semaglutide 2 mg (Ozempic) in the Phase III TRANSCEND-T2D-2 trial in 1,298 adults with type 2 diabetes. After 80 weeks HbA1c fell by 2.2 points versus 1.8, and body weight by 20.9% (12 mg dose) versus 9.4%. Discontinuations due to side effects were more frequent with retatrutide (up to 7.9% versus 2.7%). Results are company-reported and not yet published in a journal.
Petosemtamab extends survival in head and neck cancer
In the Phase III LiGeR-HN1 trial, about 700 patients with recurrent or metastatic PD-L1-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, the bispecific antibody petosemtamab (EGFR × LGR5) added to pembrolizumab improved overall survival and response rate versus pembrolizumab alone. The result came at the first interim analysis. Genmab has not yet disclosed median values.
Tarlatamab as maintenance in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer
The Phase III DeLLphi-305 trial, presented at ESMO and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, enrolled 563 patients without progression after initial chemo-immunotherapy. Tarlatamab (Imdelltra) plus durvalumab raised median overall survival to 21.1 months versus 12.7 with durvalumab alone. Serious adverse events were more frequent (20.9% versus 10.8%). Tarlatamab is already approved in the US after platinum-based chemotherapy; Amgen will submit the new data to regulators.
In the Phase III TroFuse-005 trial, presented at ESMO and published in The Lancet, the TROP2-directed antibody-drug conjugate extended median overall survival to 19.0 months versus 12.1 with chemotherapy. Patients had advanced endometrial cancer previously treated with platinum and immunotherapy. Severe adverse events occurred in 54.4% versus 41.4%, mainly anaemia and neutropenia. The FDA has accepted the application with priority review.
FDA grants accelerated approval to Voceryq, the first plasmid DNA immunotherapy
The FDA approved Voceryq (Inovio) for adults with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, a rare disease caused by HPV types 6 and 11 that produces growths in the airways. The accelerated approval rests on fewer surgeries: in a trial of 32 adults, 7 of 26 evaluable patients needed no surgery in the first year. The company must confirm the benefit in further studies.
Ferring signed an agreement to acquire Gameto, which develops fertility therapies based on cell engineering. The deal is worth up to USD 1.38 billion, tied to development, regulatory and commercial milestones. Gameto's lead product, Fertilo, for egg maturation, is in Phase III in the United States.