Eli Lilly Achieves 62% Response in Lung Cancer Drug

Achieving a 62% tumor shrinkage rate, Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) achieved positive results in clinical trials for its experimental lung cancer drug olomorasib in combination with chemotherapy and Keytruda manufactured by Merck (MRK). Data presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology 2026 Congress held in Madrid showed that tumor responses lasted a median of 14.5 months in the study covering 77 previously untreated patients.

What results were obtained in olomorasib clinical trials?

While the median progression-free survival delaying disease progression was measured at 11.6 months, the study was also expanded to a chemotherapy-free patient group. In a separate arm examining 85 patients who received olomorasib only with Keytruda without chemotherapy, the median progression-free survival had not yet been reached over a median follow-up period of 20.7 months. 55% of the patients in this arm remained alive without disease progression as of the 18th month.

When will the Phase 3 SUNRAY-01 study be completed?

Administered orally, olomorasib targets the KRAS G12C genetic mutation detected in approximately 13% of non-small cell lung cancer patients. Aiming to prevent the mutated protein from sending growth signals to cells, the drug received breakthrough therapy designation from the US Food and Drug Administration. In a market where there is currently no approved targeted drug in first-line treatment, initial data from the randomized Phase 3 SUNRAY-01 study is planned to be announced in the first half of 2027.

While the Phase 3 program is seen as decisive because existing clinical data lacks a comparative control group, Eli Lilly shares ended the session down 2.54% at $1,273.46. The shares recovered to $1,277.00 in after-hours trading.

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