American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting

The 2025 American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting (AACR Annual Meeting 2025) was successfully held in Chicago, USA, from April 25 to 30, 2025. This year’s meeting was themed “Unifying Cancer Science and Medicine: Sustaining Innovation for Transformation,” hosted by the American Association for Cancer Research, and stands as a premier annual event in the global cancer research community.

In terms of scale, the conference attracted over 22,100 registered attendees from 85 countries and regions worldwide, with more than 21,000 participants attending in person—marking a new all-time high. The program featured nearly 730 invited presentations, delivered by speakers from 30 countries, including 11 NextGen Stars—emerging scientists selected through rigorous screening. During the event, more than 200 clinical trial results were showcased, among them 15 completed Phase III trials and 9 ongoing Phase III studies, several of which hold the potential to reshape clinical practice. Over 260 scientific sessions were broadcast live online, encompassing plenary talks, specialized symposia, educational courses, and methodological workshops.

This year’s meeting was marked by numerous highlights, with Chinese contributions taking center stage. According to statistics, 111 Chinese pharmaceutical companies participated, presenting 246 innovative drug candidates, including 86 antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs), accounting for 35% of the total. In the ADC space, Chinese firms demonstrated exceptional strength—of the 157 ADCs showcased at the conference, more than half were developed by Chinese companies; furthermore, Chinese enterprises dominated among the 44 bispecific ADCs presented. Technologically, Chinese firms spearheaded several world-first innovations: Kanghong Pharmaceutical’s KH815 became the first globally approved dual‑payload ADC, simultaneously incorporating a TopoI inhibitor and an RNA polymerase II inhibitor to achieve dual DNA and RNA‑targeted cytotoxicity; Weilizhibo’s LBL‑058 was the world’s first TCE‑ADC, innovatively integrating a T‑cell engager scaffold with a cytotoxic payload. The emerging target CDH17 also made its debut on the conference’s hotspot list, emerging as a major highlight in gastrointestinal oncology; Yilian Bio’s YL217 has received FDA IND approval, becoming the first ADC targeting this biomarker to enter clinical development. During the conference, the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association held high-level discussions with AACR leadership, reviewing nearly two decades of collaborative achievements and announcing plans to sign a strategic cooperation agreement during the 2025 China Integrated Oncology Conference, further strengthening Sino‑ collaboration in cancer research.

Clinical breakthroughs and innovative therapies drew significant attention. Boehringer Ingelheim unveiled Phase III data for Zongertinib, a novel HER2‑mutant NSCLC therapy, demonstrating an objective response rate of 71%, an unprecedented level among comparable agents. GSK’s PD‑1 monoclonal antibody Jemperli achieved complete clinical remission in 84 patients with dMMR/MSI‑H locally advanced rectal cancer, with 82 of these patients remaining surgery‑free, suggesting that future cancer treatments may enable organ preservation. The T‑cell engager arena also remained highly active, with approximately 20 domestic biopharmaceutical companies showcasing cutting-edge developments: Qilu Pharmaceutical introduced the world’s first MET/EGFR/CD2/CD3 quadri‑specific TCE (QL615), which in preclinical studies outperformed other investigational products in controlling tumor growth; AstraZeneca took a different approach, developing a CD8‑guided GPC3/CD8/TCR tri‑specific TCE (AZD9793) that preferentially recruits CD8+ T cells to target tumors, effectively reducing CRS‑related cytokine production. Huaihe Bio’s CC312, the world’s first CD19/CD28/CD3 tri‑specific TCE approved for systemic lupus erythematosus IND, exhibited substantial potential in the field of autoimmune diseases.

The professional audience was exceptionally strong, with international participation reaching record levels. Over 180 accredited journalists registered for the event, with media coverage spanning top-tier outlets such as The New York Times, CNN, and NBC. On the social media platform X, the hashtag #AACR25 garnered more than 16,000 mentions, generating a total exposure of 636.6 million impressions. During the conference, AACR announced the launch of a new “Pioneer Cancer Research Grant Program,” offering nine $1 million awards for early‑stage researchers and six $1 million awards for mid‑stage investigators, totaling $15 million—setting a new record for AACR’s single grant initiative. Additionally, AACR unveiled plans to establish a Cancer Clinical Trials Center, with the first gastric‑esophageal cancer trial sponsored by AACR expected to begin patient enrollment by the end of 2025.

Attendees agreed that the AACR Annual Meeting serves not only as a premier platform for showcasing and exchanging academic advances but also as a critical hub for gaining insights into global trends in cancer research and exploring pathways toward translational medicine and precision therapeutics. The trajectory of Chinese innovative pharmaceutical companies—from “fast‑follow” to “first‑in‑class” across ADCs, TCEs, and bispecific antibodies—signals China’s emergence as a key driver of global innovation in cancer treatment.