Takeda’s ADC arcotatug tavatecan shows survival benefit in phase 3 gastric cancer trial

Takeda, together with Innovent Biologics, presented results from a late‑stage study of its next‑generation claudin‑18.2 antibody‑drug conjugate, arcotatug tavatecan (also known as IBI343 or TAK‑921), in patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastric or gastro‑esophageal junction adenocarcinoma.

The trial enrolled 464 participants in China and Japan who had received at least two prior systemic therapies. Patients receiving the ADC achieved a median progression‑free survival of 7.1 months, compared with 3.1 months for investigator‑selected control treatments. Overall survival was 10.2 months for the ADC arm versus 6.9 months for the control group.

These data confirm the drug’s ability to improve key outcomes in a hard‑to‑treat population and underscore the value of Takeda’s $1.2 billion investment in the partnership with Innovent. The results were highlighted at the opening day of the ESMO 2026 conference in Madrid.