New Lung Cancer Drug Shows Early Trial Promise
The investigational drug Ris-Rez showed a 61% objective response rate in early testing for relapsed small cell lung cancer.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Cancer
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GSK has released preliminary data from its phase Ib EMBOLD PanTumour-101 trial of the investigational cancer drug Ris-Rez. The study, which evaluated patients with relapsed extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, will move into phase III trials using the 8 mg/kg dose.
Why it matters
Patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer often experience rapid disease progression after initial treatments and currently have few effective options. This trial aims to identify a more viable therapy for those who have exhausted standard care.
The phase Ib trial analysis included 50 patients who had received a median of two prior therapies, reporting an objective response rate of 61% at the 8 mg/kg dose versus 32% at 6 mg/kg. The results are preliminary, with a median follow-up period of 100.5 days.
The players
GSK
A global biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of medicines for respiratory, HIV, oncology, and immunology.
The details
Patients in the trial received intravenous infusions of Ris-Rez every three weeks as a monotherapy. While the 8 mg/kg dose showed higher efficacy, it was also associated with a 42% rate of grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events, compared to 15% at the 6 mg/kg dose. Researchers noted a 2% rate of interstitial lung disease across the study participants.
Timeline
2026: Trial data presented at the ESMO Congress in Madrid.
Health Landscape
This study sits within the wider effort to address the limited treatment options for relapsed small cell lung cancer. It follows the trial's evaluation of Ris-Rez in advanced solid tumors, moving toward phase III trials in both small cell lung cancer and metastatic prostate cancer.
This development represents a preliminary step in drug testing and does not currently impact clinical practice or available treatments. Patients interested in how these emerging therapies might eventually fit into their care plan should discuss the potential for future clinical trial enrollment with their oncologist.
The takeaway
While these early results for Ris-Rez are notable, they remain in the preliminary phase of testing. Readers should continue to work closely with their medical team to track standard-of-care updates and monitor any changes in eligibility for clinical studies.
What happens next
GSK will initiate additional phase III trials for Ris-Rez in early-line small cell lung cancer and chemo-naïve metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.
Further reading
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