Strategic Implications for Pharma & Biotech from ASCO 2026

Author: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Matthias P. Schönermark, Chief Strategy Officer

Every year, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) offers a concentrated view of where oncology is heading. The sheer volume of data, the density of clinical debate, the diversity of technologies, and the intensity of industry presence make it more than a scientific congress. It is a strategic signal. For pharma and biotech companies, the most important question after ASCO is therefore not simply: “Which data was most exciting?”. The more important question is:

“What does the data mean for our strategy, our evidence plan, our value story, our HTA readiness, our pricing assumptions, and our route to patients?”

This expert analysis dives into why the scientific progress presented at ASCO is remarkable. Across tumour types, we are seeing further advances in immunotherapy, targeted therapy, antibody-based approaches, radioligand therapy, cellular and gene-based strategies, biomarker-driven treatment selection, genomic testing, treatment de-escalation, and AI-supported decision-making. But the strategic consequence is equally important: oncology is becoming harder to classify, harder to compare, and harder to assess. The old mental model of “one tumour, one line of therapy, one comparator, one pivotal trial, one value argument” is increasingly insufficient.