Aakash Desai: ESMO26 Presidential Symposium Presents Practice-Changing DeLLphi-305 Results

Aakash Desai , Associate Director, Phase 1 and Precision Oncology Program at UAB O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, shared on LinkedIn : “DeLLphi-305 primary analysis, ESMO 2026 Presidential Symposium I (Abstract LBA3). Tarlatamab plus durvalumab vs durvalumab alone as first-line maintenance for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, after first-line durvalumab + platinum-etoposide without progression.

563 patients, randomized 1:1 . What the abstract reports (median follow-up 15.9 vs 16.1 months): Overall survival (primary): median 21.1 vs 12.7 months; HR 0.42 (95% CI 0.32–0.54); P<0.001 12-month OS: 79.4% vs 53.3% PFS (investigator-assessed): median 7.4 vs 1.9 months; HR 0.34 (95% CI 0.28–0.42); P<0.001 ORR: 26.4% vs 4.1% Grade ≥3 treatment-emergent AEs: 46.8% vs 40.6% CRS 49.6% (grade ≥3: 0.4%) and ICANS 1.1% (no grade ≥3) with tarlatamab + durvalumab; no fatal CRS or ICANS events The authors conclude these results ‘establish tarlatamab + durva as a new standard of care 1LM therapy for ES-SCLC.’ Jacob Sands presents Saturday, Oct 24, 17:18 CEST.

Open question for my colleagues : which of your patients (if not all!) would you start on tarlatamab maintenance, and what do you need in place locally (monitoring after the first doses, CRS management) to make it happen? It has been amazing to be part of this practice-changing study and to contribute as a member of the global steering committee with Amgen team!

Grateful to the patients, families and investigators who made it possible.” You can also read: Rasha Aboelhassan: Key Insights From ESMO 2026 Stay Informed Subscribe to OncoDaily Newsletter Don't miss the latest news in oncology: stay up to date with daily picks from OncoDaily. Subscribe