ASCO 2026 — the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in Chicago, May 29 to June 2 — is the year's main venue for late-breaking oncology peptide data. Abstract titles released April 21; full abstracts publish May 21 at 5:00 PM ET.
Notable peptide-related programs slated for the meeting: Bicycle Therapeutics is presenting initial Duravelo-2 dose-selection data for nuzefatide pevedotin (BT5528) across multiple tumor types, including a Rapid Oral Abstract Session for the urothelial cohort. BriaCell will show 12- and 24-month overall survival data for Bria-IMT plus checkpoint inhibition in advanced metastatic breast cancer across three poster presentations and three publication-only abstracts. BioVaxys had its PESCO Phase 1B/2 abstract accepted for the MVP-S survivin peptide vaccine combined with pembrolizumab and cyclophosphamide in recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer.
Stories here cover the readouts and the company press releases that lead into them. See #peptide-vaccine, #peptide-drug-conjugate, and #bicycle-therapeutics for related coverage.
ASCO 2026 abstract text released at 5 PM ET Thursday, ahead of the May 29-June 2 Chicago meeting. The peptide-oncology data landed simultaneously across the previously-announced slate. Bicycle Therapeutics released Duravelo-2 Phase 2/3 interim data on zelenectide pevedotin (BT8009) plus pembrolizumab in 1L locally advanced/metastatic urothelial cancer. Avacta released AVA6000 Phase 1b data in salivary gland cancers. BriaCell released final Phase 2 Bria-IMT survival data plus biomarker analyses from the ongoing Phase 3. BioVaxys's MVP-S PESCO Phase 1B/2 ovarian cancer abstract landed. Crinetics CRN09682 SSTR2 NDC BRAVESST2 abstract emerged. Pfizer released 40+ company-sponsored, investigator-sponsored, and collaborative oncology abstracts including three late-breaking sessions. The peptide-oncology cohort is the largest single ASCO presence in recent meeting history.
Avacta's AVA6000 — a fibroblast activation protein (FAP)-activated peptide-drug conjugate releasing doxorubicin selectively in the tumor microenvironment — released Phase 1a/1b data at ASCO 2026 in salivary gland cancers. Of 30 patients in the Phase 1b cohort treated at 250 mg/m² and above, two experienced confirmed partial responses (>30% tumor shrinkage) and seven experienced minor responses (10-30% shrinkage). The combined Phase 1a + 1b disease control rate reached 90%. Phase 1a data in 11 patients at the same dose range showed 1 confirmed partial response, 4 minor responses, 1 progression, and 5 stable disease — a 91% disease control rate. The favorable safety profile continued versus conventional doxorubicin, with no severe cardiac toxicity events. The data anchors Avacta's planned Phase 2/3 expansion in adenoid cystic carcinoma — the most common salivary gland cancer subtype, with no FDA-approved systemic therapy.
Bicycle Therapeutics released Duravelo-2 Phase 2/3 interim analysis data at ASCO 2026 — zelenectide pevedotin (BT8009, a Nectin-4-targeting bicyclic peptide-MMAE conjugate) plus pembrolizumab in previously untreated locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer. The full data presentation is scheduled for Monday June 1, 8:30-8:36 AM CT in the GU Cancers oral session (Abstract 4516). The Duravelo-1 monotherapy comparator anchor — 65% ORR (13/20) in cisplatin-ineligible 1L mUC at 5 mg/m² + pembrolizumab combination, with median DOR 11.1 months in the monotherapy expansion — sets the bar for what the Duravelo-2 combination interim must clear. Bicycle's five-abstract ASCO package includes the oral Duravelo-2 piece plus four posters covering Duravelo-1 monotherapy update, BT5528 EphA2 monotherapy and combination cohorts, and BT8009 second-line urothelial data.
BriaCell released final randomized Phase 2 Bria-IMT survival and quality-of-life data at ASCO 2026 alongside biomarker analyses from the ongoing Phase 3 study. Bria-IMT — a whole-cell allogeneic peptide-and-cell immunotherapy combined with checkpoint inhibitor — has been studied in heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer patients who have failed antibody-drug conjugate, checkpoint, and CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy. The Phase 2 data set covers 12- and 24-month survival, treatment tolerability, and circulating-tumor-cell biomarker work. The Phase 3 program added Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center as a site on May 13, joining Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven and the Los Angeles Cancer Network. The six-abstract BriaCell package at ASCO 2026 — three poster presentations and three publication-only abstracts — establishes the company as the largest peptide-immunotherapy presence at this year's meeting.
ASCO 2026 abstracts will release on asco.org/abstracts beginning 5:00 PM ET on Wednesday May 21, ahead of the May 29-June 2 Chicago meeting. The peptide-oncology slate is substantial: Pfizer announced 40+ company-sponsored, investigator-sponsored, and collaborative oncology abstracts including three late-breaking sessions; Bicycle Therapeutics has an oral and four poster presentations on zelenectide pevedotin (BT8009, nectin-4 PDC) with Duravelo-2 interim data; Avacta has Phase Ia/Ib data on AVA6000 (FAP-Dox PDC) in salivary gland cancers; BioVaxys's MVP-S survivin peptide vaccine PESCO trial data; BriaCell's six Bria-IMT/Bria-OTS+ presentations on metastatic breast cancer; and Replimune's RP1 + nivolumab 3-year melanoma OS data. Crinetics CRN09682 SSTR2 NDC BRAVESST2 update expected.
Avacta Therapeutics's AVA6000, a fibroblast activation protein (FAP)-activated peptide-drug conjugate releasing doxorubicin selectively in the tumor microenvironment, will be presented at ASCO 2026 (Chicago, May 29-June 2) covering Phase Ia/Ib data in FAP-positive solid tumors with activity against salivary gland cancers — a rare cancer subset with no approved targeted therapies. The pre|CISION platform attaches a peptide tetrazolyl moiety that is cleaved by FAP, an enzyme overexpressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts and selectively present in the tumor stroma, allowing systemic dosing without the cardiotoxicity that limits free doxorubicin. AVA6000 joins Bicycle's nuzefatide pevedotin and Lilly's CRN09682 in the broader peptide-drug conjugate Phase 2/3 cohort.
Bicycle Therapeutics confirmed the Duravelo-2 oral abstract presentation slot at the ASCO 2026 Annual Meeting on Monday, June 1, 8:30–8:36 a.m. CT. The abstract reports interim analysis results from Duravelo-2, a Phase 2/3 trial of zelenectide pevedotin (BT8009) plus pembrolizumab as first-line treatment for previously untreated locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma. Zelenectide pevedotin is Bicycle's Nectin-4-targeting bicyclic peptide-drug conjugate, a separate program from the EphA2-targeting nuzefatide pevedotin (BT5528) covered earlier on this site. The Q1 2026 print (April 30) reaffirmed $559.5M cash and runway to 2030 supporting the Phase 3 expansion of the platform.
Bicycle Therapeutics reported Q1 2026 financial results April 30 — net loss of $60.8M ($0.87 per share) on R&D of approximately $44M, with $559.5M in cash and equivalents at March 31 supporting a cash runway into 2030. The pipeline update reaffirmed that nuzefatide pevedotin (BT5528) Duravelo-2 dose-selection data in EphA2-positive solid tumors will be presented at the ASCO 2026 Rapid Oral Abstract Session on June 1, the Phase 2 nuzefatide pevedotin trial in recurrent pancreatic cancer enrolled its first patient in April, and the EphA2 gallium-68 PET imaging program continues to accumulate first-in-human data. Bicycle remains the leading bicyclic-peptide-platform pure-play in oncology.
Immutep announced April 22 that an abstract for its lead asset eftilagimod alfa — a soluble LAG-3 protein that activates antigen-presenting cells via MHC class II — has been accepted for poster presentation at ASCO 2026 (May 29–June 2, Chicago). The abstract, titled 'Impact of eftilagimod alfa, an APC activator via MHC class II, on lymphocyte activation and survival outcomes in metastatic cancer patients,' adds a non-checkpoint immunotherapy modality to the ASCO 2026 peptide-and-immuno slate alongside Bicycle Therapeutics' Duravelo-2, BriaCell's Bria-IMT, BioVaxys's MVP-S, and Greenwich LifeSciences' GP2 program.
Pfizer announced that data from more than 40 company-sponsored, investigator-sponsored, and collaborative research abstracts will appear at ASCO 2026 in Chicago (May 29–June 2). The slate spans Pfizer's diverse oncology pipeline including peptide-drug conjugate programs, bispecific T-cell engagers, and antibody-drug conjugates. Combined with previously announced ASCO 2026 acceptances from Bicycle Therapeutics, BriaCell, Greenwich LifeSciences, BioVaxys, and Immutep, the meeting is shaping up as the most peptide-and-immuno-conjugate-heavy ASCO in recent memory — building on the foundation laid at AACR 2026 in San Diego.
BioVaxys announced April 27 that the abstract from the investigator-initiated PESCO trial — an open-label, non-randomized Phase 1B/2 study evaluating the company's MVP-S (maveropepimut-S) DPX-formulated peptide vaccine in combination with pembrolizumab and cyclophosphamide in recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer — has been accepted for presentation at the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting in Chicago (May 29–June 6). MVP-S is a five-peptide survivin-targeted formulation that pairs the peptides with a T-helper sequence and an innate-immune stimulant; the program tests whether the cytotoxic T-cell response can be combined effectively with checkpoint blockade in platinum-resistant disease.
BriaCell announced April 27 that its Bria-IMT cell-based peptide immunotherapy will be featured in three poster presentations and three publication-only abstracts at the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting (May 29–June 2, Chicago). Highlights include 12- and 24-month overall survival data with Bria-IMT plus checkpoint inhibition in advanced metastatic breast cancer, an updated quality-of-life and tolerability analysis, and a randomized Bria-ABC Phase 3 blood-biomarker progression-free survival readout. Three publication-only abstracts cover the second-generation BC1 platform, multi-analyte liquid biopsy stratification, and PD-L1 monitoring in circulating cancer-associated cells.
Bicycle Therapeutics announced April 21 its program for the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting (May 29-June 2 in Chicago), with an oral presentation and five poster abstracts on nuzefatide pevedotin — its EphA2-targeting bicyclic peptide drug conjugate. Key data from Phase 1/2 include the recently disclosed 40% ORR in checkpoint-refractory urothelial cancer, expanded head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma preclinical data, and the selected 8mg/m² Q2W dose for the Phase 2 recurrent pancreatic cancer trial. The program solidifies Nuzefatide's positioning as a leading bicyclic peptide drug conjugate in oncology.