Our Stories
Behind every medicine is a story—a story of people who make it possible. In the series Where Craft Meets, Daiichi Sankyo explores and celebrates the people behind our medicines and shares how our unique crafts contribute to our collective mission to help patients.
Cancer care is never carried out by one person alone. It is a team effort, with oncologists, nurses, pharmacists, pathologists, patient support teams, caregivers, and many others all supporting the patient.
Transforming Science into Medicines
By uniting cutting-edge science and technology with a genuine interest in people, we develop high-quality, life-changing solutions for the patients of today and tomorrow with great care and unwavering dedication.
Striving to Create Optimized Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) Technology
DXd ADC Technology: Our innovations deliver on the benefits of ADC technology.
What's New
Oct 2, 2026
Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca Enter into Clinical Trial Collaboration with Summit Therapeutics to Evaluate Datroway in Combination with Ivonescimab Across Multiple Tumor TypesTokyo – (October 2, 2026) – Daiichi Sankyo (TSE: 4568) and AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/NYSE: AZN) have entered into a clinical trial collaboration agreement with Summit Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: SMMT) to evaluate Datroway® (datopotamab deruxtecan) in combination with ivonescimab across multiple tumor types including lung and breast cancers. The companies intend to begin with a phase 3 trial in first-line triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Datroway is a specifically engineered TROP2 directed DXd antibody drug conjugate (ADC) discovered by Daiichi Sankyo and being jointly developed and commercialized by Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca. “At Daiichi Sankyo, we are focused on maximizing the potential of our DXd antibody drug conjugate portfolio through innovative combinations and strategic collaborations that support the continued advancement of our pipeline,” said John Tsai, MD, Global Head, R&D, Daiichi Sankyo. “We are encouraged by the opportunity to explore ivonescimab in combination with Datroway to potentially deliver clinically meaningful benefit to patients.” “Central to our strategy to transform cancer outcomes is harnessing the power of immunotherapy and antibody drug conjugate combinations to drive deeper, more durable responses,” said Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President, Oncology Hematology R&D, AstraZeneca. “We believe the combination of Datroway and ivonescimab has the potential to make a meaningful difference in multiple tumor types including lung and breast cancers.” “We believe this collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca reflects increasing conviction in ivonescimab’s potential as a foundational next-generation immunotherapy and advances our ambition for ivonescimab to become the global PD-1/VEGF partner of choice for novel combinations,” said Maky Zanganeh, President and Co-Chief Executive Officer, Summit Therapeutics. “Beginning with a phase 3 study in first-line triple negative breast cancer, this collaboration represents an important expansion of Summit’s global development program into breast cancer and a path for additional solid tumor settings.” Under the terms of the agreement, each company will contribute their respective compound for the planned combination trials, which will be sponsored by AstraZeneca or Daiichi Sankyo. AstraZeneca, Daiichi Sankyo and Summit will each contribute to trial costs, and each company will retain development and commercial rights to their respective medicines. Ivonescimab is a novel, potential first-in-class bispecific antibody combining the effects of immunotherapy via a blockade of PD-1 with the anti-angiogenesis effects associated with blocking VEGF into a single molecule. About Datroway Datroway (datopotamab deruxtecan; datopotamab deruxtecan-dlnk in the U.S. only) is a TROP2 directed ADC. Designed using the proprietary DXd ADC Technology of Daiichi Sankyo, Datrowayis one of seven DXd ADCs in the oncology pipeline of Daiichi Sankyo, and one of the most advanced programs in AstraZeneca’s ADC scientific platform. Datroway is comprised of a humanized anti-TROP2 IgG1 monoclonal antibody, developed in collaboration with Sapporo Medical University, attached to a number of topoisomerase I inhibitor payloads (an exatecan derivative, DXd) via tetrapeptide-based cleavable linkers. Datroway (6 mg/kg) is approved in more than 30 countries/regions worldwide for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic TNBC who are not candidates for PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor therapy based on the results from the TROPION-Breast02 trial. Datroway (6 mg/kg) is approved in more than 45 countries/regions worldwide for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HR positive, HER2 negative (IHC 0, IHC 1+ or IHC 2+/ISH-) breast cancer who have received prior endocrine-based therapy and chemotherapy for unresectable or metastatic disease based on the results from the TROPION-Breast01 trial. Datroway (6 mg/kg) is approved in Brazil, Russia, Singapore and the U.S. for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have received prior EGFR-directed therapy and platinum-based chemotherapy based on the results from TROPION-Lung05 and TROPION-Lung01 trials. Continued approval for this indication in the U.S. may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial. About the Datroway Clinical Development Program A comprehensive global clinical development program is underway with more than 20 trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of Datroway across multiple cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), TNBC and urothelial cancer. The program includes eight phase 3 trials in lung cancer, five phase 3 trials in breast cancer and one phase 3 and one phase 2/3 trial in urothelial cancer evaluating Datroway as a monotherapy and in combination with other cancer treatments in various settings. About the Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca Collaboration Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca entered into a global collaboration to jointly develop and commercialize Enhertu® in March 2019 and Datrowayin July 2020, except in Japan where Daiichi Sankyo maintains exclusive rights for each ADC. Daiichi Sankyo is responsible for the manufacturing and supply of Enhertu and Datroway. About the ADC Portfolio of Daiichi Sankyo The Daiichi Sankyo ADC portfolio consists of nine ADCs in clinical development crafted from ADC technology discovered in-house by Daiichi Sankyo. The DXd ADC Technology platform of Daiichi Sankyo consists of seven ADCs in clinical development where each ADC is comprised of a monoclonal antibody attached to a number of topoisomerase I inhibitor payloads (an exatecan derivative, DXd) via tetrapeptide-based cleavable linkers. The DXd ADCs include Enhertu and Datroway, which are being jointly developed and commercialized globally with AstraZeneca, and ifinatamab deruxtecan (I-DXd), raludotatug deruxtecan (R-DXd) and patritumab deruxtecan (HER3-DXd), which are being jointly developed and commercialized globally with Merck & Co., Inc, Rahway, NJ, USA. DS-3939 and DS3790 are being developed by Daiichi Sankyo. Additional ADCs being developed by Daiichi Sankyo include DS3610, which consists of an antibody attached to a novel payload that acts as an agonist of STING, and DS1025, which consists of a CD25 directed antibody attached to an immuno-oncology optimized cytotoxic payload. Ifinatamab deruxtecan, raludotatug deruxtecan, patritumab deruxtecan, DS-3939, DS3610, DS3790 and DS1025 are investigational medicines that have not been approved for any indication in any country. Safety and efficacy have not been established. About Daiichi Sankyo Daiichi Sankyo (TSE: 4568) is a global healthcare company committed to becoming a trusted healthcare innovator, transforming the lives of people through its strength in science and technology. The company discovers and develops new standards of care to address diverse medical needs to fulfill its purpose of contributing to the enrichment of quality of life around the world. With a strategic focus on oncology, Daiichi Sankyo is advancing an industry-leading antibody drug conjugate portfolio along with identifying new breakthrough generating technologies to deliver practice-changing medicines to patients, healthcare professionals and society. For more information, please visit www.daiichisankyo.com. MEDIA CONTACTS: Global: Jennifer Brennan jennifer.brennan@daiichisankyo.com + 1 908 900 3183 (mobile) INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT: DaiichiSankyoIR_jp@daiichisankyo.com Japan: DS-PR_jp@daiichisankyo.com
Sep 25, 2026
Ifinatamab Deruxtecan Biologics License Application for Certain Patients with Previously Treated Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer Voluntarily WithdrawnTokyo – (September 25, 2026) – The Biologics License Application (BLA) seeking accelerated approval in the U.S. for Daiichi Sankyo (TSE: 4568) and Merck’s (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, ifinatamab deruxtecan (I-DXd) for the treatment of adult patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy has been voluntarily withdrawn. The decision to withdraw the BLA is based on discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that data supporting the application, including from the IDeate-Lung01 phase 2 trial, do not satisfy requirements needed to support an accelerated approval for the proposed indication. The accelerated approval pathway in the U.S. allows for earlier approval of medicines based on surrogate endpoints to treat serious conditions where there is an unmet medical need. Patient enrollment continues in the IDeate-Lung02 phase 3 trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of ifinatamab deruxtecan versus treatment of physician’s choice of chemotherapy (amrubicin, lurbinectedin or topotecan) in patients with relapsed ES-SCLC following disease progression with only one prior line of platinum-based chemotherapy. Ifinatamab deruxtecan is a specifically engineered, potential first-in-class B7-H3 directed DXd antibody drug conjugate (ADC) discovered by Daiichi Sankyo and being jointly developed by Daiichi Sankyo and Merck. “Extensive-stage small cell lung cancer is a challenging disease to treat, leaving patients in need of new options,” said Abderrahmane Laadem, MD, Head, Therapeutic Area Oncology Development, Daiichi Sankyo. “Enrollment into the IDeate-Lung02 phase 3 trial is near completion and we look forward to assessing the potential for a future filing of ifinatamab deruxtecan with the FDA and other global regulatory authorities based on those results.” “While we are disappointed that the current dataset are not supportive of an approval at this time, we are continuing to evaluate the role of ifinatamab deruxtecan in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer and other types of difficult-to-treat cancer,” said Marjorie Green, MD, Senior Vice President, Head of Oncology Global Clinical Development, Merck Research Laboratories. “We would like to thank the patients, their families and investigators who have participated or continue to participate in these studies.” In addition to the IDeate-Lung02 phase 3 trial, there are two additional phase 3 trials underway with ifinatamab deruxtecan in advanced/metastatic disease, including IDeate-Prostate01 for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and IDeate-Esophageal01 for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). About IDeate-Lung01 IDeate-Lung01 is a global, multicenter, randomized, open-label, two-part phase 2 trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of ifinatamab deruxtecan in patients with ES-SCLC who were previously treated with at least one prior line of platinum-based chemotherapy and a maximum of three prior lines of therapy. Patients with asymptomatic brain metastases (untreated or previously treated) were eligible to participate. Patients with a history of interstitial lung disease (ILD)/pneumonitis requiring treatment with steroids or current ILD/pneumonitis at screening, clinically severe pulmonary compromise resulting from intercurrent pulmonary illnesses, were not eligible. In the first part of the trial (dose optimization), patients were randomized 1:1 to receive ifinatamab deruxtecan (8 or 12 mg/kg) given intravenously once every three weeks. In the second part of the trial (dose expansion), patients received ifinatamab deruxtecan (12 mg/kg) intravenously at the same dosing interval. The primary endpoint is objective response rate (ORR) as assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR) per RECIST v1.1. Secondary endpoints include duration of response, progression-free survival, disease control rate, time to response, overall survival, pharmacokinetics and safety. Intracranial ORR was assessed by BICR as an exploratory analysis. IDeate-Lung01 enrolled 187 patients in Asia, Europe and North America. For more information about the trial, visit ClinicalTrials.gov. About Small Cell Lung Cancer Approximately 250,000 patients are diagnosed with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) each year globally.1 There were approximately 27,000 new cases of SCLC in the U.S. in 2025, accounting for about 12% of all lung cancer cases.2,3 SCLC is aggressive and progresses rapidly to the distant metastatic stage, which has a low five-year survival rate.4,5 While conventional standard of care treatments for patients with advanced SCLC may help improve outcomes, there is a need for additional subsequent treatment approaches.6,7,8,9 About B7-H3 B7-H3 is a transmembrane protein that belongs to the B7 family of proteins, which bind to the CD28 family of receptors that includes PD-1. B7-H3 is overexpressed in a wide range of cancer types, including SCLC, CRPC and ESCC, and its overexpression has been shown to correlate with poor prognosis, making B7-H3 a promising therapeutic target. About Ifinatamab Deruxtecan Ifinatamab deruxtecan is an investigational potential first-in-class B7-H3 directed ADC. Designed using the proprietary DXd ADC Technology of Daiichi Sankyo, ifinatamab deruxtecan is comprised of a humanized anti-B7-H3 IgG1 monoclonal antibody attached to a number of topoisomerase I inhibitor payloads (an exatecan derivative, DXd) via tetrapeptide-based cleavable linkers. Ifinatamab deruxtecan has been granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) by the U.S. FDA, European Commission, Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, South Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and Taiwan Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of SCLC. Ifinatamab deruxtecan also was granted ODD for the treatment of esophageal cancer by the FDA. About the Ifinatamab Deruxtecan Clinical Development Program A comprehensive global clinical development program is underway evaluating the efficacy and safety of ifinatamab deruxtecan monotherapy and in combination with other cancer medicines across multiple cancers. The program is currently comprised of three phase 3 trials in advanced/metastatic disease, including SCLC (IDeate-Lung02), CRPC (IDeate-Prostate01) and ESCC (IDeate-Esophageal01). About the Daiichi Sankyo and Merck Collaboration Daiichi Sankyo and Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, entered into a global collaboration in October 2023 to jointly develop and commercialize ifinatamab deruxtecan (I-DXd), raludotatug deruxtecan (R-DXd) and patritumab deruxtecan (HER3-DXd), except in Japan where Daiichi Sankyo will maintain exclusive rights. Daiichi Sankyo will be solely responsible for manufacturing and supply. In August 2024, the global co-development and co-commercialization agreement was expanded to include gocatamig (MK-6070/DS3280), which the companies will jointly develop and commercialize worldwide, except in Japan where MSD will maintain exclusive rights. MSD will be solely responsible for manufacturing and supply for gocatamig. About the ADC Portfolio of Daiichi Sankyo The Daiichi Sankyo ADC portfolio consists of nine ADCs in clinical development crafted from ADC technology discovered in-house by Daiichi Sankyo. The DXd ADC Technology platform of Daiichi Sankyo consists of seven ADCs in clinical development where each ADC is comprised of a monoclonal antibody attached to a number of topoisomerase I inhibitor payloads (an exatecan derivative, DXd) via tetrapeptide-based cleavable linkers. The DXd ADCs include Enhertu® and Datroway®, which are being jointly developed and commercialized globally with AstraZeneca, and ifinatamab deruxtecan (I-DXd), raludotatug deruxtecan (R-DXd) and patritumab deruxtecan (HER3-DXd), which are being jointly developed and commercialized globally with Merck. DS-3939 and DS3790 are being developed by Daiichi Sankyo. Additional ADCs being developed by Daiichi Sankyo include DS3610, which consists of an antibody attached to a novel payload that acts as an agonist of STING, and DS1025, which consists of a CD25 directed antibody attached to an immuno-oncology optimized cytotoxic payload. Ifinatamab deruxtecan, raludotatug deruxtecan, patritumab deruxtecan, DS-3939, DS3610, DS3790 and DS1025 are investigational medicines that have not been approved for any indication in any country. Safety and efficacy have not been established. About Daiichi Sankyo Daiichi Sankyo (TSE: 4568) is a global healthcare company committed to becoming a trusted healthcare innovator, transforming the lives of people through its strength in science and technology. The company discovers and develops new standards of care to address diverse medical needs to fulfill its purpose of contributing to the enrichment of quality of life around the world. With a strategic focus on oncology, Daiichi Sankyo is advancing an industry-leading antibody drug conjugate portfolio along with identifying new breakthrough generating technologies to deliver practice-changing medicines to patients, healthcare professionals and society. For more information, please visitwww.daiichisankyo.com. MEDIA CONTACTS: Global: Jennifer Brennan jennifer.brennan@daiichisankyo.com +1 908 900 3183 (mobile) INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT: DaiichiSankyoIR_jp@daiichisankyo.com Japan: DS-PR_jp@daiichisankyo.com REFERENCES: 1 Wang Q, et al. Journal of Thoracic Oncology. 2023 Jan;18(1):31-46. 2 National Cancer Institute. SEER Explorer. Cancer Stat Facts: Lung and Bronchus Cancer. Accessed September 2026. 3 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. United States Cancer Statistics. Types of Lung Cancer | U.S. Cancer Statistics | CDC. Accessed September 2026. 4 Rudin CM, et al. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2021;7(1):3. 5 National Cancer Institute. SEER Explorer. Small cell carcinoma of the Lung and Bronchus: 5-year Relative Survival. Accessed September 2026. 6 American Cancer Society. Treatment Choices for Small Cell Lung Cancer, by Stage. Accessed September 2026. 7 Liu SV, et al. J Clin Oncol. 2021;39(6):619-30. 8 Paz-Ares L, et al. ESMO Open. 2022;7(2):100408. 9 von Pawel J, et al. J Clin Oncol. 2014; 32:4012-4019. 10 Zhao B, et al. J Hematol Oncol. 2022;15(1):153. 11 Janakiram M, et al. Immunol Rev. 2017;276(1):26-39. 12 Qiu M-j, et al. Front. Oncol. 2021;11:600238. 13 Picarda E, et al. Clin Cancer Res. 2016;22(14):3425-3431. 14 Bendell JC, et al. J Clin Oncol. 2020;39(15 suppl 1). Abstract TPS3646. 15 Kontos F, et al. Clin Cancer Res. 2021;27(5):1227-1235.
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