Junshi reports positive final phase 3 NEOTORCH readout

Junshi Biosciences said its phase 3 NEOTORCH trial has now met the primary endpoints in the final analysis for perioperative toripalimab plus platinum-doublet chemotherapy in resectable stage II-III non-small cell lung cancer. In the company’s May 26, 2026 announcement, Junshi said event-free survival and major pathologic response crossed the prespecified efficacy boundary in the stage II-III population, and major pathologic response also met the boundary in the stage III subgroup. The company said it plans to file a supplemental application to expand toripalimab’s existing China approval from resectable stage IIIA-IIIB NSCLC to stage II-III disease more broadly. (globenewswire.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals tracking comparative oncology and immuno-oncology development, this is another sign that perioperative checkpoint inhibitor strategies are continuing to move earlier in the treatment pathway, from advanced disease into potentially curative settings. NEOTORCH has been an important study because earlier published interim data in JAMA showed a marked event-free survival benefit in resectable stage III NSCLC, with median event-free survival not reached versus 15.1 months and higher pathologic response rates with toripalimab plus chemotherapy; the new final readout suggests that benefit may extend to the broader stage II-III population, although the full final dataset still needs presentation at a scientific meeting. (globenewswire.com)

What to watch: Watch for the full final-analysis presentation at an upcoming international conference, and for whether Chinese regulators accept and approve Junshi’s planned label-expansion filing. (globenewswire.com)