Major ASCO Results: Atezolizumab Plus Chemotherapy for dMMR Colon Cancer

The 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting opened with practice-changing results from the ATOMIC Phase III trial. Adding atezolizumab (a PD-L1 inhibitor) to adjuvant FOLFOX chemotherapy in patients with resected stage III colon cancer and deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) led to a statistically significant improvement in disease-free survival. This is the first major study to demonstrate that immunotherapy plus standard adjuvant chemotherapy improves outcomes for this molecularly defined subgroup, heralding a new standard of care for dMMR colon cancer patients. The results are expected to accelerate regulatory submissions and change clinical guidelines.

Liquid Biopsy Enables Earlier, Personalized Breast Cancer Care

The SERENA-6 study, also presented at ASCO and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, demonstrated a successful strategy for switching advanced breast cancer patients to novel treatment following early detection of resistance mutations via liquid biopsy. Early intervention based on ESR1 mutation detection substantially prolonged tumor control versus standard of care. This is among the first large-scale validations of using blood-based mutation tracking to guide real-time therapy changes in oncology, unlocking more personalized and timely interventions.

Business and Funding: M&A and Leadership Moves

June 1 also marked significant biotech deals and leadership changes. Sanofi completed its $9.1B acquisition of Blueprint Medicines, securing the rare disease drug Ayvakyt and a pipeline of cancer therapeutics, while Lilly acquired gene editing developer Verve Therapeutics for $1.3B, reinforcing the continued appetite for genetic medicine platforms. In boardrooms, LEO Pharma welcomed Frederik Kier as EVP, International Operations, starting June 1, and the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) refocused wholly on human health and biopharma innovation.

Policy, Regulatory, and AI-Driven Innovation

The FDA’s adoption of artificial intelligence systems to accelerate drug and device review draws both optimism and calls for rigorous oversight of data integrity and transparency. The US government’s H5N1 vaccine deal with Moderna was cancelled over compliance issues, flagging new concerns for pandemic readiness and public-private partnerships.

Looking Ahead:

2025’s mid-year cancer and biotech news reflect a sector advancing rapidly on scientific, digital, and strategic fronts with an ever-closer integration of diagnostics, big data, and adaptive care.