Hutchmed has announced positive phase 3 results from the SANOVO trial evaluating ORPATHYS plus TAGRISSO in treatment‑naïve patients with EGFR‑mutated non‑small cell lung cancer and MET overexpression. The data, presented at ESMO Congress 2026, showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in progression‑free survival compared with TAGRISSO alone.
Professor Yi‑Long Wu said: “The SANOVO results mark a pivotal evolution in how we approach first-line EGFR-mutated lung cancer. Historically, co-occurring MET alterations have been associated with poor outcomes on EGFR-TKI treatment, increasing the motivation to test for MET alterations at diagnosis and upon progression.
These potentially practice-changing results showed that adding savolitinib to osimertinib extended median PFS by more than a year in the high MET population, and 11 months overall, in first-line MET-overexpressing EGFR-mutated lung cancer.
“Coupled with highly encouraging clinical benefit in OS, these data reinforce the transformative potential of this all-oral, biomarker-directed treatment approach for a patient population where co-occurring MET overexpression may limit the long-term benefits of EGFR-TKI monotherapy.”
In the intention‑to‑treat population, the combination reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 44%, with median PFS reaching 24.9 months versus 13.8 months for TAGRISSO alone. In the high MET subgroup, risk reduction reached 55%, with median PFS of 24.8 months compared with 11.1 months. Overall survival also improved, with median OS of 44.5 months versus 34.9 months and three‑year survival rates of 67.4% versus 47.4%.
Mr Johnny Cheng, Acting Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Hutchmed, said: “SANOVO, alongside the SAFFRON and SACHI studies, establishes a comprehensive treatment continuum for the ORPATHYS plus TAGRISSO combination – spanning frontline intervention to post-EGFR-TKI resistance.
“SANOVO demonstrates that by identifying MET overexpression at diagnosis and initiating an all oral, dual-targeted combination upfront, we can meaningfully extend PFS and OS while preserving patient quality of life.”
