Classic targets such as EGFR, RET, RAS, ER, and AR continue to evolve, while precision oncology advances from identifying driver mutations toward earlier intervention and more refined patient stratification.
Bispecific antibody development is evolving beyond simply combining two targets, with T-cell engagers, PD-1×VEGF, PD-1×CTLA-4, and 4-1BB-based approaches emerging as key drivers of next-generation immuno-oncology innovation.
Beyond HER2 and TROP2, emerging targets such as CLDN18.2, B7-H3, FOLR1, and HER3 are rapidly gaining momentum, signaling a shift in ADC development from established targets to a highly competitive multi-target landscape.
From April to May 2026, global biopharma dealmaking rebounded, with major pharma focusing on de-risked assets and growing interest in platform technologies such as ADCs, TCEs, and multispecific antibodies. Meanwhile, Chinese biotech accelerated global expansion, oncology shifted toward “platform technology + multi-mechanism combinations,” and AI drug discovery moved closer to real-world industrial adoption.
With updated Phase III clinical data released by Roche in 2025, trontinemab has emerged as a leading example of TfR1-mediated blood–brain barrier delivery, achieving high amyloid clearance with low ARIA-E incidence in Alzheimer’s disease patients. By exploiting TfR1-dependent transcytosis, this bispecific antibody highlights TfR1/CD71 not only as a central regulator of iron metabolism, but also as a highly promising gateway for CNS therapeutic delivery.
In Q1 2026, progress in the autoimmune field is no longer characterized by fragmented innovation, but by systematic breakthroughs centered on a handful of core targets. Starting from these targets, the following provides a detailed overview of the most representative BD deals and clinical milestones within each category.
The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is emerging as a critical gateway for drug delivery to the central nervous system. With agents such as Trontinemab and Pabinafusp alfa advancing into clinical validation, BBB shuttling mechanisms are reshaping the criteria for assessing target druggability.
Site-specific protein ligation is increasingly critical in applications such as protein labeling, antibody conjugation, and multifunctional fusion protein construction. Sortase A (SrtA), a transpeptidase from Gram-positive bacteria, is widely used for its LPXTG motif recognition and efficient ligation with oligoglycine substrates, with engineered variants further improving catalytic efficiency and control.
Ahead of the 2026 AACR Annual Meeting, global business development (BD) activity surged in March, showing clear structural trends. On one hand, large-scale M&A and licensing deals continued to concentrate in oncology and immunology. On the other hand, emerging technology platforms such as AI-driven drug discovery, targeted protein degradation (TPD), and multispecific antibodies gained significant momentum. Meanwhile, Chinese biotech companies deepened their participation in global dealmaking through NewCo structures and regional licensing.
This report systematically organizes key March transactions by therapeutic area to highlight the core logic and emerging hotspots in innovative drug BD.
From abstract frequency, the top ADC targets at AACR 2026 rank approximately as follows: HER2 (64) > TROP2 (33) > EGFR (29) > PD-L1 (18) > NECTIN4 (17) > B7-H3/CD276 (15) > FOLR1 (12) > c-Met (11) > CDH17 (10) > DLL3 (8) > CLDN18.2 (7). Below is a concise overview of these key ADC targets.