GSK (GSK) Jefferies Global Healthcare Conference 2026 summary

Strategic portfolio decisions

• Shifted focus from broad checkpoint inhibitor exploration to precision oncology and validated platforms, optimizing risk and success probability.

• Continued development of Blenrep despite early mixed results, leading to positive outcomes in DREAMM-7 and DREAMM-8 studies.

• Prioritized dostarlimab in competitive PD-1/PD-L1 space, targeting under-served indications like first-line endometrial and dMMR MSI-High cancers.

• Leveraged business development, acquiring assets like Sierra Oncology (momelotinib) and IDRx (velzatinib) to complement the pipeline.

Internal vs. external innovation and technology integration

• Emphasizes a balanced approach to sourcing innovation, combining internal strengths with external opportunities globally.

• Strategic focus on prioritized disease areas and technologies, benchmarking internal and external assets for best-in-class potential.

• AI and machine learning are embedded across discovery and translational research, supporting antigen discovery, medicinal chemistry, and disease modeling.

• Acquired CELLphenomics to advance organoid-based in vitro models, enhancing translational insights and predictive capabilities.

• Computational pathology and digital biomarker assessment are being evaluated to improve diagnostics and patient stratification.

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and biomarker strategy

• ADCs are evaluated by antigen selectivity, linker stability, and payload potency, with a focus on optimizing dosing and multivariate biomarkers.

• B7-H4 ADC shows strong efficacy in gynecological cancers, with 62% response in platinum-resistant ovarian and 67% in second-line endometrial cancer.

• B7-H3 ADC targets a broad range of tumors, with upcoming phase III studies and new data expected in the next 6–12 months.

• Combination strategies with checkpoint inhibitors like dostarlimab are pursued where clinically and commercially justified.