HUTCHMED Highlights SAFFRON Global Phase III Data Presented at ESMO Congress 2026 and Simultaneously Published in The New England Journal of Medicine

Median overall survival increased by 4.9 months versus chemotherapy in patients whose disease had progressed after TAGRISSO.

Rhea-AI Summary

HUTCHMED (HCM) reported that ORPATHYS plus TAGRISSO improved survival versus chemotherapy in the global Phase III SAFFRON lung cancer trial.

The 338-patient trial enrolled patients with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer, high MET protein levels or gene amplification, and progression after TAGRISSO. Median progression-free survival, the time without disease worsening or death, was 7.6 versus 5.4 months; the risk fell 45%. Median overall survival was 17.8 versus 12.9 months, with a 32% reduction in death risk. Both improvements were statistically significant. Grade 3 or higher adverse events from all causes occurred in 64% versus 63% of patients.

A US application has been submitted, and submissions in Europe and Japan are progressing as planned. Results were presented at ESMO Congress 2026 and simultaneously published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

9 points · 1 major

PositiveiHow this balance works

How this balance works

Rhea-AI gives every point it takes from this document a weight. Minor counts 1, Moderate 3 and Major 9, so one Major point outweighs several Minor ones. The bar adds up the weights on each side, and when neither side holds more than 65% of the total the balance reads Mixed.

It reads the document as published, with the same rules for every company, and it does not look at what the market expected or at how the stock traded, so a point can be objectively good on a day the stock falls.

Rhea-AI Sentiment measures something else, the tone of the wording.

How the balance worksHow Sentiment works

0 major · 2 points

Hollow bars mark forward-looking points. How the balance works

Positive

• Major pointMedian progression-free survival reached 7.6 versus 5.4 months; progression or death risk fell 45% (p<0.001).
• Moderate pointMedian overall survival reached 17.8 versus 12.9 months; death risk fell 32% versus chemotherapy (p=0.010).
• Moderate pointUS New Drug Application submitted for ORPATHYS plus TAGRISSO based on SAFFRON results.
• Minor pointEstimated one-year survival was 70% versus 53% with chemotherapy.
• Minor pointEstimated one-year progression-free survival was 36% versus 10% with chemotherapy.

4 minor points

• Minor pointMET-overexpressed subgroup median progression-free survival was 8.5 versus 5.6 months; one-year rates were 40% versus 11%.
• Minor pointMET-amplified subgroup median progression-free survival was 7.64 versus 4.2 months; one-year rates were 33% versus 8%.
• Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.Europe and Japan submissions are progressing as planned.
• Minor pointHUTCHMED reported no new safety concerns for the combination.

Negative

• Minor pointGrade 3 or higher adverse events from all causes affected 64% receiving the combination versus 63% receiving chemotherapy.
• Minor pointMET-amplified subgroup results underwent no formal statistical testing.

Key Figures

PFS risk reduction: 45% OS risk reduction: 32% Median PFS: 7.6 vs 5.4 months +5 more

PFS risk reduction

45%

ORPATHYS plus TAGRISSO versus chemotherapy

OS risk reduction

32%

ORPATHYS plus TAGRISSO versus chemotherapy

Median PFS

7.6 vs 5.4 months

ORPATHYS plus TAGRISSO versus chemotherapy

PFS hazard ratio

0.55

95% CI 0.42-0.72; p<0.001

Median OS

17.8 vs 12.9 months

ORPATHYS plus TAGRISSO versus chemotherapy

OS hazard ratio

0.68

95% CI 0.50-0.91; p=0.010

Trial enrollment

338 patients

SAFFRON Phase III trial

Grade 3 or higher adverse events

64% vs 63%

ORPATHYS plus TAGRISSO versus comparator arm

Previous Clinical trial Reports

1 past event · Latest: Sep 23

Same Type 1 event

1. Sep 23

   SAFFRON data presentation

   24h Move

   -3.3%

   Previously disclosed significant SAFFRON PFS and OS benefits, with full results presented at the congress.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

progression-free survival, overall survival, hazard ratio, confidence interval, +1 more

5 terms

progression-free survival medical

"improvement in both progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS)"

Progression-free survival is the length of time during and after a treatment that a patient's disease does not get worse, measured from the start of treatment until the disease shows measurable signs of progression or the patient dies. Investors care because longer progression-free survival in clinical trials often signals that a drug is effective, improving chances of regulatory approval, market adoption, and revenue potential—think of it as a stopwatch showing how long a therapy can keep the illness at bay.

overall survival medical

"improvement in both progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS)"

Overall survival is the average or median length of time patients remain alive after starting a treatment or entering a clinical study, measured regardless of cause of death. Investors care because it is a clear, hard measure of a therapy’s real-world benefit — like timing how long a new battery actually runs — and strong improvements in overall survival can drive regulatory approval, market adoption and revenue potential.

hazard ratio technical

"based on a PFS hazard ratio of 0.55"

A hazard ratio is a way scientists compare the chance of something happening over time between two groups, like patients taking different medicines. If the ratio is high, it means one group is more likely to experience the event sooner or more often, which helps determine how effective a treatment is or how risky a situation might be.

confidence interval technical

"95% confidence interval (CI) 0.42-0.72"

An interval estimate that shows a range of values within which a true number (like a company’s expected earnings, a projected return, or a model input) is likely to lie, together with a stated level of confidence in that range. For investors it turns a single point forecast into a band—like a weather forecast saying 60–70°F instead of just 65°F—making uncertainty explicit so you can judge risk and size positions more sensibly.

blinded independent central review medical

"as assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR)"

Blinded independent central review is a quality-control step in clinical trials where outside medical experts, who do not know which patients received the experimental therapy, re-examine key measurements (like scans or lab results) to prevent bias. Think of it as neutral referees watching game footage without knowing the teams, which gives investors greater confidence that the trial results are fair, more reliable for regulators, and less likely to be overturned or disputed.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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— ORPATHYS^® plus TAGRISSO^® reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 45% and the risk of death by 32% in MET-driven EGFR-mutated lung cancer after progression on TAGRISSO^® —

— ORPATHYS^® plus TAGRISSO^® extended median OS by nearly 5 months —

— SAFFRON is the first global Phase III trial to show significant progression-free and overall survival benefit in this setting —

— Establishes ORPATHYS^® plus TAGRISSO^® as an important targeted strategy to address MET-driven resistance following progression on prior EGFR TKI treatment —

HONG KONG and SHANGHAI and FLORHAM PARK, N.J., Oct. 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HUTCHMED (China) Limited (“HUTCHMED”) (Nasdaq/AIM:​HCM; HKEX:​13) today announces positive results from the SAFFRON global Phase III trial. ORPATHYS^® (savolitinib) plus TAGRISSO^® (osimertinib) demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in both progression-free survival (“PFS”) and overall survival (“OS”) versus doublet platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor-mutated (“EGFRm”) non-small cell lung cancer (“NSCLC”). Patients in the trial had tumors with high levels of MET overexpression or amplification and had progressed on prior treatment with TAGRISSO^®.

These results have been presented during the Presidential Symposium at the European Society for Medical Oncology (“ESMO”) Congress in Madrid, Spain (abstract #LBA6).¹ They were also simultaneously published in The New England Journal of Medicine 2026. Featuring prominently on oncology’s premier stage and in a flagship journal underscores the pivotal nature of the SAFFRON trial in redefining the treatment paradigms for MET-driven EGFRm NSCLC. The data validate ORPATHYS^® combined with TAGRISSO^® as a landmark, all-oral strategy to address the major unmet need of MET-driven resistance after third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (“EGFR”) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (“TKI”) therapy.

Results showed ORPATHYS^® plus TAGRISSO^® reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 45% compared to chemotherapy (based on a PFS hazard ratio [“HR”] of 0.55; 95% confidence interval [“CI”] 0.42-0.72; p<0.001). Median PFS as assessed by blinded independent central review (“BICR”) was 7.6 months for ORPATHYS^® plus TAGRISSO^® versus 5.4 months for the comparator arm. An estimated 36% of patients treated with the combination were progression-free at one year compared to 10% in the comparator arm. Importantly, the PFS benefit observed was consistent across all prespecified subgroups, including patients whose tumor had MET-overexpression or MET-amplification.

Results for the key secondary endpoint of OS showed ORPATHYS^® plus TAGRISSO^® reduced the risk of death by 32% versus chemotherapy (OS HR 0.68; 95% CI 0.50-0.91; p=0.010). ORPATHYS^® plus TAGRISSO^® extended median OS by 4.9 months versus the comparator arm (17.8 versus 12.9 months). An estimated 70% of patients treated with the combination were alive at one year compared to 53% in the comparator arm.

Professor Shun Lu, Director of Shanghai Lung Cancer Center, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine and global leading principal investigator of the trial, said: “These results have the potential to establish a new global standard of care for the third of patients with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer experiencing MET-driven resistance after osimertinib. There are currently no well-tolerated, oral, biomarker-directed treatment options to address this frequent driver of disease progression. Savolitinib plus osimertinib significantly extended median overall survival by nearly five months in this later-line setting, establishing a new clinical benchmark and reinforcing the critical need for MET testing to guide patient care.”

Mr Johnny Cheng, Acting Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of HUTCHMED, said: “These data from SAFFRON mark a decisive step forward in targeting MET-driven resistance — a longstanding challenge in EGFR-mutated lung cancer. Precision inhibition with ORPATHYS^® alongside TAGRISSO^® offers a meaningful, all-oral option for patients with disease progression. We are delighted to see that our partnership with AstraZeneca continues to deliver impactful innovations that have the potential to redefine standard of care and improve outcomes for patients globally.”

Dr Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President, Oncology Haematology R&D, AstraZeneca, said: “These data show combining ORPATHYS^® with backbone therapy TAGRISSO^® directly addresses MET-driven resistance while maintaining EGFR suppression, building on the established efficacy, safety and central nervous system protection of TAGRISSO^®. With the potential to become the first biomarker-directed, all-oral treatment option in this setting, this combination further strengthens our leadership in EGFR-mutated lung cancer and reflects our strategy of matching the right therapy to the underlying drivers of disease at every stage.”

Summary of PFS and OS results: SAFFRON ⁱ

	ORPATHYS® + TAGRISSO® (n=171)	Chemotherapy (n=167)
PFS by BICR: Full Analysis Set (FAS)
Number of patients with event, n (%)	117 (68.4)	113 (67.7)
Median PFS (95% CI) (in months)	7.6 (5.6-9.7)	5.4 (4.2-5.8)
HR (95% CI)	0.55 (0.42-0.72)
p-value	p<0.001
PFS rate at 12 months (%)	36	10
OS: FAS
Number of deaths, n (%)	87 (50.9)	93 (55.7)
Median OS (95% CI) (in months)	17.8 (15.6-23.7)	12.9 (10.6-16.8)
HR (95% CI)	0.68 (0.50-0.91)
p-value	p=0.010
OS rate at 12 months (%)	70	53
PFS by BICR: MET-overexpressed analysis set
Number of patients, n	127	118
Number of patients with event, n (%)	77 (60.6)	80 (67.8)
Median PFS (95% CI) (in months)	8.5 (5.7-11.1)	5.6 (4.4-6.7)
HR (95% CI)	0.51 (0.37-0.71)
p-value	p<0.001
PFS rate at 12 months (%)	40	11
PFS by BICR: MET-amplified analysis set ii
Number of patients, n	129	116
Number of patients with event, n (%)	89 (68.9)	79 (68.1)
Median PFS (95% CI) (in months)	7.64 (5.6-9.7)	4.2 (3.1-5.5)
HR (95% CI)	0.487 (0.35-0.66)
PFS rate at 12 months (%)	33	8
i  OS and PFS data cut-off was 6 July 2026.  ii No formal statistical testing was carried out for the MET-amplified analysis set

The safety profile for ORPATHYS^® plus TAGRISSO^® was manageable and consistent with the known profiles of each medicine, and there were no new safety concerns. Grade 3 or higher treatment-emergent adverse events from all causes occurred in 64% of patients treated with ORPATHYS^® plus TAGRISSO^® and 63% of patients in the comparator arm. Median total duration of treatment exposure was more than twice as long for ORPATHYS^® plus TAGRISSO^® (8.5 months) compared with the comparator arm (3.5 months).

Based on the SAFFRON Phase III trial results, a New Drug Application (“NDA”) for ORPATHYS^® plus TAGRISSO^® were submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC whose tumors have high levels of MET overexpression or amplification and who had disease progression on or after an EGFR-TKI therapy. An NDA submission in Europe and Japan is also progressing as planned. ORPATHYS^® plus TAGRISSO^® is approved in China for patients with locally advanced or metastatic EGFRm-positive non-squamous NSCLC with MET amplification after disease progression on EGFR TKI therapy based on the SACHI Phase III trial.

Results from the SANOVO Phase III trial evaluating ORPATHYS^® plus TAGRISSO^® in treatment-naïve patients in China with EGFRm locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC and MET overexpression will be presented during a Proffered Paper session at the ESMO Congress (abstract #LBA69). ²

ORPATHYS^® is being jointly developed by AstraZeneca and HUTCHMED and commercialized by AstraZeneca.

About NSCLC and MET aberrations

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death globally, accounting for almost one in four (23%) cancer deaths.^3,4 Lung cancer is broadly split into NSCLC and small cell lung cancer, with 80-85% of patients diagnosed with NSCLC.⁵ Approximately 75% of NSCLC patients are diagnosed with advanced disease.⁶ Additionally, about 10-15% of NSCLC patients in the US and Europe, and 30-40% of patients in Asia, have EGFRm NSCLC.^​7

MET is a tyrosine kinase receptor that has an essential role in normal cell development.⁸ MET overexpression or amplification can lead to tumor growth and the metastatic progression of cancer cells.^8,9 Approximately one in three patients’ tumors will develop high levels of MET overexpression or amplification (IHC3+>90% and FISH10+) after progression on a third-generation EGFR-TKI.¹⁰

About SAFFRON

SAFFRON is a randomized, open-label, multi-center, global Phase III trial studying the efficacy of ORPATHYS^® (300 mg twice daily) added to TAGRISSO^® (80 mg once daily) versus doublet platinum-based chemotherapy in 338 patients with EGFRm, locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with MET overexpression or amplification whose disease progressed following first- or second-line treatment with TAGRISSO^®. The trial enrolled patients in 230 centers across 29 countries in North America, Europe, South America and Asia. The primary endpoint is PFS and key secondary endpoint includes OS.

Patients were prospectively selected for SAFFRON using the high MET level cut-offs identified in the SAVANNAH Phase II trial. ​In SAVANNAH, MET overexpression or amplification levels were determined by two tests: immunohistochemistry (IHC), which detects if cancer cells have a particular protein or marker on their surface, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), which detects a specific DNA sequence from cancer cells.

About ORPATHYS^®

ORPATHYS^® (savolitinib) is an oral, potent and highly selective MET TKI that has demonstrated clinical activity in advanced solid tumors. It blocks atypical activation of the MET receptor tyrosine kinase pathway that occurs because of mutations (such as exon 14 skipping alterations or other point mutations), gene amplification or protein overexpression.

ORPATHYS^® is approved in China for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with MET exon 14 skipping alteration, representing the first selective MET inhibitor approved in China. ORPATHYS^® also received a conditional approval in China for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastric cancer or gastroesophageal junction (GC/GEJ) adenocarcinoma patients with MET amplification who have failed at least two prior systemic treatments. ORPATHYS^® in combination with TAGRISSO^® is approved in China for patients with locally advanced or metastatic EGFR mutation-positive non-squamous NSCLC with MET amplification after disease progression on EGFR TKI therapy based on the SACHI Phase III trial. The combination was also granted a temporary authorization in Switzerland for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic EGFRm NSCLC and high levels of MET overexpression or amplification who progressed on prior treatment with TAGRISSO^®. This was based on results from the global SAVANNAH Phase II trial. The global, randomized, SAFFRON Phase III trial in the same treatment setting comparing the combination with doublet platinum-based chemotherapy reported positive high-level results, demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in PFS and OS in August 2026.

About TAGRISSO^®

TAGRISSO^® (osimertinib) is a third-generation, irreversible EGFR TKI with proven clinical activity in NSCLC, including the treatment of central nervous system metastases.

TAGRISSO^® is approved as monotherapy in more than 120 countries including the US, EU, China and Japan. Approved indications include for first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic EGFRm NSCLC, locally advanced or metastatic EGFR T790M mutation-positive NSCLC, adjuvant treatment of early-stage EGFRm NSCLC and locally advanced, unresectable NSCLC following platinum-based chemoradiation therapy. TAGRISSO^® is also approved in combination with chemotherapy in more than 80 countries, including the US, EU, China and Japan, for first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic EGFRm NSCLC.

About HUTCHMED

HUTCHMED (Nasdaq/AIM: HCM; HKEX:13) is an innovative, commercial-stage, biopharmaceutical company. It is committed to the discovery and global development and commercialization of targeted therapies and immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer and immunological diseases. Since inception it has focused on bringing drug candidates from in-house discovery to patients around the world, with its first four medicines marketed in China, the first of which is also approved around the world including in the US, Europe and Japan. For more information, please visit: www.hutch-med.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect HUTCHMED’s current expectations regarding future events, including its expectations regarding the therapeutic potential of ORPATHYS^®, the further clinical development for ORPATHYS^®, its expectations as to whether any studies on ORPATHYS^® would meet their primary or secondary endpoints, and its expectations as to the timing of the completion and the release of results from such studies. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include, among other things, assumptions regarding enrollment rates and the timing and availability of subjects meeting a study’s inclusion and exclusion criteria; changes to clinical protocols or regulatory requirements; unexpected adverse events or safety issues; the ability of ORPATHYS^®, including as a combination therapy, to meet the primary or secondary endpoint of a study, to obtain regulatory approval in different jurisdictions and to gain commercial acceptance after obtaining regulatory approval; the potential market of ORPATHYS^® for a targeted indication; the sufficiency of funding; HUTCHMED’s and AstraZeneca’s ability to successfully develop and commercialize ORPATHYS^®. In addition, as certain studies rely on the use of other drug products such as TAGRISSO^® as combination therapeutics with ORPATHYS^®, such risks and uncertainties include assumptions regarding the safety, efficacy, supply and continued regulatory approval of these therapeutics. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. For further discussion of these and other risks, see HUTCHMED’s filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and on AIM. HUTCHMED undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.

Medical Information

This press release contains information about products that may not be available in all countries, or may be available under different trademarks, for different indications, in different dosages, or in different strengths. Nothing contained herein should be considered a solicitation, promotion or advertisement for any prescription drugs including the ones under development.

CONTACTS

Investor Enquiries	+852 2121 8200 / ir@hutch-med.com
Media Enquiries
FTI Consulting –	+44 20 3727 1030 / HUTCHMED@fticonsulting.com
Ben Atwell / Tim Stamper	+44 7771 913 902 (Mobile) / +44 7779 436 698 (Mobile)
Brunswick – Zhou Yi	+852 9783 6894 (Mobile) / HUTCHMED@brunswickgroup.com
Panmure Liberum	Nominated Advisor and Joint Broker
Atholl Tweedie / Emma Earl / Rupert Dearden	+44 20 7886 2500
Cavendish	Joint Broker
Geoff Nash / Nigel Birks	+44 20 7220 0500
Deutsche Numis	Joint Broker
Duncan Monteith / Ramin Naji	+44 20 7545 8000

 

REFERENCES
1	Lu S, et al. Osimertinib [osi] + savolitinib [savo] vs platinum–pemetrexed [plat–pem] in EGFRm MET-overexpressed [OE] and/or -amplified [AMP] advanced NSCLC post-osi: SAFFRON Phase [Ph] 3 primary results. Presented in a Proffered Paper session during Presidential Symposium II the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2026, 25 October at 16:45 CET.
2	Wu YL, et al. Savolitinib or Placebo Combined with Osimertinib in Treatment-Naïve Advanced NSCLC with EGFR Mutation and MET Overexpression: Results from the Phase 3 SANOVO Study. Presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2026, 26 October at 08:30 CET.
3	World Health Organization. International Agency for Research on Cancer. Lung Fact Sheet. Available at: https://gco.iarc.who.int/media/globocan/factsheets/cancers/15-trachea-bronchus-and-lung-fact-sheet.pdf. Accessed October 2026.
4	World Health Organization. International Agency for Research on Cancer. All Cancers Fact Sheet. Available at: https://gco.iarc.who.int/media/globocan/factsheets/cancers/39-all-cancers-fact-sheet.pdf. Accessed October 2026.
5	American Cancer Society. What Is Lung Cancer? Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/lung-cancer/about/what-is.html. Accessed August 2026.
6	Chen HJ, et al. Long-term survival of advanced lung adenocarcinoma by maintenance chemotherapy followed by EGFR-TKI. Medicine. 2021;100(6):e24688.
7	Gao X, et al. The safety and efficacy of osimertinib for the treatment of EGFR T790M mutation positive non-small-cell lung cancer. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. 2016;16(4):383-390.
8	Uchikawa E, et al. Structural basis of the activation of c-MET receptor. Nat Commun. 2021;12(4074)
9	Wang Q, et al. MET inhibitors for targeted therapy of EGFR TKI-resistant lung cancer. J Hematol Oncol. 2019;63.
10	De Marinis F, et al. Savolitinib plus osimertinib in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer with MET overexpression and/or amplification following disease progression on osimertinib: primary results from the phase II SAVANNAH study. Ann Oncol. 2025;36(8):920-933.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What did HUTCHMED's SAFFRON trial show for ORPATHYS plus TAGRISSO?

ORPATHYS plus TAGRISSO improved median overall survival to 17.8 months versus 12.9 months with chemotherapy. Median progression-free survival was 7.6 versus 5.4 months. The trial enrolled patients with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer, high MET overexpression or amplification, and progression after TAGRISSO.

How was HUTCHMED's SAFFRON Phase III trial designed?

SAFFRON was a randomized, open-label trial involving 338 patients at 230 centers across 29 countries. It compared ORPATHYS plus TAGRISSO with doublet platinum-based chemotherapy after progression following first- or second-line TAGRISSO. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival, assessed by blinded independent central review; overall survival was a key secondary endpoint.

How long were patients exposed to treatment in HUTCHMED's SAFFRON trial?

Median total treatment exposure was 8.5 months with ORPATHYS plus TAGRISSO versus 3.5 months with chemotherapy. Grade 3 or higher treatment-emergent adverse events from all causes occurred in 64% and 63% of patients, respectively.