The advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) therapeutic landscape is experiencing unprecedented growth, with over 50 companies worldwide developing more than 60 treatment therapies across various stages of clinical development, according to DelveInsight's latest pipeline assessment.
Recent Regulatory Developments
In March 2025, China-based Innovent Biologics and HUTCHMED are seeking approval for their cancer drug combination following a joint Phase II/III trial in kidney cancer that successfully achieved its primary and key secondary endpoints. The FRUSICA-2 study (NCT05522231) assessed the use of Innovent's Tyvyt (sintilimab) combined with HUTCHMED's Elunate (fruquintinib) as a second-line therapy for patients with locally advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma in China.
Belzutifan has gained significant attention following its approval in multiple countries, including the United States and Canada, for treating patients with VHL disease-associated neoplasms. In December 2024, at the Society of Urologic Oncology annual meeting in Dallas, the drug was highlighted for its U.S. approval for adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma who have previously undergone treatment with a PD-(L)1 inhibitor and a vascular endothelial growth factor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (VEGF-TKI).
Emerging Clinical Programs
Several companies have initiated new clinical programs in recent months. In November 2024, Adicet Bio announced the initiation of patient enrollment for its Phase 1 clinical trial assessing ADI-270 in individuals with metastatic or advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).
NiKang Therapeutics announced in September 2024 that preliminary results from its ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial of NKT2152 for advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma in previously treated patients were shared at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2024 Congress.
Pipeline Diversity and Therapeutic Approaches
The advanced RCC pipeline encompasses a broad spectrum of therapeutic modalities. Key emerging therapies in different phases of clinical trials include OATD-02 from Molecure S.A., DS-6000a from Daiichi Sankyo, JANX008 from Janux Therapeutics, NKT2152 from NiKang Therapeutics, CMN-001 from CoImmune, IPI-549 from Infinity Pharmaceuticals, TQB2450 from Chia Tai TianqingPharmaceutical, Belzutifan from Merck Sharp & Dohme, Atezolizumab from Hoffmann-La Roche, Volrustomig from AstraZeneca, and XmAb819 from Xencor.
Therapeutic Categories and Administration Routes
The pipeline products span multiple therapeutic categories, including recombinant fusion proteins, small molecules, monoclonal antibodies, peptides, polymers, and gene therapy approaches. Route of administration varies across oral, parenteral, intravenous, subcutaneous, and topical delivery methods.
Companies actively developing therapies for advanced RCC include established pharmaceutical giants such as Merck Sharp & Dohme, Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical, Hoffmann-La Roche, CoImmune, Infinity Pharmaceuticals, NiKang Therapeutics, Molecure S.A., Daiichi Sankyo, Janux Therapeutics, MedImmune, Eli Lilly and Company, Jiangsu HengRui Medicine Co., Ltd., Allogene Therapeutics, Chongqing Precision Biotech Co., Ltd, Pfizer, Exelixis, BeiGene, Xencor, Teon Therapeutics, Asher Biotherapeutics, Shanghai Junshi Biosciences, Surface Oncology, ProfoundBio, Portage Biotech, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, and HiFiBiO.
Market Dynamics
The increasing prevalence of advanced renal cell carcinoma and the rise in research and development activities are key factors fueling market growth. However, side effects associated with treatment, cost considerations, and other factors present ongoing challenges for market expansion.
The comprehensive pipeline assessment covers products from pre-clinical developmental phases to marketed therapies, including late-stage products in Phase III, mid-stage products in Phase II, early-stage products in Phase I, pre-clinical and discovery stage candidates, as well as discontinued and inactive candidates.