01 Growing Use of Biomarker-Based Patient Selection in Stomach Cancer Treatment The stomach cancer treatment landscape is shifting toward biomarker-defined patient populations, with treatment decisions increasingly linked to molecular characteristics of individual tumors. This is expanding the role of diagnostic testing alongside oncology therapies and supporting more differentiated treatment pathways rather than relying solely on disease stage. In March 2025, the FDA granted traditional approval to pembrolizumab with trastuzumab and chemotherapy for HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma expressing PD-L1, reinforcing biomarker-based treatment selection.
02 Increasing Emphasis on Population-Level Prevention of Gastric Cancer The market is also being influenced by a stronger focus on preventing stomach cancer before advanced disease develops. Public-health strategies are increasingly addressing modifiable infectious causes, particularly Helicobacter pylori, through systematic screening and treatment programs, creating greater emphasis on prevention alongside diagnosis and treatment. In March 2026, IARC published recommendations for implementing population-based Helicobacter pylori screen-and-treat strategies as a gastric cancer prevention approach.
01 Expansion of Perioperative Treatment Increases Demand for Multimodal Cancer Therapies Treatment demand is being supported by the expansion of systemic therapy into the perioperative setting, where medicines are used before and after surgery to improve disease control. This broadens the role of oncology treatment beyond metastatic disease and increases demand for combination regimens across the treatment pathway.In November 2025, the FDA approved durvalumab with FLOT chemotherapy as neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment for adults with resectable gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.
01 Late Disease Presentation Limits the Effectiveness of Available Treatment Options A substantial proportion of stomach cancer is identified after the disease has progressed, which can reduce the feasibility of curative treatment and complicate clinical management. Limited early detection therefore restricts the ability of healthcare systems to intervene before tumors become advanced.In July 2025, IARC projected that 15.6 million gastric cancer cases could occur among people born between 2008 and 2017 if current control measures remain unchanged, highlighting the continuing burden of the disease.
01 Helicobacter Pylori Eradication Programs Create Opportunities for Earlier Disease Prevention Healthcare providers and diagnostic companies can capture this opportunity through screening, diagnostic testing, and treatment-support services.In April 2025, IARC released global implementation guidance covering screening methods, treatment regimens, antibiotic stewardship, quality measures, and equity considerations for population-based H. pylori screen-and-treat programs.
June 2026 Bristol Myers Squibb received U.S. FDA approval for an expanded indication of Opdivo® (nivolumab) in combination therapy for advanced gastric and gastroesophageal cancers, broadening treatment options for eligible patients.
May 2026 Astellas Pharma and Evopoint Biosciences entered a strategic collaboration to develop and commercialize antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) targeting gastric and other solid tumors, strengthening their oncology pipelines.
October 2025 Merck expanded the global Phase III clinical development program for KEYTRUDA® in gastric cancer, evaluating additional treatment combinations for advanced stomach cancer.
June 2025 Roche received approval in additional international markets for VYLOY™ (zolbetuximab), a CLDN18.2-targeted therapy for patients with HER2-negative, CLDN18.2-positive advanced gastric cancer.