Complete Lung Cancer Drugs List (2026 Update)

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for approximately 85% of cases. Thanks to advances in molecular pathology, its treatment has shifted from traditional chemotherapy to a precision medicine era dominated by targeted and immunotherapies.

In recent years, innovative therapies, represented by antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and bispecific antibodies, have made continuous breakthroughs.

For example, datopotamab deruxtecan has been approved for the treatment of advanced NSCLC resistant to EGFR-targeted therapies, signifying an increasing abundance of clinical options.

DengYueMed – a global pharmaceutical distributor dedicated to efficiently introducing cutting-edge innovative drugs to target international markets – has systematically compiled a global lung cancer drugs list, covering classic chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.

The lung cancer drugs list also includes new drugs approved in 2025 as well as therapies in development or pending approval in 2026.

Chemotherapy for Lung Cancer

Chemotherapy remains the core foundational treatment for patients without driver genes or in combination therapy phases.

Table 1: List of Chemotherapy Drugs for Lung Cancer

Drug Name	Drug Class	Main Indications	Common Combination Regimens	Approval Status	Guideline Status
Cisplatin	Platinum-based	NSCLC / SCLC	Etoposide, Pemetrexed, Gemcitabine, Paclitaxel	FDA, NMPA	First-line core backbone
Carboplatin	Platinum-based	NSCLC / SCLC	Paclitaxel, Nab-Paclitaxel, Pemetrexed, Etoposide	FDA, NMPA	First-line core alternative
Oxaliplatin	Platinum-based	Alternative for a small number of NSCLC cases	Fluorouracil etc.	FDA, NMPA	Non-first-line option
Nedaplatin	Platinum-based	NSCLC / SCLC (Asia)	Taxanes, Gemcitabine	NMPA	Regional use
Lobaplatin	Platinum-based	NSCLC	Taxanes	NMPA	Available in China
Paclitaxel	Microtubule inhibitor (Taxane)	NSCLC	Carboplatin ± Immunotherapy	FDA, NMPA	Commonly used in first-line therapy
Nab-Paclitaxel	Microtubule inhibitor (Taxane)	NSCLC	Carboplatin ± Immunotherapy	FDA, NMPA	Important alternative
Docetaxel	Microtubule inhibitor (Taxane)	NSCLC (second-line)	Monotherapy ± Ramucirumab	FDA, NMPA	Standard second-line therapy
Pemetrexed	Antimetabolite	Non-squamous NSCLC	Platinum-based drugs ± Immunotherapy	FDA, NMPA	Core first-line + maintenance for non-squamous NSCLC
Gemcitabine	Antimetabolite	NSCLC	Platinum-based drugs	FDA, NMPA	Routine first-line therapy
Etoposide	Topoisomerase Ⅱ inhibitor	SCLC	Cisplatin / Carboplatin	FDA, NMPA	Cornerstone of first-line therapy for SCLC
Irinotecan	Topoisomerase Ⅰ inhibitor	SCLC	Cisplatin	FDA, NMPA	Optional for first-line therapy
Topotecan	Topoisomerase Ⅰ inhibitor	Recurrent SCLC	Monotherapy	FDA, NMPA	Standard second-line therapy
Vinorelbine	Microtubule inhibitor (Vinca alkaloid)	NSCLC	Cisplatin	FDA, NMPA	Classic regimen

Targeted Therapies for Lung Cancer

Targeted therapy has become a core approach for NSCLC, covering driver genes such as EGFR, ALK, ROS1, MET, HER2, and KRAS.

Table 2: List of Targeted Therapies for Lung Cancer

Drug Name	Target & Generation	Main Indications	CNS Activity	Approval Status	Guideline Status
Gefitinib	EGFR 1st-generation	EGFR-mutated NSCLC	Weak	FDA, NMPA	Early-line optional
Erlotinib	EGFR 1st-generation	EGFR-mutated NSCLC	Weak	FDA, NMPA	Optional
Icotinib	EGFR 1st-generation	EGFR-mutated NSCLC	Weak	NMPA	Available in China
Afatinib	EGFR 2nd-generation	EGFR-mutated NSCLC	Moderate	FDA, NMPA	Optional
Dacomitinib	EGFR 2nd-generation	EGFR-mutated NSCLC	Moderate	FDA, NMPA	Optional
Osimertinib	EGFR 3rd-generation	First-line / T790M mutation NSCLC	Strong	FDA, NMPA	Global first-line standard
Almonertinib	EGFR 3rd-generation	EGFR-mutated NSCLC	Strong	NMPA	China first-line
Furmonertinib	EGFR 3rd-generation	EGFR-mutated NSCLC	Strong	NMPA	China first-line
Lazertinib	EGFR 3rd-generation	EGFR-mutated NSCLC	Strong	FDA	First-line combination regimen
Amivantamab	EGFR-MET Bispecific Antibody	EGFR Exon 20 Insertion NSCLC	Moderate	FDA, NMPA	Later-line / Combination use
Mobocertinib	EGFR Exon 20 TKI	EGFR Exon 20 Insertion NSCLC	Moderate	FDA	Withdrawn from market
Sunvozertinib	Next-generation EGFR Exon 20 TKI	Post-platinum EGFR Exon 20 Insertion NSCLC	Moderate	FDA, NMPA	Newly approved drug
Crizotinib	ALK 1st-generation	ALK-positive NSCLC	Weak	FDA, NMPA	Phasing out of first-line use
Ceritinib	ALK 2nd-generation	ALK-positive NSCLC	Moderate	FDA, NMPA	Optional
Alectinib	ALK 2nd-generation	ALK-positive NSCLC	Strong	FDA, NMPA	First-line preferred
Brigatinib	ALK 2nd-generation	ALK-positive NSCLC	Strong	FDA, NMPA	First-line optional
Ensartinib	ALK 2nd-generation	ALK-positive NSCLC	Strong	NMPA	China first-line
Lorlatinib	ALK 3rd-generation	ALK-resistant / First-line ALK-positive NSCLC	Potent	FDA, NMPA	Core regimen
Crizotinib	ROS1 Inhibitor	ROS1-positive NSCLC	Weak	FDA, NMPA	First-line
Entrectinib	ROS1 / NTRK Inhibitor	ROS1-positive NSCLC	Strong	FDA, NMPA	First-line
Repotrectinib	Next-generation ROS1 / TRK Inhibitor	ROS1-positive NSCLC	Potent	FDA	New first-line option
Selpercatinib	RET Inhibitor	RET fusion-positive NSCLC	Strong	FDA, NMPA	Standard regimen
Pralsetinib	RET Inhibitor	RET fusion-positive NSCLC	Strong	FDA, NMPA	Standard regimen
Capmatinib	MET Exon 14 Inhibitor	MET Exon 14 Skipping NSCLC	Moderate	FDA, NMPA	Standard regimen
Tepotinib	MET Exon 14 Inhibitor	MET Exon 14 Skipping NSCLC	Moderate	FDA, NMPA	Standard regimen
Sotorasib	KRAS G12C Inhibitor	KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC	Weak	FDA, NMPA	Second-line
Adagrasib	KRAS G12C Inhibitor	KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC	Moderate	FDA	Optional
T-DXd (Trastuzumab Deruxtecan)	HER2 ADC	HER2-mutated NSCLC	Moderate	FDA, NMPA	Standard regimen
Dabrafenib + Trametinib	BRAF V600E Inhibitor Combination	BRAF V600E-mutated NSCLC	Moderate	FDA, NMPA	Standard regimen
Larotrectinib	TRK Inhibitor	NTRK fusion-positive tumors	Strong	FDA, NMPA	Standard regimen
Entrectinib	TRK/ROS1 Inhibitor	NTRK fusion-positive tumors	Strong	FDA, NMPA	Standard regimen
Repotrectinib	TRK/ROS1 Inhibitor	NTRK fusion-positive tumors	Strong	FDA	New drug

Immunotherapy for Lung Cancer

PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have become the core first-line treatment for advanced NSCLC, and can be used as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy/CTLA-4.

Table 3: List of Immunotherapy Drugs for Lung Cancer

Drug Name	Type	Main Indications	Biomarker Requirement	Approval Status	Guideline Status
Pembrolizumab	PD‑1	First‑line monotherapy or combined with chemotherapy for metastatic NSCLC	PD‑L1 ≥1% or ≥50% (monotherapy)	FDA, NMPA	First‑line standard
Nivolumab	PD‑1	NSCLC progressed after platinum‑based chemotherapy; first‑line in combination with CTLA‑4 or chemotherapy	PD‑L1 ≥1% required for some regimens	FDA, NMPA	Standard regimen
Cemiplimab	PD‑1	Advanced NSCLC with PD‑L1 ≥50%	PD‑L1 ≥50%	FDA (selected regions)	First‑line optional
Atezolizumab	PD‑L1	First‑ or second‑line for advanced NSCLC	PD‑L1 related	FDA, NMPA	Standard regimen
Durvalumab	PD‑L1	Maintenance for unresectable stage III NSCLC after chemoradiotherapy	PD‑L1 related	FDA, NMPA	Standard maintenance for stage III
Ipilimumab	CTLA‑4	First‑line NSCLC in combination with nivolumab	More commonly PD‑L1 positive	FDA	Standard in combination

New Lung Cancer Drugs Approved in 2025

By 2025, several important new drugs were approved in China and the United States, providing new treatment options for specific patient populations.

Table 4: Important new lung cancer drugs approved by 2025

Drug Name	Core Mechanism	Main Indications	Company	Key Approval Date	Guideline Status
Datopotamab Deruxtecan	TROP2 ADC	EGFR-mutated previously treated NSCLC	Daiichi Sankyo / AstraZeneca	2025-06 FDA	NCCN new later-line ADC
Lireltinib (ASK120067)	Chinese 3rd-generation EGFR‑TKI, favorable CNS activity	EGFR T790M-mutated previously treated NSCLC	Osaikang Pharmaceutical	2025-01 NMPA	Newly approved drug in China, not yet in mainstream first-line recommendations
Sunvozertinib	EGFR exon20ins small‑molecule inhibitor; ORR ≈ 46%	EGFR exon20ins‑mutated previously treated NSCLC	Dizal Pharma	2025-07 FDA	Included in NCCN later-line recommendations
Taletrectinib	Next‑generation ROS1 TKI	ROS1+ locally advanced / metastatic NSCLC	Nuvation Bio	2025-06 FDA	NCCN new ROS1 regimen
Zongertinib	High ORR HER2 small‑molecule inhibitor	HER2-mutated previously treated NSCLC	Boehringer Ingelheim	Aug 2025 (US)	One of NCCN recommended HER2-targeted agents
Telisotuzumab Vedotin (Teliso‑V)	First c‑MET high‑expression ADC	c‑MET high‑expression, previously treated non‑squamous NSCLC	AbbVie	May 2025 (US)	NCCN new later-line option
Sevabertinib	HER2 small‑molecule inhibitor	HER2-mutated previously treated NSCLC	Bayer	2025 Q4 FDA	NCCN HER2-targeted option
Lurbinectedin + Atezolizumab	DNA‑damaging agent + PD‑L1	Maintenance therapy for ES‑SCLC	Jazz / Roche	2025 Q4 FDA	New maintenance regimen for ES‑SCLC

Lung Cancer Drug Pipeline and Pending Approvals in 2026

This lung cancer drugs list also includes new therapies to watch in 2026. Key progress was made by early 2026, and more innovative therapies are expected to enter clinical trials in the future.

Table 5: New Lung Cancer Drugs Under Development or Pending Approval in 2026

Drug Name	Mechanism of Action	Target Indication	Clinical Stage	Company	FDA/NMPA Status
Ivonescimab (AK112)	PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody	Non-squamous NSCLC after EGFR-TKI progression	Phase III / Approved in China	Akeso Biopharma	Approved in China; not approved by FDA
Zidesamtinib	Brain-penetrant ROS1-selective inhibitor	TKI-pretreated ROS1+ NSCLC	Phase II/III	Nuvalent	Not yet approved
Neladalkib	Brain-penetrant ALK-selective inhibitor	Multi-line treated ALK+ NSCLC	Phase II	Nuvalent	NDA submission planned in H1 2026
Furmonertinib	Third-generation EGFR-TKI	EGFR exon 20 insertion mutation NSCLC	Registration review stage	Allist Pharma	Under review in China
SHE-1826	cMET-targeted antibody-drug conjugate (ADC)	c-MET overexpressed NSCLC	Phase I/II	Hengrui Medicine	Breakthrough Therapy Designation
Risvutatug Rezetecan	B7-H3-targeted antibody-drug conjugate (ADC)	Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)	Phase I/II	Hansoh Pharma	FDA Orphan Drug Designation
SIM0610	EGFR/cMET bispecific antibody-drug conjugate (BsADC)	EGFR/MET-positive solid tumors	Phase I	Simcere Zaiming	First patient enrolled in Phase I trial in January 2026
EPI-326	Tissue-selective EGFR degrading bispecific antibody	EGFR-driven NSCLC	Preclinical → Phase I	EpiBiologics	First-in-human trial planned to start early 2026

About DengYueMed — a Global Pharma Distributor

HongKong DengYue Medicine ​​is a pharmaceutical distributor integrating procurement, agency, customs clearance, and sales, covering both domestic and international markets. It focuses on supplying prescription and over-the-counter drugs for various treatment areas.

In oncology—particularly in improving global access to treatments for major diseases such as lung cancer—the company continuously tracks the clinical progress, regulatory approvals, and market launch of innovative therapies, and maintains an updated lung cancer drugs list to support compliant, stable, and efficient drug supply for patients and healthcare institutions.

FAQ about Lung Cancer Drugs List