Overview of ESMO Therapeutic Landscapes 2026
The ESMO Therapeutic Landscapes webinar series returns in 2026 with a focused session on the toxicity and safety considerations surrounding multispecific antibodies and immune-cell engagers. Scheduled for February 18, 2026, this technical program brings together hematology-oncology clinicians, translational scientists, and pharmacovigilance experts to examine the real-world challenges of next-generation biologics. As multispecific antibodies rise to prominence in cancer treatment, understanding their unique safety signals is essential for optimizing patient outcomes and guiding clinical practice.
Why Multispecific Antibodies Matter in Modern Oncology
Multispecific antibodies and immune-cell engagers are designed to redirect immune effector cells toward tumor targets, enabling rapid cytotoxic activity. While these therapies can produce durable responses for selected patients, their mechanism of action can also yield distinctive toxicities. The webinar highlights how safety data evolve as programs move from early-phase studies into registrational trials and routine clinical care. Attendees will gain insight into risk stratification, early detection of adverse events, and evidence-based management strategies that balance efficacy with patient quality of life.
Key Toxicity Patterns in Immune-Cell Engagers
Immune-cell engagers, including bispecific antibodies, can trigger class-wide toxicities such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS), neurotoxicity, and off-target inflammatory events. The session outlines:
- Typical onset windows and severity grading of CRS and neurotoxicity across different bispecific platforms.
- Clinical scenarios that prompt proactive monitoring, including tumor burden considerations and premedication strategies.
- How seamless collaboration between oncology, intensive care, and neurology teams fosters rapid, standardized intervention.
Analytical discussions will address the evolving consensus on grading schemes, biomarkers that predict risk, and the role of dose modification or treatment interruption in mitigating toxicity while preserving anti-tumor activity.
Strategies for Early Detection and Risk Mitigation
Panelists will delve into practical approaches for frontline clinicians to identify safety signals early. Practical topics include standardized monitoring protocols during initial cycles, the use of real-time lab data, and patient education about early symptom reporting. The session also reviews risk factors such as high tumor load, prior therapies, and comorbidities that may influence the safety profile of multispecific agents.
Management of Toxicities: Practical Guidance
The management portion of the webinar centers on actionable protocols for handling CRS, neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and inflammatory adverse events. Key themes include:
- Stepwise intervention algorithms aligned with objective toxicity grading.
- Use of corticosteroids, cytokine-directed therapies, and supportive care measures tailored to the severity and organ involvement.
- Decision-making frameworks for treatment continuation, interruption, or withdrawal in the context of toxicity.
Emphasis is placed on minimizing treatment-associated morbidity while preserving potential benefits for patients who respond to therapy. Real-world case examples illustrate how teams adapt management strategies to diverse clinical settings and healthcare systems.
Regulatory and Research Implications
Beyond individual patient care, the webinar addresses how toxicity data informs regulatory decisions, labeling considerations, and post-marketing surveillance. The discussion connects how pharmacovigilance signals, patient-reported outcomes, and quality-of-life metrics shape the development trajectory of next-generation immunotherapies.
What Attendees Will Take Home
Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of the distinctive safety profiles of multispecific antibodies and immune-cell engagers, practical frameworks for early toxicity recognition, and evidence-based strategies to manage adverse events. The session aims to equip clinicians with concrete tools to optimize safety, sustain treatment intensity when feasible, and improve overall patient outcomes in an era of rapidly evolving biologics.
Who Should Attend
This webinar is intended for oncologists, hematologists, specialized nurses, pharmacists, translational researchers, and healthcare professionals involved in the care and research of multispecific antibody therapies and other immune-engaging biologics.
