HUTCHMED shares rise as lung cancer drug trial hits key targets

What Brokers Say Health Written by: Ian Lyall 15:37 Mon 17 Aug 2026 --> Disclaimer No investment advice About this content Editorial Standards & Policies Share article About this content × About Ian Lyall Ian Lyall, a seasoned journalist and editor, brings over three decades of experience to his role as Managing Editor at Proactive. Overseeing Proactive's editorial and broadcast operations across six offices on three continents, Ian is responsible for quality control, editorial policy, and content production. He directs the creation of 50,000 pieces of real-time news, feature articles, and filmed interviews annually. Prior to Proactive, Ian helped lead the business output at the Daily... Read more About the publisher Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists. Proactive news team spans the world’s key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth. We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors. The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies. Use of technology Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter. Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows. Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation. Hutchmed (China) Ltd ( AIM:HCM NASDAQ:HCM HKG:0013 ) View Price & Profile HUTCHMED shares rise as lung cancer drug trial hits key targets Published: 15:37 17 Aug 2026 BST Hutchmed (China) Ltd (AIM:HCM, NASDAQ:HCM, HKG:0013, FRA:H7T2) shares rose 4% to 192p after the biopharmaceutical company reported positive top-line results from a late-stage global trial of its lung cancer drug savolitinib. The Phase III SAFFRON study tested savolitinib, sold as Orpathys, in combination with AstraZeneca PLC's (LSE:AZN, NASDAQ:AZN) Tagrisso in patients with a form of non-small cell lung cancer whose disease had worsened despite treatment. The trial met its main goal, showing statistically significant improvements in both progression-free survival and overall survival compared with chemotherapy. The patients involved carried EGFR mutations alongside overexpression or amplification of a protein called MET, a group with few remaining treatment options. Cavendish, the broker to HUTCHMED, described the result as the first global Phase III study to demonstrate a significant survival benefit for this group. The broker called the outcome a major de-risking event that validates earlier data from a separate China-based trial known as SACHI. HUTCHMED and AstraZeneca have confirmed the data will be submitted to regulators worldwide. Cavendish, which rates the stock a buy with a 370p target price, said a regulatory submission could come before the end of 2026, with a potential US approval during the second half of 2027. Such an approval would make savolitinib HUTCHMED's second major global oncology drug after Fruzaqla. Management has indicated that peak sales outside China could reach roughly $800 million, with HUTCHMED entitled to tiered royalties of 9% to 13% on those sales. Cavendish estimated that ex-China royalties could ultimately generate around $70 million to $100 million a year, before accounting for the separate and more lucrative China opportunity. The broker said attention now turns to a further China-based trial, SANOVO, which is testing savolitinib as a first-line treatment in a substantially larger patient group. HUTCHMED shares have fallen 21% over the past year. Continue reading