ASCO 2025: Bridging Oncology Innovation and Global Collaboration
The 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting—held from May 30 to June 3 in Chicago and virtually—once again proved to be the epicenter for innovation, collaboration, and bold new directions in cancer care. Over 44,000 global oncology professionals gathered under the theme “Be at the Forefront of Change”
CMIC Group Oncology Team at ASCO 2025 Annual Meeting
to explore data-driven breakthroughs and the evolving clinical landscape.
For CMIC Group, this marked our ninth consecutive ASCO participation. It was more than a conference; it was an opportunity to engage in strategic dialogue with biopharma companies and
emerging innovators looking to accelerate oncology development in Asia—particularly Japan—through global trials. We emphasized our commitment to addressing the persistent challenge of “drug lag” by promoting earlier Japanese involvement in multiregional clinical trials (MRCTs).
Emerging Trends in Oncology
ASCO 2025 highlighted key trends shaping the future of cancer care, with a strong focus on more personalized, data-driven approaches. Immunotherapy remained a central theme, with experts emphasizing its expanding role in early treatment lines and combination strategies across various tumor types.
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) were also prominently featured. With increasing clinical relevance, ADCs represent a growing treatment modality offering targeted delivery with fewer side effects—especially in breast and hematologic cancers. Liquid biopsies and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) technologies were spotlighted for their potential to track tumor dynamics non-invasively and inform real-time treatment decisions.
With artificial intelligence (AI) gaining attention across all industries, it’s no surprise to hear the latest implementations for oncology treatment. AI applications in diagnostics and clinical trial optimization are helping researchers better predict outcomes and streamline development processes.
These themes reflect a broader shift toward innovation that empowers more efficient, precise, and globally connected oncology care.
A Platform for Global Engagement
Our conversations at ASCO highlighted the need for tailored regulatory and operational support for companies aiming to bring oncology innovation into Japan. CMIC’s expertise in local clinical development, including PMDA consultation and in-country clinical trial management (ICCC), was a recurring topic of interest among emerging biopharma (EBP) companies without a local footprint.
ASCO also reaffirmed the importance of Asia-Pacific as a clinical development hub. CMIC’s oncology-focused clinical research coordinators (CRAs), key opinion leader (KOL) relationships, and regional partnerships across 13 APAC countries position us to support clients aiming for rapid, efficient trial enrollment in Japan and beyond.
Looking Ahead
As we look forward to future collaborations, ASCO 2025 reinforced that the future of oncology is global, data-driven, and collaborative. For CMIC, it was a reaffirmation of our mission to support transformative science and deliver it where it’s needed most.
- To connect with an oncology expert from CMIC, please contact us and we will reach out to you promptly.
- If you’d like to attend ASCO 2026, you can find more information on the annual meeting website.
Resources
https://www.evaluate.com/thought-leadership/2025-post-asco-report/
https://dailynews.ascopubs.org/do/podcast-day-2-top-takeaways-asco25
https://dailynews.ascopubs.org/do/podcast-day-3-top-takeaways-asco25
https://dailynews.ascopubs.org/do/podcast-day-1-top-takeaways-asco25
https://dailynews.ascopubs.org/do/podcast-day-5-top-takeaways-asco25
