CHICAGO, Ill. -- The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2019 has turned all eyes in the cancer field toward Chicago, Ill., as global biotech companies gauge the possibilities of their products’ clinical success during the convention.

While Korea has recently boasted its presence in the international conference scene, some looks at the multinational companies' booths showed the massive scale of ASCO 2019.

Korea Biomedical Review captured some of the multinational pharmaceutical companies' booth familiar to Koreans (by alphabetical order). ASCO 2019 is open from May 31 to June 4, at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, Ill.

AbbVie has one of the largest booths at the conference. The company’s booth was crowded with ASCO members wanting to learn about Venclexta, a chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment that recently received sales approval from the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. This year, the company plans to present more than 40 data updates across its oncology portfolio during ASCO. The data include the phase 3 CLL14 study evaluating Venetoclax plus obinutuzumab versus obinutuzumab plus chlorambucil.

Amgen does not have a significant product posted on its booth board, but ASCO participants gathered around the board that showed the company’s oncology pipeline. This year, the company presented abstracts for treatment candidates such as AMG 757, a half-life extended bi-specific T-cell engager (BiTE) antibody construct targeting DLL3, in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and AMG 119, a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy targeting DLL3, in patients with relapsed/refractory SCLC.

Astellas has shown exciting strides in the field of anticancer. This year, the company emphasized the overall survival data for its FLT3 gene mutation-positive acute myelogenous leukemia drug Xostapa. The company is also gunning for a new indication in prostate cancer for Xtandi at the conference.

Bayer, who relieved its thirst for new drugs with Vitrakvi, introduces its robust oncology pipeline while illuminating its future value. Vitrakvi is the first-ever oral TRK inhibitor approved in the U.S., showing promise in various carcinomas. The company plans to present the data on the drug at ASCO 2019, including Vitrakvi’s efficacy and safety in pediatric TRK fusion cancer patients.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) also has one of the largest booths at the conference. The company continues to put a strong emphasis on Opdivo this year. The company’s booth also contains information on the combination therapy of Opdivo and Yervoy and Empliciti. This year, the company plans on presenting on 20 types of cancer from across its oncology portfolio.

Boehringer Ingelheim, which entered the anticancer field with Giotrif, advertises its various pipelines during the convention.

Celgene's booth, which is in the middle of becoming a BMS family, is not much different from BMS in scale. The company shows its pride in Revlimid being designated the category 1 preferred regimens from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network for treating frontline multiple myeloma. This year, the company focuses its research presentation on CAR-T, especially for JCAR017, which it acquired from biotech Juno last year.

Daiichi-Sankyo highlights the depth of its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) pipeline and promises of its oncology portfolio at ASCO 2019. They include new data for two investigational ADCs being evaluated in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including first-in-human results for DS-1062, a TROP2 targeting ADC in advanced NSCLC, and the first phase 1 results for U3-1402, a HER3 targeting ADC, in EGFR mutated, TKI resistant metastatic NSCLC.

Eisai puts Lenvima as its representative product for its booth. In addition to thyroid and liver cancer that are attracting attention in Korea, the company is exploring the drug’s indication in various carcinomas. Especially in the ASCO 2019, the company confirmed the possibility with the combination with the Opdivo.

Although being a subsidiary of Roche, Genentech’s booth was more significant in size compared to the booth of its parent company. The company plans to present new data from clinical trials of 17 approved and investigational medicines across 27 cancer types, including hard-to-treat and rare tumors. Also, a total of 155 abstracts that include a Genentech medicine are being presented at this year’s meeting.

Janssen stands out with a clean appearance with potent anticancer drugs such as Darzalex, Imbruvica and Erleada representing its booth. This year, the company’s presentations include phase 3 TITAN pivotal data for Erleada in metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer and phase 3 Cassiopeia trial for Darzalex as combination therapy for newly diagnosed transplant eligible multiple myeloma.

Lilly presents data from 23 oral presentations and posters. This year, the company’s presentations include Relay, a Phase 3 study of ramucirumab in metastatic EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer, and collaborative studies such as the updated findings from the phase 3 KEYNOTE-189 study of the pemetrexed-pembrolizumab-platinum chemotherapy combination, which has been established as the standard care for the treatment of first-line metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer.

Merck, known as MSD outside of U.S. and Canada, again boasts its confidence in Keytruda. The company presents various data regarding the drug. One of the company’s most prominent presentations includes the five-year survival data for Keytruda in advanced NSCLC from first KEYNOTE-001 trial.

Merck KGaA puts Erbitux, one of the best-selling drugs in the U.S., as its representative product. The showcase multiple innovative molecules with potential to impact unmet needs. The company will present new data for Bavencio and Erbitux, including rational combinations with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and other targeted agents to try to identify new ways to improve patient outcomes.

Novartis, which competes with Gilliard in the field of CAR-t, displays its strong oncology pipeline. One of the main presentation made by the company includes Kisqali overall survival results and additional data on treatment sequencing and patient-reported outcomes in HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer.

Pfizer boasts a diverse portfolio that makes the space on its booth seem small. One of its significant presentations includes a randomized phase 2 study of palbociclib plus exemestane with GNRH agonist versus capecitabine in premenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer.

At ASCO, Takeda presents data from both its lung portfolio and hematology portfolio. The company’s presentation includes its investigation into the antitumor activity and safety of TAK-788 in patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors harbor epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 20 insertion mutations.

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