4 promising drug discovery updates in cancer research – from fungal pharma to tumor-targeting vaccines

This World Cancer Day (4 February 2026), we take a look at some recent drug discovery developments with the potential to transform the oncology pharma landscape. Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide, with legions of scientists dedicating their research efforts toward the development of novel and effective therapeutics. We have seen substantial advances over the years, including but not limited to personalized immunotherapies, cell, gene and mRNA-based therapies for certain cancers and novel drug delivery systems, and the breakthroughs show no sign of slowing down any time soon. Here, we highlight four recent preclinical advances in the cancer...