Sunil Verma, SVP, Global Head, Oncology Franchise at AstraZeneca, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“As ASCO 2026 comes to a close, I started the week the way I always do-with a run by the lake, thinking about how far we’ve come and the work still ahead. I’m ending it the same way: by the water, with gratitude for working with an exceptional organization with teams across the globe and an even stronger sense of resolve.
Over the last few days, we’ve seen an incredible volume of new science and we had varied meetings and discussions with researchers and clinical community on new advances. There is remarkable progress, and the community should take pride in it. But ASCO always reminds me that the presentations and discussions are the beginning, not the destination. The real measure of our work is whether these advances reach the patients who need them, wherever they are.
Three moments will stay with me. Sitting on a panel where we explored the promise of AI across the oncology continuum-and feeling the room genuinely lean in, because everyone sensed how much this could reshape every part of how we care for patients.
The impact of having colleagues from across AstraZeneca, together in the same room, when we kicked off ASCO with a shared sense of purpose. And the plenary, when the entire community stood together to applaud the meaningfulness of new data—a collective acknowledgment that what we had just seen can transform care today and holds real promise to accelerate the pace of science for tomorrow.
I’m incredibly proud of the AstraZeneca teams whose work contributed to important scientific discussions throughout the meeting. The dedication behind every presentation reflects years of collaboration and a deep commitment to patients.
I’m leaving Chicago encouraged by the progress, and even more motivated by what’s still in front of us. Behind every data point we discussed this week, there is a patient and a family waiting. That’s what keeps me coming back-and what will keep all of us going long after this meeting ends.
Until next year.”
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