Aakash Desai (@ADesaiMD) ranks #14 among US lung cancer KOLs on X in 2026, by engagement from fellow physicians. 25 physicians shared, quoted or replied to their posts this year. Most-discussed trials in 2026: SAFFRON, DESTINY-Lung04, OptiTROP-Lung06. CMS Open Payments lists $11,675 in 2025 general payments.
At a Glance
- 15 posts naming a trial in 2026
- 12 trials discussed by name
- Lung Cancer: US #14, Global #32 · 25 physicians engaged
- Leading physician voice: #3 of 5 physicians on PEARLS / KEYNOTE-091
- CMS Open Payments lists $11,675 in 2025 general payments.
This Month
What Aakash Desai has posted in the last 30 days. Updated November 10, 2026.
PERSEE ph3 #ESMO26: pembro ± chemo, 1L NSCLC PD-L1≥50% (n=321) ➡️ PFS 16.1 vs 6.9 mo, HR 0.56 ➡️ ORR 77.5% vs 50.3%; early PD 5.8% vs 26.5% ➡️ OS 50.2 vs 29.9 mo, HR 0.77, not powered ➡️ G≥3 TRAEs 54% vs 19% Who gets pembro mono now? @LungCancerRx @OncoAlert @oncodaily https://t.co/e8G0QaI0bR
PEARLS/KN-091 final, #ESMO26: adjuvant pembro, resected IB–IIIA NSCLC (n=1,177) ➡️ DFS 58.7 vs 43.3 mo, HR 0.85 ➡️ OS HR 0.98 (0.81–1.18); 6-yr 68.5% vs 66.4% ➡️ OS read time-triggered before planned deaths Is DFS enough in adjuvant IO? @LungCancerRx @OncoAlert @oncodaily https://t.co/gXPUAvaQOm
SAFFRON #ESMO26: osi+savo vs platinum-pem post-osimertinib, EGFRm MET OE/amp NSCLC ➡️ mPFS 7.6 vs 5.4 mo, HR 0.55 ➡️ mOS 17.8 vs 12.9 mo, HR 0.68 ➡️ ORR 51 vs 27% ➡️ G≥3 TRAEs 40 vs 52%; edema 49% Who gets a MET re-biopsy after osimertinib? @LungCancerRx @OncoAlert @oncodaily https://t.co/tJnOIH8yie
HERON-Lung01 #ESMO26: HER3 ADC ruzaltatug rezetecan vs platinum-pem, EGFRm NSCLC post-TKI ➡️ mPFS 8.3 vs 5.4 mo, HR 0.47 ➡️ ORR 60.0 vs 34.3% ➡️ OS HR 0.70, immature ➡️ ILD 2.4% Two HER3-targeting ADCs, one session. How do we sequence them? @LungCancerRx @OncoAlert @oncodaily https://t.co/GaBQInjkQs
SANOVO #ESMO26: osi ± savolitinib, 1L EGFRm MET-overexpressed NSCLC (China) ➡️ mPFS IHC3+ 24.8 vs 11.1 mo, HR 0.45 ➡️ mPFS ITT 24.9 vs 13.8 mo, HR 0.56 ➡️ mOS 44.5 vs 34.9 mo, HR 0.48 ➡️ 3-yr OS 67.4 vs 47.4% Test MET IHC at EGFRm diagnosis? @LungCancerRx @OncoAlert @oncodaily https://t.co/JpKyd6pVRe
OptiTROP-Lung04 final OS #ESMO26: sac-TMT vs platinum-pem post EGFR-TKI, EGFRm NSCLC ➡️ mOS 25.9 vs 17.4 mo, HR 0.69 ➡️ 2-yr OS 54.1 vs 37.2% ➡️ 22.6% of chemo arm later got an ADC; RPSFT HR 0.57 ADC or chemo first after EGFR-TKI? @LungCancerRx @OncoAlert @oncodaily https://t.co/GcerKcg8wW
Who Amplifies Aakash Desai
Physicians who reposted Aakash Desai’s trial posts most often in 2026.
2026 Rankings
| List | US rank | Global rank | Physicians engaged | Physician engagements | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lung Cancer | #14 | #32 | 25 | 29 | Full ranking |
Trials Aakash Desai Discussed in 2026
| Trial | Posts | Rank among physicians posting | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAFFRON | 2 | #28 of 50 | Oct 26, 2026 |
| DESTINY-Lung04 | 2 | #7 of 37 | Oct 26, 2026 |
| OptiTROP-Lung06 | 2 | #9 of 29 | Oct 25, 2026 |
| DeLLphi-305 | 2 | #12 of 86 | Oct 24, 2026 |
| PERSEE (GFPC 01-2020) | 1 | #23 of 34 | Oct 29, 2026 |
| PEARLS / KEYNOTE-091 | 1 | #3 of 5 | Oct 29, 2026 |
| HERON-Lung01 | 1 | #9 of 10 | Oct 26, 2026 |
| SANOVO | 1 | #9 of 14 | Oct 26, 2026 |
| OptiTROP-Lung04 | 1 | #14 of 18 | Oct 26, 2026 |
| KRASCENDO-1 | 1 | #27 of 49 | Oct 23, 2026 |
| PANKU-Lung01 | 1 | #13 of 16 | Oct 23, 2026 |
| ARROS-1 | 1 | #9 of 26 | Sep 1, 2026 |
Aakash Desai on SAFFRON
SAFFRON #ESMO26: osi+savo vs platinum-pem post-osimertinib, EGFRm MET OE/amp NSCLC ➡️ mPFS 7.6 vs 5.4 mo, HR 0.55 ➡️ mOS 17.8 vs 12.9 mo, HR 0.68 ➡️ ORR 51 vs 27% ➡️ G≥3 TRAEs 40 vs 52%; edema 49% Who gets a MET re-biopsy after osimertinib? @LungCancerRx @OncoAlert @oncodaily https://t.co/tJnOIH8yie
@myESMO @LungCancerRx @OncoAlert @oncodaily 2/ SAFFRON (LBA6), Oct 25, 16:54 CET Osimertinib + savolitinib vs platinum–pemetrexed, EGFRm MET-high NSCLC after osimertinib. Sponsors report PFS + OS wins. How big, and which MET IHC/FISH cutoff selects patients? @LungCancerRx @OncoAlert @oncodaily https://t.co/a1jM7oyRXW
Aakash Desai on DESTINY-Lung04
DESTINY-Lung04 PROs #ESMO26: 1L T-DXd vs pembro-chemo, HER2m NSCLC ➡️ Cough TTD 26.2 vs 11.0 mo, HR 0.66 ➡️ Dyspnea TTD 10.1 vs 5.1 mo ➡️ Side-effect bother similar ➡️ OS immature, HR 1.15 PROs next to PFS. OS still the open question!! @LungCancerRx @OncoAlert @oncodaily https://t.co/mYejR7WnIW
13 days to #WCLC26 @IASLC in Seoul! 🫁 Excited for new data, but let's keep clinical perspective: ➡️ #SCLC: MAVERICK (MRI±PCI) may finally change practice. ➡️ #NSCLC: Watch DESTINY-Lung04 (HER2 1L) & ARROS-1 (ROS1). PAPILLON OS confirms SOC. #IASLC @LungCancerRx @OncoAlert https://t.co/PUuMWGqS7k
Aakash Desai on OptiTROP-Lung06
OptiTROP-Lung06 #ESMO26: 1L sac-TMT+pembro vs chemo-IO, PD-L1-neg nsq NSCLC ➡️ mPFS 15.0 vs 5.7 mo, HR 0.49 ➡️ ORR 50.2 vs 47.3%, mDOR 13.6 vs 6.8 mo ➡️ OS HR 0.58, immature ➡️ G≥3 TEAEs 47.6 vs 60.6% What must ADCs show to replace platinum? @LungCancerRx @OncoAlert @oncodaily https://t.co/5CoJUw2OIp
@myESMO @LungCancerRx @OncoAlert @oncodaily 5/ OptiTROP-Lung06 (LBA66), Oct 25, 10:53 CET Sac-TMT + pembro vs chemo + pembro, 1L PD-L1-negative nonsquamous NSCLC. PFS met per Kelun-Biotech. Can a TROP2 ADC replace the platinum doublet alongside IO? @LungCancerRx @OncoAlert @oncodaily https://t.co/XWMc6SJ3gy
Aakash Desai on DeLLphi-305
#ESMO26 DeLLphi-305: tarlatamab+durva vs durva, 1L maintenance ES-SCLC ➡️ OS 21.1 vs 12.7 mo, HR 0.42 ➡️ PFS 7.4 vs 1.9 mo, HR 0.34 ➡️ CRS 49.6% (G3+ 0.4%) Amazing to be part of this practice-changing study on the global steering committee!! @LungCancerRx @OncoAlert @oncodaily https://t.co/BfjokrDpim
@myESMO @LungCancerRx @OncoAlert @oncodaily 3/ DeLLphi-305 (LBA3), Oct 24, 17:18 CEST Tarlatamab + durvalumab as 1L maintenance in ES-SCLC. Amgen reports an OS win at interim. How large, and can clinics deliver T-cell engager monitoring in maintenance? @LungCancerRx @OncoAlert @oncodaily https://t.co/g8um5k4dwG
Aakash Desai on PERSEE (GFPC 01-2020)
PERSEE ph3 #ESMO26: pembro ± chemo, 1L NSCLC PD-L1≥50% (n=321) ➡️ PFS 16.1 vs 6.9 mo, HR 0.56 ➡️ ORR 77.5% vs 50.3%; early PD 5.8% vs 26.5% ➡️ OS 50.2 vs 29.9 mo, HR 0.77, not powered ➡️ G≥3 TRAEs 54% vs 19% Who gets pembro mono now? @LungCancerRx @OncoAlert @oncodaily https://t.co/e8G0QaI0bR
Aakash Desai on PEARLS / KEYNOTE-091
PEARLS/KN-091 final, #ESMO26: adjuvant pembro, resected IB–IIIA NSCLC (n=1,177) ➡️ DFS 58.7 vs 43.3 mo, HR 0.85 ➡️ OS HR 0.98 (0.81–1.18); 6-yr 68.5% vs 66.4% ➡️ OS read time-triggered before planned deaths Is DFS enough in adjuvant IO? @LungCancerRx @OncoAlert @oncodaily https://t.co/gXPUAvaQOm
Aakash Desai on HERON-Lung01
HERON-Lung01 #ESMO26: HER3 ADC ruzaltatug rezetecan vs platinum-pem, EGFRm NSCLC post-TKI ➡️ mPFS 8.3 vs 5.4 mo, HR 0.47 ➡️ ORR 60.0 vs 34.3% ➡️ OS HR 0.70, immature ➡️ ILD 2.4% Two HER3-targeting ADCs, one session. How do we sequence them? @LungCancerRx @OncoAlert @oncodaily https://t.co/GaBQInjkQs
Aakash Desai on SANOVO
SANOVO #ESMO26: osi ± savolitinib, 1L EGFRm MET-overexpressed NSCLC (China) ➡️ mPFS IHC3+ 24.8 vs 11.1 mo, HR 0.45 ➡️ mPFS ITT 24.9 vs 13.8 mo, HR 0.56 ➡️ mOS 44.5 vs 34.9 mo, HR 0.48 ➡️ 3-yr OS 67.4 vs 47.4% Test MET IHC at EGFRm diagnosis? @LungCancerRx @OncoAlert @oncodaily https://t.co/JpKyd6pVRe
Aakash Desai’s Most-Engaged Posts in 2026
Their own 2026 posts that fellow physicians reposted most, quoted word for word.
1/ My top 7 thoracic picks for #ESMO26 (Madrid, Oct 23–27), ranked. @myESMO 5 of these phase 3s already announced positive toplines. ESMO is where we finally see effect sizes. The question each one answers 🧵 #LCSM @LungCancerRx @OncoAlert @oncodaily https://t.co/fmhhGivXPE
ROSETTA Lung-107 #ESMO26: pumitamig (PD-L1×VEGF) + docetaxel post chemo-IO, single-arm Ph2 ➡️ cORR 36.7% (n=30) ➡️ DCR 90.0% ➡️ mPFS 6.9 mo; f/u 12.2 wk ➡️ G≥3 pumitamig TRAEs 18.0% Early signal after chemo-IO. Randomized data next? @LungCancerRx @OncoAlert @oncodaily https://t.co/LJb2pzXKDL
🧬 My Top 10 DT abstracts at #ASCO2026 3 storylines I'm watching: → KRAS G12D: noncovalent DN022150 (Ph I/IIa) + RNK08954 (Ph II) in parallel → Macrocyclic EGFR arrives: BH-30643 FIH → Radioligand enters SCLC: 177Lu-DOTA-TATE in #SCLC @OncoAlert @oncodaily @Larvol https://t.co/toMicQYdgs
🤖 My Top 10 AI abstracts at @ASCO #ASCO26, excited for chairing the session on Oncology 2.0: AI in Oncology! → #1505 (Stover): Remote AI monitoring in Phase I → #11003 (Hassett): eSyM ePRO improves OS → #3513 (Ciracì): CHAI guides chemo intensification in mCRC @OncoAlert https://t.co/BS2cmmACdO
🚨Hot off the press! In #SCLC, tarlatamab plus durvalumab in 1L ES-SCLC shows OS improvement! Looking forward to the full data! @LungCancerRx https://t.co/H4sBvgIkm0
Industry Payments
CMS Open Payments · 2025 general payments
$11,675 across 19 payments