Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a rare yet aggressive lung cancer subtype with an extremely poor prognosis of around 1 year. SCLC accounts for 15% of all newly diagnosed lung cancers and is characterized by rapid growth with high potential for metastatic spread and treatment resistance. In the article the authors review some of the most notable efforts to improve outcomes, including trials of novel immunotherapy agents, novel disease targets, and multiple drug combinations.