Akeso's Ivonescimab Shows Lung Cancer Survival Edge
Akeso and Summit Therapeutics report their bispecific antibody ivonescimab helped lung cancer patients live longer than those on Merck's Keytruda in a
A dual-acting cancer drug from China's Akeso helped people with lung cancer live longer than those treated with Merck's blockbuster immunotherapy Keytruda. The companies, including U.S. Licensee Summit Therapeutics, announced the result Thursday based on a fresh analysis of a trial in Chinese patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
Full data from this trial have not been disclosed. They are expected to be presented at a major lung cancer conference later this month. This study will not serve as the primary evidence for U.S. Approval, as the Food and Drug Administration requires outcomes from a global trial in this setting, which are anticipated in 2028.
Trial Builds Confidence for Key Study
The newly announced survival benefit builds confidence for a separate, critical trial. That study is testing ivonescimab in combination with chemotherapy against a regimen of Keytruda and chemotherapy. Results are expected later this year or early next. TD Cowen analyst Tyler Van Buren wrote in a client note that the data from this single-agent trial "derisks" the upcoming global combination study.
Regulators require cancer drugs to demonstrate they extend overall survival, not only delay disease progression. Achieving this in the Chinese trial is a significant milestone for ivonescimab. It suggests the drug could continue to show a survival advantage in direct comparisons against Keytruda and other similar immunotherapies.
The Mechanism of a Dual-Acting Drug
Ivonescimab belongs to a class of treatments called bispecific antibodies. These drugs are on the cusp of reshaping lung cancer treatment. Unlike Keytruda, which inhibits only an immunity-evading protein called PD-1, ivonescimab also blocks VEGF, a protein essential for tumor growth. This dual action is seen as a promising advance.
The drug's progress has spurred significant investment from major pharmaceutical companies into similar mechanisms. Merck itself has hedged its bets by also investing in an antibody-drug conjugate that could potentially rival ivonescimab.
Debate Over Geographic Trial Data
The potential of ivonescimab has been a subject of debate among doctors and investors. This stems from the initial readout of the combination trial that pitted ivonescimab and chemo against Keytruda and chemo in Chinese patients. Analysts and clinicians have questioned how the results will translate globally due to differences in patient characteristics between China and the rest of the world.
UBS analyst David Dai has provided a specific forecast for the upcoming data presentation. He expects Akeso will show that ivonescimab reduces the relative risk of death by approximately 24% compared to Keytruda when the full single-agent trial results are disclosed.
Market Reaction and Next Steps
The announcement prompted a positive market reaction. Summit Therapeutics' shares rose as much as 14% in Thursday morning trading. Akeso's stock closed with a 3% increase on the Hong Kong market.
The path forward is now focused on two key events. The first is the detailed data presentation at the World Conference on Lung Cancer. The second, and more consequential for U.S. Patients, is the outcome of the global HARMONi-3 trial, which will directly compare the ivonescimab-chemo combination to the Keytruda-chemo standard.
