Health 31 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Akeso's Ivonescimab Shows Promise in Lung Cancer Trial, Outperforming Immunotherapy
A new study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting reveals that Akeso's experimental drug, ivonescimab, significantly extended survival for patients with advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer compared to another immunotherapy. The drug, which targets two distinct proteins, demonstrated a 15% longer average survival and a reduced risk of death. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/magazines/healthy-living/akeso-lung-cancer-drug-helps-patients-live-15-longer-than-immunotherapy-in-china-trial-5480036
An experimental drug developed by China-based Akeso, known as ivonescimab, has shown encouraging results in a clinical trial for advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study, conducted in China with 532 patients, compared ivonescimab in combination with chemotherapy against Tevimbra (a BeOne Medicines immunotherapy) plus chemotherapy as a first-line treatment.
Patients receiving ivonescimab lived an average of 27.9 months, outperforming the 23.7 months seen in the Tevimbra group. This represents a 15% increase in average survival and a reduction in the risk of death by more than one-third. Earlier data had already indicated that ivonescimab reduced disease progression or death by 40% compared to Tevimbra.
Ivonescimab is a bispecific antibody, a newer class of drugs that can target two different proteins simultaneously. It blocks PD-1, a protein that helps cancer evade the immune system, and VEGF, a protein that can promote tumor growth. In contrast, Tevimbra and other established immunotherapies like Keytruda primarily target PD-1.
Akeso believes the improved survival data and a favorable risk-benefit profile position ivonescimab as a potential new standard of care for advanced squamous NSCLC. However, while the trial results are promising, experts caution that the findings from a trial conducted solely in China may not directly translate to wider populations due to potential ethnic differences in drug efficacy.
Serious side effects were reported in 69% of patients on ivonescimab and 59% on the standard treatment, with about 5% discontinuing due to side effects in both arms. Akeso has licensed the rights for ivonescimab in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Japan to Summit Therapeutics.
A separate, ongoing global trial comparing ivonescimab head-to-head with Keytruda is expected to yield interim data later this year, which could be crucial for seeking U.S. approval. If similar benefits are observed in this global study, ivonescimab could see widespread adoption in the U.S. market.