Akeso Biopharma, a China-based pharmaceutical company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKG: 9926), has achieved a significant milestone with its bispecific antibody ivonescimab (AK112). This innovative drug, which targets both programmed death-1 (PD-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), has been included in the “Clinical Practice Guideline for Stage IV Primary Lung Cancer in China (2024 edition)”. The recommendation categorizes ivonescimab as a Category 1 option for use in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (nsq NSCLC) with widespread progression following epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) therapy.
As the first PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody in the world, ivonescimab received approval in China in May of this year for the first-line treatment of patients with EGFR-mutated non-squamous NSCLC who have progressed after EGFR-TKI treatment. Akeso expanded its global reach with a landmark deal valued at USD 5 billion with Summit Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: SMMT) in December 2022, granting the US firm exclusive rights to develop and commercialize ivonescimab in the US, Canada, Europe, and Japan. The partnership was further solidified in June 2024 with a supplementary licensing agreement, extending Summit’s rights to include development and commercialization of the drug in new territories such as Central and South America, the Middle East, and Africa.- Flcube.com
