China-based biotech company Akeso Biopharma (HKG: 9926) announced that its self-discovered bispecific antibody (BsAb) cadonilimab (AK104) has received conditional market approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). The drug is indicated for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer that has failed previous platinum-based chemotherapy.
Drug Profile and Mechanism
Cadonilimab is a bispecific antibody targeting both programmed death-1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4). This dual-target approach aims to enhance antitumor immunity while reducing the toxicity typically associated with combination therapies using separate PD-1 and CTLA-4 antibodies.
Development and Market Potential
Akeso is actively developing cadonilimab for a broad range of cancer indications, including liver, cervical, lung, and stomach cancers, as well as esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The drug’s innovative mechanism positions it to offer improved safety and efficacy profiles compared to existing combination therapies.-Fineline Info & Tech
