Akeso Inc. (HKG: 9926), a biopharmaceutical company based in China, has announced that its first-in-class bispecific antibody, ivonescimab, in combination with lenvatinib and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), has reached a significant milestone in its Phase III clinical trial for unresectable, non-metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The drug has demonstrated promising results in terms of safety and efficacy, with a notable objective response rate (ORR) of 66.7% and a disease control rate (DCR) of 88.9% among late-stage small cell lung cancer patients who received a dosage of 10 mg or higher.
Ivonescimab targets both programmed death-1 (PD-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), making it a unique therapeutic option for patients with HCC. The drug has been conditionally approved in China since June 2022 for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer who have previously failed platinum-based chemotherapy. It is also under regulatory review in the U.S. and has been granted fast-track designation and orphan drug status for specific indications.
Akeso’s partnership with Summit Therapeutics has facilitated the global development of ivonescimab, with the drug now being considered for a range of oncology applications. The company’s commitment to advancing cancer treatments is further evidenced by its ongoing clinical trials and the recent data presented at the IASLC 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC24), which highlighted the drug’s potential to become a new standard of care in PD-L1-positive advanced NSCLC.- Flcube.com
