Saturday, August 19, 2023
Akeso has announced the initiation of a pivotal phase III trial for ivonescimab, an investigational PD-1/VEGF bi-specific antibody, with the dosing of its first patient. This bi-specific antibody is simultaneously targeting PD-1 and VEGF pathways.
Ivonescimab, designated as AK112 by Akeso in China and Australia, and as SMT112 by Summit in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan uniquely integrates the benefits of PD-1 immunotherapy blockade and VEGF anti-angiogenesis inhibition into a singular molecule. Currently, ivonescimab is actively undergoing multiple Phase III clinical trials across the globe.
The Phase III trial will focus on evaluating both the clinical effectiveness and safety profile of ivonescimab when compared to tislelizumab, combined with chemotherapy, as the initial treatment for locally advanced or metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer (sq-NSCLC).
Ivonescimab is concurrently being assessed through various Phase III head-to-head trials against established PD-(L)1 inhibitors for lung cancer treatment. These trials span multiple developed countries worldwide, encompassing China, the United States, Europe, and other prominent regions.
