ASCO: Ivonescimab A New Challenger To Keytruda In 1L, PD-L1-High NSCLC?

Akeso/Summit Release New Head-To-Head Results

 
• By Dexter Jie Yan
  
Generate a summary of this article
Listen to this article
Beta

Backed by strong progression-free survival results from the China-only, head-to-head HARMONi-2 trial, Akeso/Summit’s ivonescimab could be set to become a global contender against established standard of care Keytruda in first-line, PD-L1-high non-small cell lung cancer.

lung cancer
Akeso/Summit contender may challenge Keytruda in PD-L1-high NSCLC • Source: Shutterstock

Summit Therapeutics plc and Chinese partner Akeso Inc.'s quest to develop a potential global challenger to Merck & Co., Inc.’s blockbuster Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in the advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) space is poised to expand to the US firm’s most formidable stronghold – as a monotherapy for the first-line treatment of tumors with PD-L1-high expression (PD-L1 TPS (tumor promotion score) >50%).

Key Takeaways

  • The anti-PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody ivonescimab bested Keytruda as monotherapy in the first-line setting in terms of progression-free survival in NSCLC in the head-to-head Phase III HARMONi-2 trial.

Last week, Summit/Akeso claimed that in the head-to-head Phase III HARMONi-2 trial, their anti-PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody ivonescimab bested Keytruda as...

Scrip Podcast

Keep up with the top pharma business news of the week. On the go.

Scrip brings you a weekly bulletin of top picks.

SpotifyApple PodcastsWebsite

More from China

Iran Deal In Place, But API Prices Stay Elevated And Pharma Supply Chains Face A Slow Recovery

A framework to end the Iran war is in place but fractured supply chains can’t recover overnight. Data from India suggests solvent prices have generally cooled from April peaks, but API costs stay elevated or even climbed in June for some products.

Embracing China’s Brave New Pharmaceutical World!

 
• By Ellon Xu, Philip Leung, and Grace Shieh

Already one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical markets, China has tremendous growth potential, but significant policy and market changes are rocking the basis of competition. Multinational biopharma corporations cannot succeed in this new environment unless they fundamentally reinvent their business models to adapt to sweeping change.

Spotlight On RDCs, AOCs As Leading Novel Bioconjugates[Updated]

Pipelines in bioconjugates continue to develop, from ADCs to XDCs, with radionuclide drug conjugates (RDCs) and antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates (AOCs) leading the expansion.

Fosun ALK/ROS1 Inhibitor Shows 1L Promise In Advanced NSCLC

Interim results from the Phase III REMARK study presented at WCLC showed the Chinese company’s second-generation ALK/ROS1 inhibitor met its primary endpoint as a first-line therapy in ALK-positive advanced NSCLC.

More from Focus On Asia

India Rare Diseases: Court Shows Path For Policy Action, Funding, Price Issues-- Test-2

A court order encompassing funding, drug pricing, clinical trials and overall policy implementation aspects is expected to bring about a paradigm shift in the treatment of rare diseases in India. Sarepta, Roche and Sanofi are among the key players that have been part of pricing discussions.

Innovent/GenFleet Score China’s First KRAS G12C Inhibitor Approval

 
• By Dexter Jie Yan

The nod will help unlock a national market for the partners’ Dupert (fulzerasib) in which roughly 50,000 people are expected to be newly diagnosed with lung cancer harboring the KRAS G12C mutation in 2025. Meanwhile, two other homegrown rivals are also closing in on marketing clearances in China.

As More DLL3 Bispecifics Advance, Doctors Are Adjusting To CRS, ICANS

 
• By Mandy Jackson

Amgen’s Imdelltra for small-cell lung cancer is one of two bispecific T-cell engagers approved for solid tumors, but data at the WCLC meeting show other DLL3-targeting BiTEs may be on the way.