Summit reaps benefit of Akeso deal as bispecific beats Keytruda head-to-head in China-only NSCLC study

ARTICLE | Product Development

Partners announce PFS benefit from monotherapy head-to-head. Summit’s Phase III program outside China adds chemotherapy to the mix

By Paul Bonanos, Director of Biopharma Intelligence

May 31, 2024 12:59 AM UTC

Akeso’s bispecific therapy ivonescimab has scored a victory in a China-only head-to-head study versus Keytruda in NSCLC, more than tripling shares of partner Summit about 18 months after the U.S. biotech paid $500 million for the molecule’s rights in major markets.

The trial pitted ivonescimab against Keytruda pembrolizumab monotherapy rather than in combination with chemotherapy, as it’s most often used, but Summit’s ongoing multiregional Phase III program is incorporating chemo…