New Drug Reduces Death Risk Among Lung Cancer Patients by 30%

An experimental cancer drug developed by China-based Akeso has shown promising results in a late-stage clinical trial, helping patients with advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) live longer compared to an established immunotherapy treatment.

According to study results presented at a medical meeting in Chicago, patients treated with ivonescimab in combination with chemotherapy lived an average of 27.9 months, compared to 23.7 months for those receiving BeOne Medicines’ immunotherapy Tevimbra alongside chemotherapy.

The drug reduced the risk of death by more than one-third and improved overall survival by about 15%.

The head-to-head trial involved 532 patients in China diagnosed with stage 3 or stage 4 squamous NSCLC. All participants received chemotherapy alongside either ivonescimab or Tevimbra as a first-line treatment.

Earlier data from the study had already shown a 40% reduction in disease progression or death.

Ivonescimab belongs to a newer class of drugs known as bispecific antibodies, which target two cancer-related pathways simultaneously.

It blocks PD-1, which helps cancer cells evade the immune system, and VEGF, a protein that supports tumor growth.

Researchers said the dual-target approach could represent a potential advancement over existing immunotherapies such as Merck’s Keytruda, which primarily targets PD-1.

Experts, however, cautioned that results from China-based trials may not directly translate to global populations due to biological and ethnic differences.

Additional international studies are underway to confirm its effectiveness across diverse patient groups.

Summit Therapeutics holds licensing rights for ivonescimab in the United States, Europe, Japan, and Canada, while Akeso retains rights in China and other regions.

A global Phase III trial comparing the drug with Keytruda is currently ongoing, with interim results expected later this year.

Despite encouraging efficacy results, the study also reported higher rates of serious side effects in the ivonescimab group (69%) compared to the control group (59%). However, treatment discontinuation rates remained similar in both groups.

Researchers say the results highlight the growing potential of bispecific antibody therapies in oncology, a field increasingly focused on more targeted and multi-mechanism cancer treatments.