Akeso and Summit’s ivonescimab extends survival in squamous cell lung cancer ‘Two drugs in one’ candidate, developed in China, is a highlight at ASCO By Matthew HerperMay 31, 2026 Senior Writer, Medicine, Editorial Director of Events

https://www.statnews.com/2026/05/31/squamous-cell-lung-cancer-akeso-summit-harmoni-asco-2026/?utm_campaign=the_readout&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9K_QeHmBTKiVP-VqCNkg3lSQlYPnOs74cV2rwrywwYrO9ZGNyS4Oxqoxf1APcYC0OGii-i_NBEGoDs4-icjir8jQyqAg&_hsmi=433538757&utm_content=433538757&utm_source=hs_email Akeso and Summit's lung cancer drug shows worsening tumor-progression benefit Chinese regulators on Friday approved an expanded use of ivonescimab, the PD-1/VEGF-targeting antibody made by the Chinese drugmaker Akeso, for the treatment of newly diagnosed squamous non-small cell lung cancer. The new prescription label, however, included a negative surprise: updated study results data showing a worsening tumor-progression benefit than previously reported. The new disclosure is potentially bad news Summit Therapeutics, which is developing ivonescimab for the U.S. and European markets. In an updated analysis of a study called HARMONi-6, the combination of ivonescimab and chemotherapy reduced the risk of tumor progression by 28%, down from 40% when the study was presented in May at the ASCO annual meeting. The improvement in overall survival shown by the ivonescimab-chemotherapy regimen has not changed, although it may with more mature data follow-up. How this impacts Summit and its ongoing HARMONI-3 study of ivonescimab in the same squamous lung cancer patient population is uncertain. Last September, the company said patients in North America and Europe had seen their cancer return faster than those in China. As a result, an interim analysis of progression-free survival did not meet a prespecified endpoint. A final analysis is expected later this year.