NMPA Accepts sNDA for Ivonescimab in Combination with Chemotherapy as First-Line Treatment for Advanced Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

HONG KONG, July 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Akeso, Inc. (9926.HK) ("Akeso" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has accepted the supplementary New Drug Application (sNDA) for ivonescimab (PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody) in combination with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer (sq-NSCLC).

This submission represents the third accepted application for ivonescimab in China, following previous filings for its combination therapy in EGFR-TKI resistant locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous NSCLC (nsq-NSCLC), as well as its monotherapy for first-line treatment of PD-L1 positive advanced NSCLC.

PD-1 combined with chemotherapy has become a cornerstone in cancer therapy. The sNDA for ivonescimab's new indication is based on the strong positive outcomes from its Phase III trial (AK112-306/HARMONi-6 study), which showed that ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy is superior to tislelizumab plus chemotherapy. Building on the success of its head-to-head comparison with pembrolizumab, ivonescimab's ability to outperform PD-1 combination therapy marks a significant step forward in the evolution of global cancer immunotherapy.

Currently, ivonescimab is involved in over 12 registrational/Phase III clinical trials worldwide, including six head-to-head studies with PD-1/L1 inhibitors. These trials span a diverse range of malignancies, such as various subtypes of lung cancer, first-line colorectal cancer, first-line head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, first-line biliary tract cancer, first-line pancreatic cancer, and first-line triple-negative breast cancer, among others. Ivonescimab has established a broad and strategic footprint across key cancer immunotherapy indications. As part of the company's "IO+ADC" 2.0 oncology strategy, ivonescimab is positioned as a cornerstone agent in immuno-oncology, being evaluated in combination with innovative therapies targeting novel mechanisms and pathways.

Forward-Looking Statement of Akeso, Inc.
This announcement by Akeso, Inc. (9926.HK, "Akeso") contains "forward-looking statements". These statements reflect the current beliefs and expectations of Akeso's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. These statements are not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any decision to purchase securities of Akeso. There can be no assurance that the drug candidate(s) indicated in this announcement or Akeso's other pipeline candidates will obtain the required regulatory approvals or achieve commercial success. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in P.R.China, the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; Akeso's ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the Akeso's patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

Akeso does not undertake any obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, except as required by law.

About Akeso
Akeso (HKEX: 9926.HK) is a leading biopharmaceutical company committed to the research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of the world's first or best-in-class innovative biological medicines. Founded in 2012, the company has created a unique integrated R&D innovation system with the comprehensive end-to-end drug development platform (ACE Platform) and bi-specific antibody drug development technology (Tetrabody) as the core, a GMP-compliant manufacturing system and a commercialization system with an advanced operation mode, and has gradually developed into a globally competitive biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative solutions. With fully integrated multi-functional platform, Akeso is internally working on a robust pipeline of over 50 innovative assets in the fields of cancer, autoimmune disease, inflammation, metabolic disease and other major diseases. Among them, 24 candidates have entered clinical trials (including 15 bispecific/multispecific antibodies and bispecific ADCs. Additionally, 7 new drugs are commercially available, and 2 new drugs with 2 new indications are under regulatory review for approval. Through efficient and breakthrough R&D innovation, Akeso always integrates superior global resources, develops the first-in-class and best-in-class new drugs, provides affordable therapeutic antibodies for patients worldwide, and continuously creates more commercial and social values to become a global leading biopharmaceutical enterprise.

For more information, please visit https://www.akesobio.com/en/about-us/corporate-profile/ and follow us on Linkedin.

source: Akeso, Inc.