Akeso Highlights Collaboration Between Its Partner Summit Therapeutics and Pfizer to Explore Ivonescimab in Combination with Pfizer's ADCs
Akeso announced that its partner Summit Therapeutics (NASDAQ: SMMT) has entered a clinical trial collaboration with Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) to evaluate ivonescimab, a novel PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody, in combination with several of Pfizer's antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) across multiple solid tumor settings.
The collaboration aims to accelerate development of potentially landscape-changing combinations to improve standards of care for cancer patients with serious unmet needs. Each study will evaluate ivonescimab plus one of Pfizer's vedotin ADCs in distinct solid tumor settings to determine safety profiles and potential anti-tumor activity.
Under the agreement, Summit will provide ivonescimab while Pfizer will conduct the studies, with oversight from both companies. Both parties retain rights to their respective products. The studies are planned to begin in mid-2025, with further details to be announced later.
Akeso ha annunciato che il suo partner Summit Therapeutics (NASDAQ: SMMT) ha avviato una collaborazione per la sperimentazione clinica con Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) per valutare ivonescimab, un nuovo anticorpo bispecifico PD-1/VEGF, in combinazione con diversi anticorpi coniugati a farmaci (ADC) di Pfizer in vari contesti di tumori solidi.
La collaborazione mira ad accelerare lo sviluppo di combinazioni potenzialmente rivoluzionarie per migliorare gli standard di cura per i pazienti oncologici con gravi esigenze insoddisfatte. Ogni studio valuterà ivonescimab insieme a uno degli ADC vedotin di Pfizer in distinti contesti di tumori solidi per determinare i profili di sicurezza e l'attività antitumorale potenziale.
In base all'accordo, Summit fornirà ivonescimab mentre Pfizer condurrà gli studi, con supervisione di entrambe le aziende. Entrambe le parti mantengono i diritti sui propri prodotti. Gli studi sono previsti per iniziare a metà del 2025, con ulteriori dettagli che saranno annunciati in seguito.
Akeso anunció que su socio Summit Therapeutics (NASDAQ: SMMT) ha iniciado una colaboración en ensayos clínicos con Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) para evaluar ivonescimab, un nuevo anticuerpo bispecífico PD-1/VEGF, en combinación con varios de los anticuerpos conjugados a fármacos (ADC) de Pfizer en múltiples contextos de tumores sólidos.
La colaboración tiene como objetivo acelerar el desarrollo de combinaciones que podrían cambiar el panorama para mejorar los estándares de atención para pacientes con cáncer que tienen necesidades insatisfechas graves. Cada estudio evaluará ivonescimab más uno de los ADC vedotin de Pfizer en distintos contextos de tumores sólidos para determinar los perfiles de seguridad y la actividad antitumoral potencial.
De acuerdo con el acuerdo, Summit proporcionará ivonescimab mientras que Pfizer llevará a cabo los estudios, con supervisión de ambas compañías. Ambas partes retienen los derechos sobre sus respectivos productos. Se prevé que los estudios comiencen a mediados de 2025, con más detalles que se anunciarán más adelante.
Akeso는 파트너인 Summit Therapeutics (NASDAQ: SMMT)가 Pfizer (NYSE: PFE)와 임상 시험 협력을 체결하여 ivonescimab라는 새로운 PD-1/VEGF 이중 특이성 항체를 평가하고, 여러 개의 Pfizer 항체 약물 접합체 (ADC)와 함께 다양한 고형 종양 환경에서 연구를 진행한다고 발표했습니다.
이번 협력은 심각한 미충족 요구를 가진 암 환자들을 위한 치료 기준을 개선하기 위해 잠재적으로 판도를 바꿀 수 있는 조합의 개발을 가속화하는 것을 목표로 하고 있습니다. 각 연구는 ivonescimab과 Pfizer의 vedotin ADC 중 하나를 결합하여 고형 종양 환경에서 안전성 프로필과 잠재적인 항종양 활성을 평가할 것입니다.
계약에 따라 Summit은 ivonescimab을 제공하고 Pfizer는 연구를 수행하며, 두 회사의 감독을 받습니다. 양 당사자는 각자의 제품에 대한 권리를 유지합니다. 연구는 2025년 중반에 시작될 예정이며, 추가 세부 사항은 나중에 발표될 것입니다.
Akeso a annoncé que son partenaire Summit Therapeutics (NASDAQ: SMMT) a engagé une collaboration pour des essais cliniques avec Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) afin d'évaluer ivonescimab, un nouvel anticorps bispécifique PD-1/VEGF, en combinaison avec plusieurs des anticorps conjugués aux médicaments (ADC) de Pfizer dans divers contextes de tumeurs solides.
Cette collaboration vise à accélérer le développement de combinaisons potentiellement révolutionnaires pour améliorer les standards de soins pour les patients atteints de cancer ayant de graves besoins non satisfaits. Chaque étude évaluera ivonescimab associé à l'un des ADC vedotin de Pfizer dans des contextes de tumeurs solides distincts pour déterminer les profils de sécurité et l'activité antitumorale potentielle.
En vertu de l'accord, Summit fournira ivonescimab tandis que Pfizer réalisera les études, sous la supervision des deux entreprises. Les deux parties conservent des droits sur leurs produits respectifs. Les études devraient commencer à la mi-2025, avec d'autres détails à annoncer ultérieurement.
Akeso gab bekannt, dass sein Partner Summit Therapeutics (NASDAQ: SMMT) eine klinische Studienkooperation mit Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) eingegangen ist, um ivonescimab, einen neuartigen PD-1/VEGF bispezifischen Antikörper, in Kombination mit mehreren Antikörper-Wirkstoff-Konjugaten (ADCs) von Pfizer in verschiedenen soliden Tumoreinstellungen zu bewerten.
Das Ziel der Zusammenarbeit ist es, die Entwicklung potenziell landschaftsverändernder Kombinationen zu beschleunigen, um die Behandlungsstandards für Krebspatienten mit ernsthaften unerfüllten Bedürfnissen zu verbessern. Jede Studie wird ivonescimab zusammen mit einem der vedotin ADCs von Pfizer in verschiedenen soliden Tumoreinstellungen bewerten, um Sicherheitsprofile und potenzielle antitumorale Aktivität zu bestimmen.
Im Rahmen der Vereinbarung wird Summit ivonescimab bereitstellen, während Pfizer die Studien durchführt, wobei beide Unternehmen die Aufsicht haben. Beide Parteien behalten die Rechte an ihren jeweiligen Produkten. Die Studien sollen Mitte 2025 beginnen, weitere Details werden später bekannt gegeben.
- New clinical trial collaboration between Summit Therapeutics and Pfizer to evaluate ivonescimab with ADCs
- Potential to accelerate development of new cancer treatment combinations
- Studies planned to begin in mid-2025
- Partnership aims to address serious unmet needs in cancer treatment
- Both companies retain rights to their respective products
- None.
Insights
This collaboration between Summit Therapeutics and Pfizer represents a strategic milestone with significant implications for Summit's clinical development strategy and market positioning. The partnership will evaluate ivonescimab (Summit's novel PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody licensed from Akeso) in combination with Pfizer's vedotin-based antibody-drug conjugates across multiple solid tumor settings.
The scientific rationale behind this combination is particularly compelling. Ivonescimab's dual-targeting mechanism addresses two critical aspects of tumor biology: immune suppression (via PD-1 inhibition) and angiogenesis (via VEGF blockade). When combined with ADCs, which deliver potent cytotoxic payloads directly to cancer cells, there's potential for synergistic anti-tumor activity. The ADC-induced tumor cell death could release neoantigens that enhance T-cell responses, while ivonescimab's VEGF inhibition may improve drug delivery by normalizing tumor vasculature.
From a financial perspective, this deal structure significantly favors Summit. Pfizer will bear the operational costs of these studies while Summit simply provides the drug supply. This arrangement allows Summit to expand ivonescimab's potential applications without diluting its resources from its core development program. Summit retains full rights to ivonescimab, preserving its long-term commercial value.
This collaboration positions Summit favorably in the increasingly competitive bispecific antibody landscape. While multiple companies are developing PD-1-based bispecifics, the combination with vedotin ADCs represents a differentiated approach that could yield superior efficacy profiles. Pfizer's involvement also provides validation of ivonescimab's potential, particularly important as Summit advances its Phase 3 program in non-small cell lung cancer.
For investors, this partnership creates multiple potential value inflection points beyond Summit's existing clinical program. The studies are expected to begin mid-2025, with data likely emerging in 2026. If successful, these combinations could significantly expand ivonescimab's addressable market beyond its initial indications.
The collaboration also indirectly benefits Akeso, further validating their bispecific platform technology and potentially increasing the value of their partnership with Summit. This arrangement exemplifies the growing trend of innovative clinical trial collaborations that accelerate development timelines without complex licensing arrangements.
This collaboration between Summit Therapeutics and Pfizer marks a strategic advancement in combination cancer therapy development, pairing ivonescimab's dual PD-1/VEGF targeting capability with Pfizer's vedotin-based antibody-drug conjugates across multiple solid tumor types.
The mechanistic synergy between these modalities is particularly promising. Ivonescimab simultaneously blocks the PD-1 immune checkpoint (enhancing T-cell anti-tumor activity) and inhibits VEGF-mediated angiogenesis (normalizing tumor vasculature). When combined with vedotin-based ADCs, which deliver potent microtubule-disrupting agents specifically to tumor cells, we could see enhanced therapeutic effects through complementary mechanisms. The VEGF inhibition component may improve ADC delivery by normalizing leaky tumor vasculature, while the cytotoxic effects of the ADC could increase neoantigen release, potentially amplifying the immunotherapeutic effects of PD-1 blockade.
Pfizer's vedotin ADC portfolio includes candidates targeting novel tumor antigens beyond the established targets like HER2 and Trop2. This diversification of targeting strategies could address tumor heterogeneity issues that limit current therapies. The collaboration aligns with the industry's shift toward rational combinations that address multiple hallmarks of cancer simultaneously, rather than sequential monotherapy approaches.
From a clinical development perspective, this collaboration offers significant acceleration potential. By having Pfizer manage operational aspects of these trials, Summit can expand ivonescimab's clinical development beyond its current focus on non-small cell lung cancer without diluting resources from its pivotal studies. The mid-2025 initiation timeline suggests these will be early-phase studies designed to establish safety and preliminary efficacy, potentially creating new development pathways for ivonescimab.
For patients with refractory solid tumors, these combinations could address multiple resistance mechanisms simultaneously. The dual inhibition of PD-1 and VEGF already offers advantages over single-target approaches, and adding targeted cytotoxic delivery through ADCs could overcome additional resistance pathways.
This collaboration also reflects the evolving business model in oncology drug development, where companies increasingly form clinical trial partnerships that preserve individual asset rights while sharing development costs and risks. For Summit, securing Pfizer's involvement represents significant external validation of ivonescimab's potential, particularly valuable as they advance toward potential regulatory submissions in their lead indications.
"Rapidly developing novel mechanisms that go beyond what is currently available to patients and physicians is what we believe will make the most significant impact for those facing the greatest challenges from cancer today," noted Bob Duggan and Dr. Maky Zanganeh, Summit's Co-CEOs. "As we seek to accelerate the development of our potentially transformative ivonescimab across non-small cell lung cancer and other solid tumor settings, this collaboration will allow us to quickly advance beyond our promising late-stage development plan to evaluate ivonescimab in combination with some of the most innovative ADCs from Pfizer."
The goal of the collaboration is to evaluate ivonescimab, in combination with several unique Pfizer ADCs across multiple solid tumor settings to accelerate the advancement of potentially landscape-changing combinations, which seek to improve the standards of care for patients facing serious unmet needs. Each study intends to evaluate ivonescimab plus one of Pfizer's vedotin ADCs in individual, distinct solid tumor settings to determine the safety profile and potential anti-tumor activity of the combinations.
"We are excited to partner with Summit Therapeutics to explore the clinical synergy of our therapies," said Megan O'Meara, M.D., Head, Oncology Early Stage Development, Pfizer. "Together, we are advancing the exploration of our ADCs in rational, differentiated combinations with a bispecific antibody designed to address the unique complexities of tumor biology. This collaboration represents the next wave of investigational targeted combinations with the potential to transform treatment options for people living with cancer."
Under the terms of the agreement, Summit will provide ivonescimab for use in the proposed studies, and Pfizer will be responsible for conducting the operations of the studies. The studies will be overseen by both Summit and Pfizer. Both parties retain their respective rights to their products. The studies combining ivonescimab with Pfizer's vedotin ADCs are planned to begin in the middle of this year. Further details on the clinical trials will be announced at a later date by Summit.
About Ivonescimab (AK112/SMT112)
Ivonescimab is a novel global first-in-class PD-1/VEGF bi-specific immunotherapy drug independently developed by Akeso. Ivonescimab is known as SMT112 in Summit Therapeutics's license territories, including
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, 23 candidates have entered clinical trials (including 11 bispecific/multispecific antibodies and bispecific antibody-drug conjugates). Additionally, 5 new drugs are commercially available, and 5 new drugs across 7 indications are currently 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, and X (formerly Twitter).
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FAQ
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