Intracranial Anti-Tumor Activity and Safety of Ivonescimab in NSCLC Patients with Brain Metastases to be Featured at ELCC 2024
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Insights
The presentations of updated ivonescimab data from the AK112-201 and AK112-202 Phase II studies at the ELCC 2024 hold significant implications for the treatment landscape of advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). As an Oncology Doctor, the focus on ivonescimab's intracranial activity is particularly noteworthy, given the challenge of treating brain metastases in NSCLC patients. The data suggesting efficacy of ivonescimab, both as monotherapy and in combination with platinum doublet chemotherapy, could signal a shift in therapeutic strategies, especially for patients with asymptomatic brain metastases at baseline.
Furthermore, the potential first-in-class status of ivonescimab as a PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody introduces a novel mechanism of action in the oncology field. This dual targeting could offer a more comprehensive approach to impeding tumor growth by simultaneously inhibiting two critical pathways in cancer progression. If the Phase III trials, HARMONi and HARMONi-3, confirm the Phase II results, ivonescimab could become a pivotal option for NSCLC patients who have limited treatment choices after progression on third-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors or for those with squamous NSCLC without actionable genomic alterations.
From a research perspective, the progression of ivonescimab through Phase II clinical trials and into Phase III trials like HARMONi and HARMONi-3 is a critical juncture. As a Medical Research Analyst, the updated data presentations are crucial for stakeholders to assess the drug's potential market impact. Ivonescimab's novel bispecific approach targets both PD-1 and VEGF, which could offer a differentiated profile from existing monotherapies and combination therapies in NSCLC. The focus on patients without actionable genomic alterations, such as those without EGFR mutations or ALK rearrangements, addresses a significant unmet need in the NSCLC patient population.
The success of these trials could lead to rapid adoption in clinical practice, given the high burden of NSCLC and the limited efficacy of current treatments in certain patient subsets. However, it is important to consider the competitive landscape, as other bispecific antibodies and combination therapies are also in development. The safety profile of ivonescimab, in comparison to other therapies, will be a key determinant of its commercial success and impact on Summit Therapeutics' market valuation.
Analyzing the potential market impact of ivonescimab involves understanding the size of the NSCLC market and the positioning of this investigational therapy within it. As a Market Research Analyst, the data presented at the ELCC 2024 could significantly affect investor sentiment towards Summit Therapeutics. The advanced or metastatic NSCLC market is highly competitive, with a growing demand for novel treatments that provide better outcomes and fewer side effects. Ivonescimab's dual mechanism of action could position it favorably against competitors if the clinical benefits observed in Phase II studies translate into Phase III success.
Investors should note the strategic collaboration with Akeso Inc., which may influence the development and commercialization trajectory of ivonescimab. Additionally, the focus on two distinct NSCLC indications could allow Summit to capture a broader patient population. However, the long-term commercial potential will depend on several factors, including clinical trial outcomes, regulatory approvals, pricing strategy and the ability to secure reimbursement in key markets. The upcoming data presentations could provide early indicators of these factors, influencing Summit's stock performance in the short to medium term.
Two Poster Presentations Will Feature Updated Ivonescimab Data from the AK112-201 and AK112-202 Phase II Studies in Advanced or Metastatic NSCLC Patient Populations
Posters to be Presented by Dr. Li Zhang and Dr. Jack West on Friday, March 22 in
The first poster, “Intracranial Activity of Ivonescimab Alone or in Combination with Platinum Doublet Chemotherapy in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) and Brain Metastases” includes data from patients with asymptomatic brain metastases at baseline. These patients were enrolled in either AK112-202 (NCT04900363), in which ivonescimab is delivered as monotherapy, or AK112-201 (NCT04736823), in which ivonescimab is delivered in combination with platinum doublet chemotherapy, both of which are Phase II clinical trials for patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC.
The second poster titled, “Phase 2 Results of Ivonescimab a Novel PD-1/VEGF Bispecific in Combination with Chemotherapy for First Line Treatment of Patients with Advanced / Metastatic Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer” includes updated data from the Phase II trial AK112-201 centered around the cohort of patients in which ivonescimab is combined with chemotherapy for first line treatment of advanced or metastatic NSCLC in patients without actionable genomic alterations (e.g., positive for endothelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations or anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)).
The posters will be presented by, amongst others, Dr. Li Zhang, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, and Dr. H. Jack West, Vice President of Clinical Development at Summit with data generated and analyzed by our collaboration and licensing partner, Akeso Inc. (HKEX Code: 9926.HK), with contribution by Summit staff.
Summit continues its clinical development of ivonescimab in order to establish its efficacy and safety in two NSCLC indications:
- HARMONi Phase III trial: ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated, locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous NSCLC who have progressed after treatment with a third-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)
- HARMONi-3 Phase III trial: ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy in first-line metastatic squamous NSCLC patients
About the ELCC 2024 Posters
Poster Title: Phase 2 Results of Ivonescimab a Novel PD-1/VEGF Bispecific in Combination with Chemotherapy for First Line Treatment of Patients with Advanced / Metastatic Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
ELCC Presentation No.: 68P
Session Date & Time: Friday, March 22, 12:00 to 12:45pm CET
Poster Title: Intracranial Activity of Ivonescimab Alone or in Combination with Platinum Doublet Chemotherapy in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Brain Metastases
ELCC Presentation No.: 174P
Session Date & Time: Friday, March 22, 12:00 to 12:45pm CET
About Ivonescimab
Ivonescimab, known as SMT112 in Summit’s license territories,
This could differentiate ivonescimab as there is potentially higher expression (presence) of both PD-1 and VEGF in tumor tissue and the tumor microenvironment (TME) as compared to normal tissue in the body. Ivonescimab’s tetravalent structure (four binding sites) enables higher avidity (accumulated strength of multiple binding interactions) in the tumor microenvironment with over 18-fold increased binding affinity to PD-1 in the presence of VEGF in vitro, and over 4-times increased binding affinity to VEGF in the presence of PD-1 in vitro (Zhong, et al, SITC, 2023). This tetravalent structure, the intentional novel design of the molecule, and bringing these two targets into a single bispecific antibody with cooperative binding qualities have the potential to direct ivonescimab to the tumor tissue versus healthy tissue. The intent of this design is to improve upon previously established efficacy thresholds, in addition to side effects and safety profiles associated with these targets.
Ivonescimab was discovered by Akeso Inc. (HKEX Code: 9926.HK) and is currently engaged in multiple Phase III clinical trials. Over 1,600 patients have been treated with ivonescimab in clinical studies globally. Summit has begun its clinical development of ivonescimab in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), commencing enrollment in 2023 in two Phase III clinical trials.
Ivonescimab is an investigational therapy that is not approved by any regulatory authority.
About Summit Therapeutics
Summit was founded in 2003 and our shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market (symbol ‘SMMT’). We are headquartered in
Summit’s mission, in part, is to develop patient, physician, caregiver, and societal-friendly medicinal therapies intended to improve quality of life, increase potential duration of life, and resolve serious unmet medical needs.
For more information, please visit https://www.smmttx.com and follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @summitplc.
Summit Forward-looking Statements
Any statements in this press release about the Company’s future expectations, plans and prospects, including but not limited to, statements about the clinical and preclinical development of the Company’s product candidates, entry into and actions related to the Company’s partnership with Akeso Inc., the Company's anticipated spending and cash runway, the therapeutic potential of the Company’s product candidates, the potential commercialization of the Company’s product candidates, the timing of initiation, completion and availability of data from clinical trials, the potential submission of applications for marketing approvals, potential acquisitions, and other statements containing the words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "target," "would," and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including the results of our evaluation of the underlying data in connection with the development and commercialization activities for ivonescimab, the outcome of discussions with regulatory authorities, including the Food and Drug Administration, the uncertainties inherent in the initiation of future clinical trials, availability and timing of data from ongoing and future clinical trials, the results of such trials, and their success, and global public health crises, that may affect timing and status of our clinical trials and operations, whether preliminary results from a clinical trial will be predictive of the final results of that trial or whether results of early clinical trials or preclinical studies will be indicative of the results of later clinical trials, whether business development opportunities to expand the Company’s pipeline of drug candidates, including without limitation, through potential acquisitions of, and/or collaborations with, other entities occur, expectations for regulatory approvals, laws and regulations affecting government contracts and funding awards, availability of funding sufficient for the Company’s foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements and other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of filings that the Company makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any change to our ongoing trials could cause delays, affect our future expenses, and add uncertainty to our commercialization efforts, as well as to affect the likelihood of the successful completion of clinical development of ivonescimab. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. In addition, any forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company’s views only as of the date of this release and should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any subsequent date. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements included in this press release.
Appendix: Glossary of Critical Terms Contained Herein
Affinity – Affinity is the strength of binding of a molecule, such as a protein or antibody, to another molecule, such as a ligand.
Avidity – Avidity is the accumulated strength of multiple binding interactions.
Angiogenesis – Angiogenesis is the development, formation, and maintenance of blood vessel structures. Without sufficient blood flow, tissue may experience hypoxia (insufficient oxygen) or lack of nutrition, which may cause cell death.i
Cooperative binding – Cooperative binding occurs when the number of binding sites on the molecule that can be occupied by a specific ligand (e.g., protein) is impacted by the ligand’s concentration. For example, this can be due to an affinity for the ligand that depends on the amount of ligand bound or the binding strength of the molecule to one ligand based on the concentration of another ligand, increasing the chance of another ligand binding to the compound.ii
Immunotherapy – Immunotherapy is a type of treatment, including cancer treatments, that help a person’s immune system fight cancer. Examples include anti-PD-1 therapies.iii
Intracranial – Within the cranium or skull.
PD-1 – Programmed cell Death protein 1 is a protein on the surface of T cells and other cells. PD-1 plays a key role in reducing the regulation of ineffective or harmful immune responses and maintaining immune tolerance. However, with respect to cancer tumor cells, PD-1 can act as a stopping mechanism (a brake or checkpoint) by binding to PD-L1 ligands that exist on tumor cells and preventing the T cells from targeting cancerous tumor cells.iv
PD-L1 – Programmed cell Death Ligand 1 is expressed by cancerous tumor cells as an adaptive immune mechanism to escape anti-tumor responses, thus believed to suppress the immune system’s response to the presence of cancer cells. v
PD-L1 TPS – PD-L1 Tumor Proportion Score represents the percentage of tumor cells that express PD-L1 proteins.
PFS – Progression-Free Survival.
SQ-NSCLC – Non-small cell lung cancer tumors of squamous histology.
T Cells – T cells are a type of white blood cell that is a component of the immune system that, in general, fights against infection and harmful cells like tumor cells.vi
Tetravalent – A tetravalent molecule has four binding sites or regions.
Tumor Microenvironment – The tumor microenvironment is the ecosystem that surrounds a tumor inside the body. It includes immune cells, the extracellular matrix, blood vessels and other cells, like fibroblasts. A tumor and its microenvironment constantly interact and influence each other, either positively or negatively.vii
VEGF – Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor is a signaling protein that promotes angiogenesis.viii
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i Shibuya M. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Its Receptor (VEGFR) Signaling in Angiogenesis: A Crucial Target for Anti- and Pro-Angiogenic Therapies. Genes Cancer. 2011 Dec;2(12):1097-105.
ii Stefan MI, Le Novère N. Cooperative binding. PLoS Comput Biol. 2013;9(6)
iii US National Cancer Institute, a part of the National Institute of Health (NIH). https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/immunotherapy. Accessed October 2023.
iv Han Y, et al. PD-1/PD-L1 Pathway: Current Researches in Cancer. Am J Cancer Res. 2020 Mar 1;10(3):727-742.
v Han Y, et al. PD-1/PD-L1 Pathway: Current Researches in Cancer. Am J Cancer Res. 2020 Mar 1;10(3):727-742.
vi Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24630-t-cells. Accessed October 2023.
vii MD Anderson Cancer Center. https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/what-is-the-tumor-microenvironment-3-things-to-know.h00-159460056.html. Accessed October 2023.
viii Shibuya M. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Its Receptor (VEGFR) Signaling in Angiogenesis: A Crucial Target for Anti- and Pro-Angiogenic Therapies. Genes Cancer. 2011 Dec;2(12):1097-105.
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Contact Summit Investor Relations:
Dave Gancarz
Chief Business & Strategy Officer
Nathan LiaBraaten
Senior Director, Investor Relations
Source: Summit Therapeutics Inc.
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