# Ivonescimab reduced the risk of death in patients with squamous non-small cell lung cancer by 34% compared to a standard treatment.

*biotech · news · 2026-05-31 · STAT*

## Key points

- Ivonescimab reduced the risk of death by 34% in squamous non-small cell lung cancer patients.
- The pivotal clinical trial for Ivonescimab was conducted entirely in China by Akeso Therapeutics.
- Summit Therapeutics is developing Ivonescimab outside China following these trial results.
- The trial results were unveiled at ASCO and simultaneously published in The Lancet.

CHICAGO — Ivonescimab, a drug that combines the activity of two of the best-selling cancer medicines, reduced the risk of death in patients with squamous non-small cell lung cancer by 34% compared to a standard treatment in a clinical trial conducted entirely in China by the drug’s developer, Akeso Therapeutics, according to data presented Sunday. The result, oncologists say, exceeded their expectations, and it appears it could generate optimism for the drug, which is being developed outside China by Summit Therapeutics. But the data also are likely to fuel debate on issues like the role of China in drug development and the future of cancer treatments. The results were presented here at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and are being published simultaneously in The Lancet. Robert Duggan, Summit’s co-CEO and chairman, said that the data mean the company has “a very valuable business with a very valuable product that is in its early stages.” Akeso had no comment for this story.

**Companies:** Summit Therapeutics, Akeso Therapeutics
**Countries:** China

[Read the full story on STAT](https://www.statnews.com/2026/05/31/squamous-cell-lung-cancer-akeso-summit-harmoni-asco-2026/)

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