On October 22, 2026 Summit Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: SMMT) reported that ivonescimab data will be featured in numerous presentations at the European Society for Medical Oncology 2026 Congress (ESMO 2026), taking place October 23-27, 2026, in Madrid, Spain.
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Across 10 presentations at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2026, ivonescimab data will span a broad range of tumor types, led by positive overall survival findings from Akeso Inc.’s Phase III HARMONi-GI1 study of ivonescimab plus chemotherapy compared to durvalumab plus chemotherapy in first-line advanced biliary tract cancer, which is selected as a Late-Breaking Abstract for the Presidential Symposium. HARMONi-GI1 is a multi-center, Phase III study conducted in China and sponsored by Akeso, with all relevant data exclusively generated, managed, and analyzed by Akeso. On October 21, Summit and ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group announced the initiation of the open-label Phase II/III EA2251 study, which plans to enroll patients in the U.S. who will be randomized to receive ivonescimab in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin, or pembrolizumab or durvalumab in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin as the established standard-of-care comparator regimen. Activation of clinical trial sites is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Additional data include findings from investigator-sponsored trials (ISTs). A rapid oral presentation and a proffered paper will feature ivonescimab-based regimens in first-line recurrent/metastatic thymic carcinoma and advanced renal cell carcinoma, respectively. The program also highlights emerging endometrial cancer (EC) data, alongside continued development in gastrointestinal cancers such as esophageal, gastric/GEJ, and pancreatic cancers; glioblastoma; and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
In a Phase II study in EC conducted at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, NY, ivonescimab monotherapy met the study’s primary endpoint for objective response rate with a manageable safety profile without new safety signals in previously treated patients with second-line and later EC. The strength of these results supported expansion of the IST led by Drs. Maria Rubinstein, MD, and Vicky Makker, MD, and provided a meaningful signal to inform opportunities for further development of ivonescimab in EC.
"The breadth of the ivonescimab data at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) underscores the expanding body of clinical evidence across a diverse range of tumor types and treatment settings," said Dr. Maky Zanganeh, President and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Summit Therapeutics. "Our ambition for ivonescimab extends beyond any single indication. We are focused on advancing a rigorous clinical development program to determine where this novel IO bispecific antibody could make a meaningful difference for patients. We look forward to engaging with the global oncology community on these data at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2026."
The ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2026 ivonescimab presentations are listed below by tumor type:
Biliary Tract Cancer
Presidential Symposium Presentation: Ivonescimab plus chemotherapy versus durvalumab plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment for advanced biliary tract cancer: a randomized, controlled, double-blinded, phase 3 trial (HARMONi-GI1)
Presidential Symposium II, Oct 25, 5:42-5:54 pm CET, Abstract #LBA8
Endometrial Cancer
Poster: A phase 2 study of ivonescimab (PD1/VEGF bispecific antibody) for the treatment of endometrial cancer (EC)
Abstract #1266P
Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Poster: Ivonescimab (AK112) plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment for advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A phase 2 single-arm study
Abstract #2908P
Gastric and GEJ Adenocarcinoma
Poster: AK112 (PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody) combined with low-dose radiotherapy and nab-paclitaxel as second-line therapy for advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: A prospective, multicenter, phase II study
Abstract #2898P
Glioblastoma
Poster: Ivonescimab combined with dose-dense temozolomide in recurrent glioblastoma: Preliminary results of efficacy and safety from a single-arm, phase Ib/II trial
Abstract #706P
Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Poster: Ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy as first-line treatment for patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A prospective, open-label, single-arm phase II study
Abstract #1676eTiP
Pancreatic Cancer
Poster: Neoadjuvant ivonescimab plus gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer: A prospective single-arm phase II trial
Abstract #3161P
Renal Cell Carcinoma
Oral Presentation: Efficacy and safety of AK112 (Ivonescimab), a PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody, as first-line treatment for patients with IMDC favorable-risk advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC): Results from a phase Ib/II study
Proffered Paper 2 Session: Genitourinary Tumours, Renal and Urothelial; Oct 25, 9:32-9:42 am CET, Abstract #3592O
Thymic Carcinoma
Rapid Oral Presentation: Ivonescimab plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment in recurrent/metastatic thymic carcinoma: Results from the iTHYM phase II study
Rapid Oral Session: Non-metastatic NSCLC and Other Thoracic Malignancies; Oct 26, 11:07-11:12 am CET, Abstract #4156RO
Poster: Ivonescimab plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment for advanced thymic carcinoma: Preliminary results from a phase II study with dynamic biomarker exploration
Abstract #2020eP
Ivonescimab is an investigational therapy that is not approved by any regulatory authority in Summit’s license territories, including the United States and Europe. Ivonescimab was initially approved for marketing authorization in China in May 2024.
About Ivonescimab
Ivonescimab, known as SMT112 in Summit’s license territories, North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Japan, and as AK112 outside of Summit’s license territories, is a novel, potential first-in-class investigational bispecific antibody combining the effects of immunotherapy via a blockade of PD-1 with the anti-angiogenesis effects associated with blocking VEGF into a single molecule. By design, ivonescimab displays unique cooperative binding to each of its intended targets with multifold higher affinity to PD-1 when in the presence of VEGF.
This design is intended to 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. Summit believes ivonescimab’s specifically engineered tetravalent structure (four binding sites) enables higher avidity (accumulated strength of multiple binding interactions) in the TME (Zhong, et al, iScience, 2025). 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 ivonescimab’s design, together with a half-life of 6 to 7 days after the first dose (Zhong, et al, iScience, 2025) increasing to approximately 10 days at steady state dosing, is to improve upon previously established efficacy thresholds, side effects, and safety profiles associated with prior approved drugs to these targets.
Ivonescimab was invented by Akeso Inc. (HKEX Code: 9926.HK) and is currently utilized in multiple Phase III clinical trials. Over 5,000 patients have been treated with ivonescimab in clinical studies globally and over 100,000 patients when considering those treated in a commercial setting in China, as noted by Akeso.
There are currently 17 Phase III clinical studies that are either announced, ongoing, or have been completed studying ivonescimab, five of which are Summit-sponsored global studies, two of which are studies sponsored by cooperative groups, and 10 of which are being or have been conducted in China by Akeso. Summit began its clinical development of ivonescimab in NSCLC and expanded its sponsored Phase III clinical development program into colorectal cancer (CRC) and urothelial carcinoma (bladder cancer).
(Press release, Summit Therapeutics, OCT 22, 2026, View Source [SID1234673689])