# Akeso 2026 Interim Results: Strong Commercialization Momentum; IO2.0+ Global Strategy Redefining Clinical Standards; Bispecific Advancement in ADC, I&I and Alzheimer's

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/pr-news/akeso-2026-interim-results-strong-commercialization-momentum-io2-0-global-strategy-redefining-clinical-standards-bispecific-advancement-in-adc-ii-and-alzheimers
- Published: 2026-08-28T09:44:00+07:00
- Author: PR Newswire

HONG KONG, Aug. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Akeso, Inc. (9926.HK) ("Akeso" or the "Company")
announced its 2026 interim results. During the reporting period, the Company achieved
record-high drug sales revenue, further advanced its global immuno-oncology (IO)
2.0 strategy, progressively built its IO2.0 + ADC2.0 therapeutic matrix, and continued
orderly development of bispecific antibodies in major chronic disease areas, including
autoimmune, respiratory, and central nervous system (CNS) disorders

**Commercialization Reaches Record High**

Commercial sales revenue for the first half of 2026 reached approximately **RMB 
1,803.2 million**, representing a 28.7% increase year-over-year. As of the reporting
date, the Company’s total cash and cash equivalents, together with other short-term
financial assets, stood at **RMB 9,160.0 million**.

By the end of 2025, all 12 indications across the Company’s five self-commercialized
innovative drugs had been included in China’s National Reimbursement Drug List (
NRDL). These include two non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) indications for ivonescimab(
PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody) and three cervical and gastric cancer indications
for cadonilimab (PD-1/CTLA-4 bispecific antibody). NRDL inclusion has significantly
expanded market coverage and patient access.

In August 2026, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approved ivonescimab
in combination with chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of advanced squamous
non-small cell lung cancer (sq-NSCLC), providing a new growth driver for commercialization.

Since the beginning of 2026, the Company has continued to strengthen its commercialization
capabilities, with steady progress in market access, coverage, and penetration. 
These efforts lay a solid foundation for the sustained release of innovative drug
value in the second half of the year and beyond.

**IO2.0 Global Strategy Advances **

Following the approvals of ivonescimab and cadonilimab – two first-in-class immuno-
oncology (IO) cornerstone therapies – Akeso has continued to advance the Company’s
global IO2.0+ strategy. The Company is building a bispecific antibody-based IO therapeutic
matrix designed to treat multiple tumor types through combining different types 
of therapy.

**Biliary tract cancer:** In August 2026, the Phase III clinical study of ivonescimab
plus chemotherapy versus durvalumab plus chemotherapy for the first-line treatment
of advanced biliary tract cancer met its primary endpoint of overall survival (OS),
demonstrating clinically meaningful and statistically significant OS benefit. This
regimen represents a major advancement in first-line treatment of biliary tract 
cancer.

**Squamous NSCLC:** In August 2026, ivonescimab plus chemotherapy received NMPA 
approval for first-line treatment of sq-NSCLC. Based on the HARMONi-6 study, this
is the first regimen to achieve dual positive OS and progression-free survival (
PFS) results versus a PD-1 monoclonal antibody plus chemotherapy in a randomized,
double-blind Phase III trial. Ivonescimab combination therapy marks a significant
advance in first-line sq-NSCLC treatment.

**EGFR-TKI-resistant NSCLC:** In July 2026, an updated analysis of the global multicenter
Phase III HARMONi study demonstrated continued OS improvement (HR = 0.76). The OS
hazard ratio in Western patients was also 0.76, highly consistent with the China-
conducted HARMONi-A study (HR = 0.74, P = 0.02). The Biologics License Application(
BLA) for this indication is currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(
FDA). The HARMONi-A study is the first immuno-oncology trial globally to achieve
dual positive OS and PFS results with both clinical benefit and statistical significance
in this setting. Ivonescimab combination therapy represents a major advancement 
in the treatment of EGFR-TKI-resistant non-squamous NSCLC.

**PD-L1-positive NSCLC: **In the HARMONi-2 study, ivonescimab became the first therapy
globally to demonstrate positive results versus pembrolizumab in a Phase III trial,
establishing a new benchmark in first-line treatment of PD-L1-positive NSCLC.

**Cadonilimab:** Cadonilimab continues to advance across multiple indications, including
gastric cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Key programs include an international
multicenter Phase III study of cadonilimab plus chemotherapy versus nivolumab plus
chemotherapy for first-line treatment of gastric/gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ)
adenocarcinoma, a perioperative Phase II study in collaboration with Memorial Sloan
Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), and an international multicenter registrational
study of cadonilimab plus lenvatinib in HCC patients who progressed after prior 
atezolizumab plus bevacizumab.

As cornerstone agents of global IO2.0, ivonescimab and cadonilimab are establishing
a combination therapy ecosystem through novel mechanisms, with the potential to 
elevate the standard of care across multiple tumor types. Ivonescimab is currently
being evaluated in combination trials with Revolution Medicines’ RAS(ON) inhibitor,
ARCUS Biosciences’ HIF-2α inhibitor, Virogin Biotech’s VG201 oncolytic virus, and
TransThera Biosciences’ tinengotinib, spanning NSCLC, pancreatic cancer, colorectal
cancer, clear cell renal cell carcinoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Cadonilimab
is advancing multi-pathway combination strategies, including combinations with small
molecules such as axitinib and tinengotinib in renal and liver cancers, as well 
as collaborations with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Mass General Brigham
to evaluate cadonilimab in combination with INOVIO’s DNA medicine INO-5412 in glioblastoma(
GBM).

Ivonescimab is currently being evaluated in more than 17 registrational Phase II/
III studies, including seven global registrational trials and 8 studies that use
standard-of-care regimens as active comparators. These programs encompass 8 registrational/
Phase III studies in lung cancer, as well as first-line MSS/pMMR colorectal cancer,
first-line PD-L1-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (in combination 
with CD47 antibody versus pembrolizumab), first-line biliary tract cancer (versus
a durvalumab-based regimen), first-line triple-negative breast cancer, first-line
pancreatic cancer, and first-line urothelial cancer (versus pembrolizumab plus a
Nectin-4 ADC).

Cadonilimab is being evaluated in more than 13 registrational/Phase III clinical
studies covering major cancer types, including gastric cancer, HCC, lung cancer,
cervical cancer, pancreatic cancer, and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Two 
of these are international multicenter registrational studies.

**IO2.0 + ADC2.0 Therapeutic Matrix**

Akeso is the only company globally with two approved immuno-oncology bispecific 
antibodies and is actively exploring combination therapies of ivonescimab and cadonilimab
with both proprietary and partnered antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).

The Company has developed a series of next-generation ADCs designed to address the
narrow therapeutic window associated with the safety limitations of existing ADC
therapies. Among these, the innovative TROP2/Nectin-4 bispecific ADC AK146D1, next-
generation HER3 ADC AK138D1, next-generation B7H3 ADC AK157D1, and bispecific ADC
AK158D1 have successively entered clinical development.

Multiple Phase II studies evaluating AK146D1 in combination with ivonescimab in 
NSCLC, breast cancer, and urothelial cancer, as well as AK138D1 in combination with
ivonescimab in lung and breast cancers, are underway, with a focus on first-line
treatment of various solid tumors.

In parallel, ivonescimab has entered combination therapy collaborations with high-
potential ADCs from domestic and international partners, including Pfizer, GSK, 
Biokin, and MediLink. These collaborations cover agents such as EGFR/HER3 bispecific
ADC, TROP2/HER3 bispecific ADC, B7H3 ADC, FGFR2b ADC, TROP2 ADC, and Nectin-4 ADC
across high-incidence malignancies.

Looking further ahead, the Company’s frontier programs continue to push additional
new therapies into the clinic. The global first-in-class trispecific antibody AK150(
ILT2/ILT4/CSF1R) has entered clinical development, with additional trispecific antibodies
and T-cell engager (TCE) bispecific/multispecific candidates expected to enter the
clinic in the next year.

**Entering the Bispecific Era in Immunology, CNS, and Respiratory Diseases**

In autoimmune, respiratory, and CNS diseases, Akeso is leveraging its expertise 
in bispecific and multispecific antibody development, with strategic momentum steadily
building. A series of internally-developed novel candidates, including AK139, a 
bispecific antibody for Immunology & Inflammation that targets IL-4R and ST2, and
AK152, a bispecific amyloid-beta + brain shuttle antibody for the treatment of Alzheimer’s
disease have entered or are preparing to enter clinical development. These programs
form a complementary pipeline alongside the Company’s already marketed non-oncology
products: ebronucimab (PCSK9), ebdarokimab (IL-12/IL-23), gumokimab (IL-17), and
manfidokimab (IL-4Rα).

**AI-Empowered Future Innovation Competitiveness**

Akeso has adopted the use of AI in its R&D efforts for the past few years. The Company
is further expanding the implementation of AI in many new scientific directions 
and therapeutic platforms.

Developed on Akeso’s AI-driven drug discovery platform, AK139, an IL-4Rα/ST2 bispecific
antibody, has advanced into 7 Phase II trials across respiratory and autoimmune 
indications. AK150, an ILT2/ILT4/CSF1R trispecific antibody, is in Phase I development.
AK154, a personalized mRNA cancer vaccine that leverages AI-powered selection of
high-affinity immunogenic mutations to create precision oncology therapies. A Phase
I study of AK154 as monotherapy or in combination with cadonilimab or ivonescimab
as adjuvant therapy in pancreatic cancer is currently ongoing.

**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, Akeso has built a comprehensive
R&D innovation ecosystem anchored by its proprietary Tetrabody antibody technology
platform, AI-powered drug R&D platform, Dual-Shield ADC technology platform, Dual-
Lock T-cell engager (TCE) technology platform, Tissue-Smart siRNA/mRNA technology
platform, and cell therapy technology platforms.

Backed by world-class GMP manufacturing facilities and a highly efficient, integrated
commercialization system, Akeso has developed into a globally competitive biopharmaceutical
enterprise. Leveraging its fully integrated, multi-functional platform, the company
maintains a robust pipeline of more than 50 innovative assets targeting cancer, 
autoimmune diseases, inflammation, metabolic disorders, and other major therapeutic
areas. Of these, nearly 30 candidates have advanced into clinical trials, including
15 bispecific or multispecific antibodies and bispecific ADCs. Eight innovative 
drugs are commercially available, and two additional drugs with three indications
are currently under regulatory review for marketing approval.

Akeso is committed to becoming a global leader in biopharmaceuticals through efficient
and breakthrough innovation in R&D, developing novel therapies that are first-in-
class or best-in-class, and providing better disease solutions for patients around
the world.

**Forward-Looking Statements**

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 the 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.

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