# Lunit and Summit Therapeutics Announce Agreement to Apply AI-powered SCOPE IO Platform for Tumor Microenvironment Analysis in Immuno-Oncology Development

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/pr-news/lunit-and-summit-therapeutics-announce-agreement-to-apply-ai-powered-scope-io-platform-for-tumor-microenvironment-analysis-in-immuno-oncology-development
- Published: 2026-10-24T08:26:00+07:00
- Author: PR Newswire

_Research Will Use Lunit’s AI-powered Pathology Platform to Analyze H&E Whole-Slide
Images and Generate Scalable Insights into Tumor Microenvironment Biology_

SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Lunit Inc. (KRX: 328130) and Summit
Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: SMMT) today announced a research agreement to evaluate
the use of Lunit SCOPE IO, Lunit’s AI-powered pathology platform, for tumor microenvironment
analysis in support of Summit’s immuno-oncology development programs with ivonescimab.

 [⌊Lunit and Summit Therapeutics⌉](https://mmx.prnasia.com/media/MS2020010/20261023193744EDT_image_1.jpg?id=OA3037624&p=medium600)

Lunit and Summit Therapeutics

The effort will focus on applying Lunit SCOPE IO to hematoxylin and eosin-stained(
H&E) whole-slide images to characterize tumor microenvironment features. The companies
aim to explore how AI-powered pathology analysis can support biomarker discovery,
patient stratification or selection, and a deeper biological understanding of response
to ivonescimab therapies.

Summit is developing ivonescimab, a novel, potential first-in-class investigational
PD-1 / VEGF bispecific antibody, in several solid tumors. Lunit SCOPE IO is designed
to support immuno-oncology research and biomarker development through AI-powered
analysis of H&E slides, enabling scalable assessment of tumor microenvironment features
without requiring additional stains or assays.

"Understanding the tumor microenvironment is increasingly important as immuno-oncology
moves beyond single-axis checkpoint inhibition toward more complex mechanisms and
combinations," said Allen Yang, MD, PhD, Chief Research and Development Strategy
Officer of Summit. "We are pleased to work with Lunit to explore how AI-powered 
pathology can help generate deeper, more scalable insights from routine tissue samples
and inform the continued development of ivonescimab."

"Summit is at the forefront of next-generation immuno-oncology development, and 
we are excited to support its efforts with Lunit SCOPE IO," said Brandon Suh, Lunit
CEO. "By extracting quantitative, spatially resolved immune and tumor microenvironment
features from standard H&E slides, we believe SCOPE IO can help biopharma partners
better understand which patients may benefit from immuno-oncology therapies and 
why."

This agreement reflects the growing importance of computational pathology in oncology
drug development. Routine H&E slides contain rich information about tumor architecture,
immune infiltration, stromal organization, and spatial interactions within the tumor
microenvironment. However, traditional manual assessment can be difficult to scale
and may not fully capture the quantitative and spatial complexity of the tumor-immune
interface. AI-powered analysis offers the potential to convert these routinely generated
pathology images into reproducible, high-dimensional biomarker data.

The companies expect the work to generate tumor microenvironment insights that may
inform future translational research, exploratory biomarker strategies, and clinical
development planning. No clinical outcome data are being announced as part of this
release.

 _*Lunit SCOPE products are for research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures
or decisions._

**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 (HARMONi, HARMONi-3, HARMONi-7) and expanded
its sponsored Phase III clinical development program into colorectal cancer (CRC;
HARMONi-GI3) and urothelial carcinoma (bladder cancer; HARMONi-GU1). The two cooperative
studies are in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC; ILLUMINE) and biliary
tract cancer (BTC; EA2251).

Five Phase III ivonescimab clinical trials have read out to date, all five with 
positive data. Four of these five studies are in NSCLC and one is in BTC. In addition
to Summit’s positive HARMONi study in NSCLC, Akeso has had positive read-outs in
four single-region (China), randomized Phase III clinical trials, HARMONi-A, HARMONi-
2, HARMONi-6 (each in NSCLC), and HARMONi-GI1 (in BTC) for ivonescimab, including
a statistically significant overall survival benefit in all four studies from China.

Akeso is actively conducting additional Phase III clinical studies in settings outside
of NSCLC and biliary-tract cancer, including triple-negative breast cancer, head
and neck squamous cell carcinoma, small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and
pancreatic cancer.

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** **Lunit**

Founded in 2013, Lunit (KRX: 328130) is a global leader on a mission to conquer 
cancer through AI. Our clinically validated solutions span medical imaging, breast
health, and biomarker analysis, empowering earlier detection, smarter treatment 
decisions, and more precise outcomes across the cancer care continuum.

Lunit offers a comprehensive suite spanning risk prediction and early detection 
to precision oncology. Our FDA-cleared Lunit INSIGHT Breast Suite and breast health
solutions support cancer screening in thousands of medical institutions worldwide,
while the Lunit SCOPE platform is used in research partnership with global pharma
and laboratory leaders for biomarker research, and companion diagnostic development.

Trusted by over 10,000 sites in more than 65 countries, Lunit combines deep medical
expertise with continuously evolving datasets to deliver measurable impact for patients,
clinicians, and researchers alike. Headquartered in Seoul with global offices, Lunit
is driving the worldwide fight against cancer. Learn more at [lunit.io](https://www.lunit.io/en/).

**About Summit Therapeutics Inc.**

Summit Therapeutics Inc. is a biopharmaceutical oncology company focused on the 
discovery, development, and commercialization of 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.

Summit was founded in 2003 and the company’s shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global
Market (symbol "SMMT"). Summit is headquartered in Miami, Florida, with additional
offices in Palo Alto, California, Princeton, New Jersey, Dublin, Ireland, and Oxford,
UK.

For more information, please visit [https://www.smmttx.com](https://www.smmttx.com/)
and follow Summit on X @SMMT_TX.

**Lunit Forward-Looking Statements**

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding
the expected benefits of the collaboration, the potential use of AI-powered pathology
in immuno-oncology development, and the potential application of tumor microenvironment
analysis in biomarker research and clinical development. These statements are based
on current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially. Neither company undertakes any obligation to update
these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

**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 dilution to existing
stockholders and potential adverse effects on the market price of the Company’s 
common stock, including from future sales by AstraZeneca, the Company’s broad discretion
over the use of proceeds, and the possibility that the proceeds will not be sufficient
to fund operations as long as anticipated, AstraZeneca’s ownership and contractual
rights, including Third Party acquisition participation, and registration rights,
and potential conflicts of interest, the completion of the Private Placement does
not depend on the parties entering into a definitive collaboration agreement, the
Company’s reliance on AstraZeneca for the supply of AstraZeneca’s products and other
contributions to the clinical trials, the clinical and preclinical development of
the Company’s product candidates, entry into and actions related to the Company’s
partnership with Akeso Inc. and other collaborations, the intended use of the net
proceeds from the private placements, 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, the expected timing of BLA submissions 
or FDA decisions, potential acquisitions, statements about the previously disclosed
At-The-Market equity offering program ("ATM Program"), the expected proceeds and
uses thereof, the Company’s estimates regarding stock-based compensation, 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 Company’s ability to sell
shares of our common stock under the ATM Program, the conditions affecting the capital
markets, general economic, industry, or political conditions, including the effects
of geopolitical developments, domestic and foreign trade policies, and monetary 
policies, 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, 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" and "Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of filings that
the Company makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Summit defines a "
positive study" as a clinical study with one or more prespecified primary endpoints
in which one of those endpoints achieves a statistically significant benefit according
to the protocol or statistical analysis plan. 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.

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