Breakthrough Study Reveals the Promising Efficacy of AkesoBio's 'PD-1/VEGF Bispecific Antibody' Yiwu Xi in Treating Brain Metastasis in NSCLC Patients

A groundbreaking study presented at the highly anticipated 2024 European Lung Cancer Congress (ELCC) has unveiled encouraging results regarding the efficacy of AkesoBio's "PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody," known as Ivonescimab, in the treatment of brain metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. This innovative therapy holds the potential to revolutionize the management of NSCLC patients with brain metastasis, offering a new and highly effective treatment option.

Brain metastasis is a significant challenge in NSCLC, characterized by a high incidence rate, poor prognosis, and short overall survival. Studies estimate that approximately 20% to 65% of lung cancer patients develop brain metastasis during the course of their illness, with an average survival time of only 1 to 2 months. Existing treatment options, such as small molecule targeted therapies, have demonstrated limited efficacy in controlling intracranial tumors due to the blood-brain barrier. Large-molecule drugs, including chemotherapy agents, have also faced challenges in effectively treating brain metastasis. Therefore, there is a substantial unmet clinical need for improved treatment strategies for NSCLC patients with brain metastasis.

The study focused on Ivonescimab's potential as a novel and highly efficient immunotherapy for brain metastasis in NSCLC patients. The analysis included 35 NSCLC patients with brain metastasis who received either Ivonescimab in combination with chemotherapy (AK112-201) or Ivonescimab monotherapy (AK112-202). The baseline assessment revealed that 51.4% of the patients expressed PD-L1. The median progression-free survival (PFS) for patients receiving Ivonescimab in the treatment of brain metastasis NSCLC was an impressive 19.3 months. These findings highlight the significant clinical potential of Ivonescimab in improving patient outcomes and survival rates.

The results demonstrated that Ivonescimab achieved a remarkable intracranial tumor control rate of 34% in all treated patients, irrespective of PD-L1 expression. Moreover, the median intracranial progression-free survival reached 19.3 months, exhibiting strong consistency in both intracranial and extracranial/overall RECIST evaluations. The combination therapy of Ivonescimab with chemotherapy showed a higher intracranial tumor control rate of 39% and a complete response rate of 25%. Ivonescimab monotherapy achieved an intracranial tumor control rate of 14%, with a complete response rate of 14%. Importantly, Ivonescimab demonstrated excellent safety profiles, with no reported intracranial hemorrhage in treated patients with brain metastasis.

The success of Ivonescimab has led to the submission of a new drug application (NDA) for NSCLC treatment by AkesoBio. The NDA is currently in the priority review phase. Additionally, six phase III clinical trials of Ivonescimab are underway globally. Ivonescimab, a PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody developed by AkesoBio using its unique Tetrabody technology, inhibits the binding of PD-1 to PD-L1 and PD-L2 while simultaneously blocking the binding of VEGF to its receptor. The combination of PD-1 blockade and VEGF inhibition has already demonstrated potent therapeutic efficacy in various tumor types, including non-small cell lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma.

The groundbreaking study on AkesoBio's "PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody" Ivonescimab has unveiled its remarkable potential as a highly effective treatment option for NSCLC patients with brain metastasis. The promising results, presented at the ELCC, highlight Ivonescimab's ability to control intracranial tumors and improve patient outcomes. With its unique mechanism of action and excellent safety profile, Ivonescimab represents a significant advancement in the field of immunotherapy for NSCLC. The ongoing clinical trials and the submission of the NDA underscore the commitment to bringing this innovative therapy to patients as quickly as possible, offering hope for a brighter future in the management of NSCLC with brain metastasis.