HONG KONG, Aug 27, 2026
Akeso, Inc. announced its 2026 interim results, reporting record commercial drug sales while advancing a broad pipeline of innovative bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), multispecific antibodies and AI-enabled drug candidates. During the first half of 2026, the biopharmaceutical company continued to strengthen its global immuno-oncology strategy while expanding development programs across cancer, autoimmune, respiratory and central nervous system (CNS) diseases. The company said its progress reflects continued momentum across commercialization, clinical development and innovative therapeutic platforms.
Record Commercial Growth and Market Expansion
Akeso reported approximately RMB 1.803 billion in commercial sales revenue for the first half of 2026, representing a 28.7% year-over-year increase. Its cash and cash equivalents, together with other short-term financial assets, totaled approximately RMB 9.16 billion at the reporting date. The company also highlighted continued expansion of patient access through China’s National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL). By the end of 2025, all 12 indications across its five self-commercialized innovative medicines had been included in the NRDL, covering therapies such as ivonescimab, a PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody, and cadonilimab, a PD-1/CTLA-4 bispecific antibody. In August 2026, China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approved ivonescimab in combination with chemotherapy for first-line treatment of advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer (sq-NSCLC), providing an additional commercialization opportunity for the company.
Bispecific Antibodies Drive Oncology Strategy
Akeso is continuing to build its IO2.0+ global immuno-oncology strategy, with ivonescimab and cadonilimab serving as key components of its bispecific antibody portfolio. In August 2026, a Phase III study of ivonescimab plus chemotherapy in advanced biliary tract cancer achieved its primary overall survival endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful overall survival benefit. Meanwhile, the HARMONi-6 study supported the NMPA approval of ivonescimab plus chemotherapy in first-line sq-NSCLC, with the company reporting positive overall survival and progression-free survival results compared with a PD-1 monoclonal antibody plus chemotherapy. Updated Phase III HARMONi data in EGFR-TKI-resistant NSCLC also showed continued overall survival improvement, while the corresponding U.S. FDA BLA remains under review. Cadonilimab is similarly progressing through registrational and Phase III programs across gastric cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, lung cancer, cervical cancer, pancreatic cancer and other malignancies.
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ADC Pipeline and New Therapeutic Areas
Beyond its established bispecific antibodies, Akeso is developing an IO2.0 + ADC2.0 therapeutic matrix designed to combine immuno-oncology medicines with next-generation ADC technologies. Its clinical-stage ADC portfolio includes AK146D1, a TROP2/Nectin-4 bispecific ADC; AK138D1, a HER3 ADC; AK157D1, a B7-H3 ADC; and AK158D1, a bispecific ADC. Multiple Phase II studies are evaluating these candidates in combination with ivonescimab across lung, breast and urothelial cancers. The company is also pursuing collaborations involving ADC candidates from pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners, extending combination strategies across several tumor types. Akeso is simultaneously expanding beyond oncology into immunology, inflammation, respiratory disease and CNS disorders. Novel candidates include AK139, an IL-4R/ST2 bispecific antibody, and AK152, an amyloid-beta plus brain-shuttle bispecific antibody being developed for Alzheimer’s disease. The company is also advancing AK150, an ILT2/ILT4/CSF1R trispecific antibody, and AK154, an AI-enabled personalized mRNA cancer vaccine being evaluated in pancreatic cancer. According to Akeso, its pipeline contains more than 50 innovative assets, with nearly 30 candidates having entered clinical trials.
Source: Akeso press relese
