World · China · published 2026-08-27 · via South China Morning Post

Chinese biotech's cancer drug shows survival edge over AstraZeneca's in late-stage trial

Chinese biopharmaceutical firm Akeso said its immunotherapy drug ivonescimab extended survival compared with AstraZeneca's Imfinzi in a phase 3 trial for advanced biliary tract cancer. The study enrolled 682 patients and is the first positive phase 3 result for the drug in gastrointestinal tumours. Akeso has not yet released specific survival data, which it plans to present at an upcoming conference.

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The trial enrolled 682 patients with advanced biliary tract cancer, a malignancy with a five-year survival rate below 5 per cent. Ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy was tested directly against AstraZeneca's durvalumab plus chemotherapy, with the Chinese drug demonstrating a survival benefit. This marks the first positive late-stage result for ivonescimab in gastrointestinal cancers, suggesting the therapy may have broader applications beyond the lung cancer indications where it has already shown promise.

Akeso disclosed the outcome through a Hong Kong stock exchange filing, released one day before the company

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This summary is Al-enhanced to contain extended analysis and broader social context. The original is {NAME); the linked article is the authoritative source. Original headline: “China’s Akeso says cancer drug beat AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi in phase 3 trial.” Browse more stories.