AKESO (09926) shares opened more than 4% higher on Thursday, before paring gains to trade up 0.83% at HK$91.05, with turnover reaching HK$302 million.

According to the company's official WeChat account, at the 2026 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) hosted by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), the company announced highly positive overall survival (OS) results from its randomized, double-blind, controlled, multicenter, registrational Phase III clinical study (HARMONi-2/AK112-303). The study evaluated its first-in-class tumor immunotherapy 2.0 cornerstone drug, ivonescimab (brand name: 依达方®), versus pembrolizumab as first-line treatment for patients with PD-L1-positive (PD-L1 TPS ≥ 1%) locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

The findings were selected as a Late-Breaking Abstract (LBA) for oral presentation and were also included in the official WCLC press program. To date, ivonescimab has achieved dual positive OS and progression-free survival (PFS) results in multiple Phase III head-to-head trials against PD-1/L1 therapies, and its development is expanding into major solid tumor indications beyond lung cancer.

Where the momentum stands

The positive readout underscores AKESO's competitive edge in the PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody space, with the data potentially strengthening the drug's position in the global NSCLC treatment landscape. The company continues to advance its clinical pipeline across multiple indications, with further milestones expected as ongoing trials mature.

Why this clinical win matters

The HARMONi-2 trial is among the few head-to-head studies to show an OS benefit over pembrolizumab, a widely used PD-1 inhibitor, in this patient population. The WCLC presentation highlights the growing acceptance of ivonescimab as a potential new standard of care, while the company's expansion into other solid tumors could unlock additional market opportunities beyond lung cancer.