Akeso's ivonescimab outperforms Western cancer treatments

Chinese drug maker Akeso has announced promising results for its new cancer drug, ivonescimab, which outperformed the leading Western drug pembrolizumab in clinical trials. Patients using ivonescimab experienced a median progression-free survival of 11.1 months, compared to 5.8 months for pembrolizumab. This development is seen as a significant milestone for China's biotech industry, referred to as the "DeepSeek moment." Akeso's success highlights China's advancements in drug development, moving from a five-year lag behind the US to a three-year lead in the PD-1 inhibitor field. Akeso, founded in 2012, has gained attention after presenting its findings at a recent conference. The company has also partnered with US firm Summit Therapeutics for the global commercialization of ivonescimab in a deal worth $5 billion.