The National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) on August 12 approved Ivonescimab (依达方®), developed by Zhongshan-based company Akeso Inc, in combination with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It marked Ivonescimab's third approved lung cancer indication in China.

Ivonescimab, the world's first PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody, can simultaneously block immune checkpoint and angiogenesis pathways, synergistically enhancing both immunotherapy and anti-angiogenic therapy.

In a 532-patient trial, Ivonescimab plus chemotherapy outperformed the current standard (PD-1 antibody plus chemotherapy) across all endpoints in a head-to-head comparison.

Published in The Lancet and selected as a plenary presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, the trial marks the first time a Chinese-originated drug has received such honor in ASCO's 61-year history, signaling that China's innovative pharmaceutical sector has arrived on the global stage.

Experts say the regimen directly revises the first-line standard for squamous lung cancer, especially offering new hope to patients with limited options. Approval in China first means Chinese patients with advanced squamous NSCLC are among the first globally to benefit.