Summit Therapeutics opens Phase 2 kidney cancer trial

• Summit Therapeutics announced the initiation of its Phase 2 SMT112-216 study of ivonescimab in previously untreated advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).
• The randomized study plans to enroll approximately 100 patients across the United States and China, evaluating ivonescimab alone and in combination with other cancer therapies.
• Summit and partner Akeso are expanding ivonescimab research beyond lung cancer, including kidney cancer treatment combinations and other solid tumors.

Summit Therapeutics (NASDAQ:SMMT) announced the opening of a Phase 2 kidney cancer trial evaluating ivonescimab-based treatments in approximately 100 patients across two countries.

The study will compare ivonescimab alone and in combinations against nivolumab plus ipilimumab, an established treatment regimen for advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

“In collaboration with Akeso, SMT112-216 reflects an important part of our shared strategy to evaluate ivonescimab across multiple treatment approaches,” said Summit Chairman and Co-CEO Robert W. Duggan.

The randomized, open-label trial will evaluate ivonescimab with cadonilimab or ipilimumab, alongside monotherapy, at clinical sites in the United States and China.

Summit expects the study to inform future kidney cancer development decisions.

Ivonescimab is an investigational antibody targeting PD-1 and VEGF, two pathways involved in immune responses and blood vessel development around tumors.

Summit licensed ivonescimab from Akeso in 2023 and separately partnered with Arcus Biosciences to study ivonescimab alongside casdatifan in kidney cancer.