AstraZeneca has completed its $2 billion equity investment in Summit Therapeutics, a move aimed at accelerating development of ivonescimab, a first-in-class bispecific antibody targeting PD-1 and VEGF.

 

The companies are advancing ivonescimab in combination with antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) across multiple tumour types, expanding the potential scope of the cancer treatment.

 

Under a previously announced clinical collaboration, AstraZeneca and Summit will also evaluate sonesitatug vedotin (Sone-Ve) in combination with ivonescimab. The companies plan to enter into a further agreement to launch a global development programme combining ivonescimab with other AstraZeneca cancer medicines, including additional ADCs.

 

The push comes as AstraZeneca, Daiichi Sankyo and Summit broaden their collaboration. In a separate agreement, AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo agreed to a clinical collaboration with Summit to evaluate Datroway (datopotamab deruxtecan) alongside ivonescimab across multiple tumour types, including lung and breast cancers.