Summit counters PD-1/VEGF skeptics; Celldex drug fails skin disease study

An article from News roundup Summit counters PD-1/VEGF skeptics; Celldex drug fails skin disease study A new analysis could address some doubts investors have had about ivonescimab, one analyst said. Elsewhere, Gilead and Merck debuted data for a once-weekly HIV tablet. Published July 22, 2026 Ben Fidler Lead Editor Share Copy link Email LinkedIn X/Twitter Facebook Print License Add us on Google Today, a brief rundown of news involving Summit Therapeutics and Celldex Therapeutics, as well as updates from Gilead Sciences, Lupin and Jupiter Neuroscience that you may have missed. A new analysis from a global late-stage study of Summit Therapeutics and Akeso’s dual-acting cancer immunotherapy ivonescimab indicated that the drug’s effect on survival may have increased with time. In April 2025, Summit said that ivonescimab succeeded in the trial in second-line, EGFR-mutated lung cancer but that treatment was only associated with a “positive trend” on survival that missed statistical significance. With longer follow-up, that figure, which was initially a 21% reduction in death risk, has improved to 24%, nearly mirroring what was seen in a similar, China-only study. The results among drug recipients in China and Western countries were similar as well, Summit said. Investors have been skeptical as to whether ivonescimab’s results in China will be replicated in worldwide trials with broader populations. Wednesday’s result is “a strong counter to that pushback,” wrote Stifel analyst Dara Azar. A global study in front-line lung cancer is expected to read out later this year. A closely watched autoimmune drug from Celldex Therapeutics failed a mid-stage trial in a chronic skin condition and will be discontinued in that indication, the company said Tuesday. Celldex’s drug, barzolvolimab, missed all of its study objectives in patients with prurigo nodularis, a disease that causes itchy lumps to form on the skin. The ongoing trial is one of many evaluating barzolvolimab in diseases where depleting counts of “mast cells” is thought to be beneficial, and the most eagerly anticipated — a late-stage study in chronic spontaneous urticaria — should read out in September or October. Celldex stressed that no new safety issues were observed in Tuesday’s readout, and that finding “is the most relevant takeaway,” wrote Leerink Partners analyst Thomas Smith, who added that his team “remains bullish” ahead of the coming Phase 3 data. Celldex shares dipped about 5%. Gilead Sciences and Merck & Co. revealed detailed study data supporting a potential once-weekly HIV tablet. In June, the partners revealed, without specifics, that a combination of Merck’s islatravir and Gilead’s lenacapavir helped people who “switched” off of other treatments in two Phase 3 studies. At a medical meeting Wednesday, the companies disclosed that none of islatravir/lenacapavir recipients in those trials had detectable levels of HIV after 48 weeks of treatment, versus 0.3% of those on Gilead’s Biktarvy and 1.3% of people on standard antivirals. The combination's safety profile was comparable to other treatments, too, analysts at RBC Capital Markets wrote in a client note Tuesday. Still, the RBC team noted how the combination's success could backfire financially somewhat on Gilead, which splits profits to the treatment with Merck. Each patient switching off Biktarvy, which Gilead also sells, "represents a negative bottom-line impact for the company," they wrote. Gilead shares ticked down 3% Tuesday. India-based pharmaceutical company Lupin is spinning two cancer drug prospects into a new biotechnology startup it’ll majority own. That startup, Kaveri Therapeutics, will advance into global studies Lupin’s LNP7457 and LNP8701, both of which have produced Phase 1 data over the last year or so. Lupin will have an 82.2% stake in Kaveri and provide seed funding. Kaveri, meanwhile, will seek out additional financing for the coming studies. Jupiter Neuroscience has grabbed partial rights to an experimental psychedelic from Toronto-based drug developer PharmAla Biotech, the companies said Tuesday. The deal is centered around ALA-002, a version of MDMA specially formulated to lower the risk of abuse or cardiovascular problems. PharmAla is currently evaluating the treatment in social anxiety disorder and autism spectrum disorder. Jupiter is paying $3.33 million in cash and stock upfront for U.S. rights and could add another roughly $97 million in downstream payments should the drug hit certain milestones. Add us on Google Share Copy link Email LinkedIn X/Twitter Facebook Print License Filed Under: Biotech