Summit Therapeutics' Akeso cuts death risk by 34% in Chinese lung cancer trial presented at ASCO 2026

Summit Therapeutics reported at the ASCO 2026 meeting that its experimental drug Akeso lowered the risk of death by 34% for previously untreated lung cancer patients in China when compared with the standard regimen of immunotherapy plus chemotherapy.

The study enrolled Chinese patients with advanced disease and used overall survival as the primary endpoint. The 34% reduction reflects a statistically meaningful improvement over the control arm, suggesting that Akeso may offer a more effective treatment option for this patient population.

If these findings are confirmed in later-stage trials, Akeso could become a key competitor in the crowded immunotherapy market, potentially shaping future treatment guidelines and attracting further investment in the drug's development.