Akeso shows promise in cervical cancer with early cadonilimab data

Chinese biotech Akeso (HKEX: 9926) has reported encouraging early data from a Phase III trial of its bispecific antibody cadonilimab (AK104) in combination with chemoradiotherapy for patients with locally advanced cervical cancer.

The results, presented at the 2025 annual meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, come from the safety run-in phase of the COMPASSION-18 study. Cadonilimab is designed to block both PD-1 and CTLA-4 immune checkpoint pathways and is already approved in China for recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer following platinum-based chemotherapy.

The company said 100% of evaluable patients responded to treatment, with nearly 85% achieving a complete response. The 12-month progression-free survival rate was 75%. These results were achieved in a more difficult-to-treat population, including a higher proportion of patients with low PD-L1 expression and reduced performance status.