Sponsor: Glenn J. Hanna (other)
Phase: 2
Start date: Feb. 26, 2025
Planned enrollment: 35
Ivonescimab (AK112; SMT112) is a tetravalent bispecific antibody that targets PD‑1 and VEGF. It has completed multiple phase 3 studies in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In China, ivonescimab received marketing authorization in May 2024 for use with chemotherapy in EGFR‑mutated, nonsquamous NSCLC after EGFR‑TKI therapy, and in April 2025 as first‑line monotherapy for PD‑L1–positive NSCLC; it remains investigational in the United States and other Summit Therapeutics territories. (akesobio.com)
Ivonescimab binds PD‑1 and VEGF simultaneously and exhibits “cooperative binding,” increasing affinity to one target in the presence of the other, which enhances blockade of both PD‑1/PD‑L1 and VEGF/VEGFR signaling. The Fc region is engineered to reduce effector functions. These properties are proposed to increase activity in the tumor microenvironment while maintaining a favorable safety profile. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
First‑line PD‑L1–positive (TPS ≥1%) advanced NSCLC (HARMONi‑2, randomized, double‑blind, phase 3, China): Ivonescimab monotherapy significantly improved progression‑free survival (PFS) vs pembrolizumab at interim analysis (median PFS 11.1 vs 5.8 months; HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.38–0.69; P<0.0001). Results were consistent in PD‑L1 TPS 1–49% (HR 0.54) and TPS ≥50% (HR 0.48) subgroups. Objective response rate (ORR) was higher with ivonescimab (50.0% vs 38.5%) in the WCLC late‑breaking presentation. (thelancet.com)
Post‑EGFR‑TKI, EGFR‑mutated nonsquamous NSCLC (HARMONi‑A, randomized, double‑blind, phase 3, China): Adding ivonescimab to carboplatin/pemetrexed significantly improved PFS vs chemotherapy alone (median 7.1 vs 4.8 months; HR 0.46, 95% CI 0.34–0.62). ORR was 50.6% vs 35.4%. Benefits were observed across key subgroups, including those previously treated with third‑generation EGFR‑TKIs and those with brain metastases. Primary HARMONi (global MRCT) subsequently confirmed a clinically meaningful PFS benefit (HR 0.52; median PFS 6.8 vs 4.4 months) with consistent effects across regions. (ascopubs.org)
Phase 2 (first‑line advanced/metastatic NSCLC without EGFR/ALK alterations): Ivonescimab plus platinum doublet chemotherapy produced ORR 75% in squamous and 55% in nonsquamous cohorts, with durable responses in an open‑label multi‑center study. (ascopubs.org)
In HARMONi‑2, grade ≥3 treatment‑related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred in 29% with ivonescimab vs 16% with pembrolizumab; the most common high‑grade TRAE with ivonescimab was hypertension (5%). Rates of grade ≥3 immune‑related AEs were similar (7% vs 8%). (ascopost.com)
In HARMONi‑A, grade ≥3 treatment‑emergent AEs were 61.5% with ivonescimab plus chemotherapy vs 49.1% with chemotherapy (largely chemotherapy‑related). Grade ≥3 immune‑related AEs were 6.2% vs 2.5%; grade ≥3 VEGF‑related AEs were 3.1% vs 2.5%. (ascopubs.org)
Overall, the safety profile reflects expected immune‑checkpoint and anti‑VEGF class effects (e.g., immune‑related AEs, hypertension/proteinuria), with manageable toxicity in randomized studies. (ascopost.com)
Notes on regulatory status: Ivonescimab is approved in China (EGFR‑mutant post‑TKI in May 2024; first‑line PD‑L1–positive in April 2025) and is investigational elsewhere. Ongoing global development includes additional registrational studies. (akesobio.com)
Last updated: Oct 2025
Goal: Evaluate the antitumor activity and safety of ivonescimab in patients with advanced, unresectable, recurrent, or metastatic salivary gland carcinomas.
Patients: Adults (≥18 years) with histologically confirmed salivary gland carcinoma of any subtype, including adenoid cystic carcinoma, with measurable non-CNS disease and radiographic or symptomatic progression within the prior 12 months. ECOG 0–1 and adequate hematologic, hepatic, renal, coagulation, and urine protein parameters required. Prior systemic therapies for recurrent/metastatic disease are allowed except prior PD-1 inhibitors or oral VEGFR TKIs. Key exclusions include active CNS metastases, uncontrolled comorbidities, significant autoimmune disease requiring >10 mg prednisone equivalent, high-risk bleeding or thromboembolic history, poorly controlled hypertension, recent major surgery or serious trauma, and radiologic evidence of major vessel invasion or intratumoral cavitation.
Design: Phase 2, open-label, non-randomized, two-cohort study with a Simon two-stage design per cohort (adenoid cystic carcinoma and non–adenoid cystic salivary gland carcinoma). Approximately 35 total participants. Imaging every 9 weeks during treatment, with follow-up every 12 weeks after end of treatment.
Treatments: Ivonescimab administered on Day 1 of 21-day cycles until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Ivonescimab (AK112/SMT112) is a first-in-class bispecific tetravalent antibody targeting PD-1 and VEGF, designed to enhance cooperative binding in the presence of both targets, thereby inhibiting tumor angiogenesis while reducing immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. Early-phase data across solid tumors have shown manageable safety and objective responses; in NSCLC, a phase 3 study reported improved progression-free survival versus pembrolizumab in PD-L1–positive disease, and the agent has regulatory approval in China for certain EGFR-mutated NSCLC settings. The safety profile includes immune-related events and VEGF pathway toxicities; hypertension and rash are among the more common adverse events, with grade ≥3 events occurring in a minority of patients in early studies.
Outcomes: Primary endpoint: objective response rate by RECIST v1.1. Secondary endpoints: progression-free survival, overall survival, duration of response (overall and by cohort), and safety/tolerability per CTCAE v5.0.
Burden on patient: Moderate. Participation requires clinic visits every 21 days for infusions, laboratory monitoring, and toxicity assessments, plus cross-sectional imaging every 9 weeks. Screening and on-study procedures include blood and urine tests and may include tumor biopsies if feasible. While there are no intensive pharmacokinetic schedules described, the imaging frequency and potential biopsies, along with travel for regular infusions over potentially prolonged treatment, contribute to a moderate overall burden.
Last updated: Oct 2025
Inclusion Criteria:
* Participants must have histologically confirmed salivary gland carcinoma (any histologic subtype, including ACC) with evidence of recurrent, metastatic, or advanced, unresectable disease.
* Willing to provide tumor tissue from a diagnostic biopsy or prior surgery if deemed safe and feasible by the investigator.
* Age 18 years or older at the time of consent. There is no upper age limit restriction in an effort to include patients across the lifespan.
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-1.
* Participant must have organ and marrow function as defined below within 14 days prior to study registration:
* Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1000/mcL
* Hemoglobin ≥8.5 g/dL (with no blood transfusions within 7 days of start of therapy)
* Platelets ≥100,000/mcL
* Liver function:
* Serum total bilirubin (T-bili) ≤1.5× upper limit of normal (ULN); for patients with liver metastases or confirmed/suspected Gilbert syndrome, T-bili ≤3× ULN
* Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤2.5× ULN; for patients with liver metastases, AST and ALT ≤5× ULN
* Creatinine Within normal limits, or Creatinine clearance (CrCl) ≥50 mL/min using the Cockcroft-Gault formula or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) value ≥50 mL/min using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation (adjustment by BSA is not required for eGFR)
* Urine protein: Urine protein \<2+ or 24-hour urine protein quantification \<1.0 g
* Coagulation:prothrombin time (PT) or international normalized ratio (INR) ≤1.5× ULN, and partial prothrombin time (PTT) or activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) ≤1.5× ULN (unless abnormalities are unrelated to coagulopathy or coagulation)
* Participants must have documentation of a new or progressive lesion on a radiologic imaging study performed within 12 months prior to study registration (progression of disease over any interval is allowed) and/or new or worsening disease-related symptoms within 12 months prior to study registration. This assessment is performed by the treating investigator. Evidence of progression by RECIST v1.1 criteria is not required.
* Participants must have at least one RECIST v1.1 measurable non-CNS based lesion, as defined as at least one lesion that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest diameter to be recorded for non-nodal lesions and short axis for nodal lesions) ≥1 cm with CT scans or MR imaging.
* Prior systemic therapy: At least 2 weeks must have elapsed since the end of prior chemotherapy, biological agents (3 weeks for anti-cancer monoclonal antibody containing regimens) or any investigational drug product, with adequate recovery of treatment-related toxicity to NCI CTCAE Version 5.0 grade ≤1 (or tolerable grade 2) or back to baseline (except for alopecia or neuropathy). Any number of prior therapies for recurrent/metastatic SGC are permitted except receipt of a prior oral VEGFR TKI or anti-PD-1 therapy; but prior therapy for recurrent/metastatic SGC is not required for participation.
* Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.
* Female subjects of childbearing potential should have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test within 14 days of study registration. Female subjects of childbearing potential should have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test repeated within 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of study medication.
* Female patient of childbearing potential having sex with an unsterilized male partner must agree to use a highly effective method of contraception from the beginning of screening until 120 days after the last dose of the Ivonescimab.
* Unsterilized male patient having sex with a female partner of childbearing potential must agree to use an effective method of contraception from the beginning of screening until Day 120 after the last dose of Ivonescimab.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Participant has known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis. Subjects with previously treated brain metastases may participate provided they are stable (without evidence of progression by imaging for at least four weeks prior to the first dose of trial treatment) and have no evidence of new or enlarging brain metastases.
* Concurrent administration of other cancer specific therapy or investigational agents during the course of this study is not allowed.
* Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including but not limited to ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, or cardiac arrhythmia.
* Pregnant or lactating women as the effects of the investigational therapy (ivonescimab) on the developing human fetus are unknown.
* Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment. Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has undergone potentially curative therapy or in situ cervical cancer, and low- risk prostate adenocarcinoma being managed with active surveillance. A history of another separate malignancy in remission without evidence of active disease in the last 2 years is permitted.
* Existing significant autoimmune conditions. Patients with a history of Hashimoto thyroiditis who are stable on replacement hormone therapy are not excluded. Patients cannot be on long-term (\>4 weeks) corticosteroids at doses exceeding prednisone 10 mg daily (or its equivalent).
* Major surgical procedures or serious trauma within 4 weeks prior to starting therapy or plans for major surgical procedures within 4 weeks after the first dose (as determined by the investigator). Minor local procedures (excluding central venous catheterization and port implantation) are permitted.
* History of bleeding tendencies or coagulopathy and/or clinically significant bleeding symptoms or risk within 4 weeks prior to the start of therapy, including but not limited to:
* a. Gastrointestinal bleeding
* b. Hemoptysis (defined as coughing up ≥0.5 teaspoon of fresh blood or small blood clots). Note: transient hemoptysis associated with diagnostic bronchoscopy is allowed.
* c. Significant nasal bleeding/epistaxis (bloody nasal discharge is allowed)
* d. Need for therapeutic anticoagulant therapy within 14 days prior to the start of therapy.
* Current hypertension with systolic blood pressure ≥150 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥100 mmHg after oral antihypertensive therapy.
* History of major diseases , specifically:
* a. Unstable angina, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association \[NYHA\] classification ≥ grade 2) or vascular disease (eg, aortic aneurysm at risk of rupture) that required hospitalization within 12 months prior to randomization, or other cardiac impairment that may affect the safety evaluation of the study drug (eg, poorly controlled arrhythmias, myocardial ischemia)
* b. History of esophageal gastric varices, severe ulcers, wounds that do not heal, abdominal fistula, intra-abdominal abscesses, or acute gastrointestinal bleeding within 6 months before randomization
* c. History of arterial thromboembolic event, venous thromboembolic event of Grade 3 and above as specified in National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) 5.0, transient ischemic attack, cerebrovascular accident, hypertensive crisis, or hypertensive encephalopathy within 6 months prior to randomization
* d. Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease within 4 weeks before randomization
* e. History of perforation of the gastrointestinal tract and/or fistula, history of gastrointestinal obstruction (including incomplete intestinal obstruction requiring parenteral nutrition), extensive bowel resection (partial colectomy or extensive small bowel resection) within 6 months prior to randomization
* Imaging during the screening period shows that the patient has:
* a. Radiologically documented evidence of major blood vessel invasion or encasement by cancer (per the judgment of the treatment investigator)
* b. Radiographic evidence of intratumor cavitation (per the judgment of the treating investigator)
Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
[email protected] / 617-632-3090
Status: Recruiting
Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
[email protected] / 617-632-3090
Status: Recruiting