AKESO Inc. Highlights Breakthrough Results in Biliary Tract Cancer and Expands AI‑Driven Research Collaboration
AKESO Inc. (HKEX: 9926.HK), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to drug discovery and development, announced a significant milestone at the 2026 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Madrid, Spain. The company presented the results of the Phase III HARMONi‑GI1 trial, which evaluated the combination of its first‑in‑class bispecific antibody ivonescimab with chemotherapy against durvalumab plus chemotherapy in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC).
HARMONi‑GI1 Trial Success
The randomized, controlled, double‑blind, multicenter study met its primary endpoint of overall survival (OS) in a prespecified interim analysis reviewed by an Independent Data Monitoring Committee. Patients receiving ivonescimab plus chemotherapy achieved a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in OS compared with the control arm. The trial also met all key secondary endpoints, including progression‑free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR). Because of these compelling findings, HARMONi‑GI1 was selected as a Late‑Breaking Abstract (LBA) for oral presentation and will be showcased in a plenary session of the conference.
This development positions ivonescimab as a promising therapeutic option for first‑line treatment of BTC, a disease with limited effective treatments. The positive results reinforce AKESO’s strategy of leveraging its bispecific antibody platform to target multiple pathways involved in tumor progression and immune evasion.
AI‑Powered Tumor Microenvironment Analysis
In parallel, AKESO announced a research agreement with Lunit Inc. (KRX: 328130) and Summit Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: SMMT) to apply Lunit’s SCOPE IO platform for tumor microenvironment (TME) analysis. The collaboration will use AI‑powered pathology to examine hematoxylin and eosin‑stained whole‑slide images, generating scalable insights into TME biology. By integrating AI‑derived biomarkers, the partnership aims to support patient stratification, biomarker discovery, and a deeper understanding of response to ivonescimab therapies across multiple solid tumor indications.
The initiative reflects AKESO’s commitment to incorporating advanced digital pathology tools into its drug development pipeline, potentially accelerating the translation of clinical findings into actionable therapeutic strategies.
Market Context
On October 23, 2026, the Hang Seng Index (HSI) closed at 23,093, up 0.7%, while the Hang Seng Technology Index (HSTI) finished higher by 2.0%. Market turnover reached $249.78 billion. Among the most active constituents, XIAOMI, TENCENT, and BABA exhibited notable gains. While these broader market movements do not directly influence AKESO’s operations, they provide a backdrop for the company’s performance and investor sentiment within the Hong Kong market.
Company Profile
AKESO Inc. specializes in target validation, antibody drug discovery and development, CMC production process development, and GMP‑compliant production. With a market capitalization of 81.5 billion HKD and a close price of 86.6 HKD on 2026‑10‑22, the company has positioned itself as a key player in the biopharmaceutical sector, particularly within oncology therapeutics.
