With a clinical win in the Phase III COMPASSION-15 trial in gastric/gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, Akeso's PD-1/CTLA-4-targeting agent is well positioned to expand its label beyond second- or third-line use for cervical cancer, and appears to stack up well against big global competitors. The Chinese firm is also aiming the bispecific antibody at hepatocellular and lung cancers.

Strong sales growth and licensing activity in 2023 helped multiple Chinese biotechs to a solid profit performance, some moving into the black for the first time.

US FDA approves the PD-1 inhibitor 20 months after user fee goal, resolving one of the last applications delayed by China’s extended pandemic travel restrictions.

The PharmaMar subsidiary is the latest group to crash in a notoriously hard-to-treat disease, leaving Bausch + Lomb more firmly in command of the field.