Summit Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: SMMT) and GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) entered into a clinical‑trial collaboration on January 12, 2026 to evaluate Summit’s bispecific antibody ivonescimab in combination with GSK’s B7‑H3 antibody‑drug conjugate, risvutatug rezetecan, across several solid‑tumor indications, including small‑cell lung cancer.
Under the agreement Summit will supply ivonescimab while GSK will manage day‑to‑day clinical operations. Both companies retain rights to their respective products, and the partnership is non‑exclusive, allowing each party to pursue other collaborations independently.
The deal is designed to accelerate ivonescimab’s development and broaden its application beyond Summit’s current NSCLC and colorectal programs. By leveraging GSK’s clinical‑operations expertise, Summit can reduce the financial burden of running multiple Phase III trials and potentially unlock new revenue streams from combination therapy sales.
Ivonescimab is a first‑in‑class bispecific antibody that simultaneously blocks PD‑1 and VEGF, aiming to enhance anti‑tumor immunity while inhibiting angiogenesis. GSK’s risvutatug rezetecan targets B7‑H3, a protein overexpressed in many solid tumors, delivering a cytotoxic payload directly to cancer cells. The dual‑mechanism approach is expected to produce synergistic anti‑tumor activity in the targeted indications.
Regulatory progress supports the partnership’s momentum: Summit submitted a Biologics License Application for ivonescimab in combination with chemotherapy for EGFR‑mutated NSCLC in the fourth quarter of 2025, and the drug received Fast Track designation for the HARMONi clinical‑trial setting. The collaboration builds on this regulatory trajectory and positions the combination for accelerated development.
Summit Co‑CEOs Robert W. Duggan and Dr. Maky Zanganeh emphasized the strategic value of the partnership, stating that exploring new mechanisms and combinations “has the potential to surpass current options for patients and physicians.” Their comments underscore Summit’s confidence in the clinical and commercial potential of the combined therapy.
The oncology market is highly competitive, and the trend toward multi‑targeted combination therapies is accelerating. GSK’s recent acquisition of risvutatug rezetecan from Hansoh Pharma and its broader oncology rebuilding strategy align with this trend, giving the partnership a strong platform for future growth.
With patient dosing expected to begin in mid‑2026, the collaboration could generate early clinical data that informs later‑stage trials and provides a foundation for future licensing or commercialization agreements. The partnership also reduces Summit’s reliance on a single asset, diversifying its pipeline and mitigating risk.
Overall, the Summit–GSK collaboration represents a significant strategic shift that could enhance Summit’s competitive position in oncology, accelerate the development of a promising bispecific antibody, and open new revenue opportunities in multiple solid‑tumor indications.
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