“Integrity breaches can take many forms, from competition manipulation to bribery or unethical behaviour by accredited individuals,” Deleonardis explained. “Should criminal elements be involved, we will work with the Italian authorities,…
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Phase II Data of Cadonilimab Regimen as Neoadjuvant Therapy for Resectable Gastric Cancer Presented at ESMO Asia 2025
HONG KONG, Dec. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Akeso, Inc. (9926.HK) (“Akeso” or the “Company”) announced that data from the Phase II study (COMPASSION-25) for its first-in-class PD-1/CTLA-4 bispecific antibody, cadonilimab, in combination with SOX regimen (oxaliplatin + tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil) as neoadjuvant therapy for resectable gastric or gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) adenocarcinoma, was presented at the 2025 ESMO Asia Congress.
Currently, Akeso is running the pivotal Phase III study (AK104-310/COMPASSION-33) investigating cadonilimab combined with the SOX regimen for perioperative treatment of resectable G/GEJ adenocarcinoma. This regimen is expected to further push the efficacy boundaries beyond existing single-target immunotherapies and establish a new standard for perioperative immunotherapy in gastric cancer.
Promising Pathologic Complete Response (pCR) Rate
Among all evaluable patients, the overall pCR rate was 28.6%. Notably, in patients receiving the cadonilimab Q3W dosing regimen, the pCR rate reached 50.0%. pCR, defined as the absence of viable tumor cells in both the primary tumor site and regional lymph nodes upon surgical resection, is considered the “gold standard” surrogate endpoint for evaluating neoadjuvant treatment efficacy and predicting long-term survival benefits.
High Rate of Major Pathologic Response (MPR)
The overall MPR rate (defined as ≤10% residual viable tumor cells) across all evaluable patients was 71.4%. For the cadonilimab Q3W regimen, the MPR rate was as high as 85.7%. This suggests that the cadonilimab-based regimen induces substantial tumor regression in the majority of patients.
100% R0 Resection Rate
All patients who underwent surgery achieved an R0 resection (microscopically margin-negative resection), providing a solid foundation for curative intent and potentially reducing the risk of recurrence.
Significant Tumor Downstaging
Among all evaluable patients, 85.7% achieved downstaging of the primary tumor (ypT), and 75.0% achieved nodal downstaging (ypN). These results confirm the efficacy of the cadonilimab regimen in reducing tumor burden and lowering the pathological stage, thereby improving the conditions for successful surgical intervention.
Manageable Safety Profile with Good Tolerability
Treatment-related adverse events were consistent with the known safety profiles of the SOX regimen and immune checkpoint inhibitors. No new or unexpected safety signals were observed, indicating an overall manageable and favorable safety profile.
In perioperative treatment of resectable G/GEJ adenocarcinoma, chemotherapy remains the standard therapy for locally advanced gastric cancer. However, chemotherapy has limited efficacy. Cadonilimab, the first PD-1/CTLA-4 bispecific antibody, works by synergistically activating the immune system, achieving a dual blockade of the tumor immune suppressive microenvironment. This mechanism provides a stronger anti-tumor effect compared to PD-1/L1 monotherapies.
Currently, cadonilimab’s clinical value in gastric cancer is scientifically well-established. Beyond its ongoing phase III clinical trial in the perioperative setting, cadonilimab combined with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer (with survival benefits across the PD-L1 expression levels) has been approved for commercialization in China. Additionally, a pivotal phase III trial exploring cadonilimab in combination with pulocimab (VEGFR-2) for immune therapy-resistant advanced gastric cancer is currently ongoing and is expected to offer a new therapeutic option for later-line gastric cancer. Collectively, these pivotal phase III studies will expand the use of cadonilimab, paving the way for a comprehensive gastric cancer treatment options that spans from advanced, unresectable gastric cancer to early-stage, resectable disease.
Forward-Looking Statement of Akeso, Inc.
This announcement by Akeso, Inc. (9926.HK, “Akeso”) contains “forward-looking statements”. These statements reflect the current beliefs and expectations of Akeso’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. These statements are not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any decision to purchase securities of Akeso. There can be no assurance that the drug candidate(s) indicated in this announcement or Akeso’s other pipeline candidates will obtain the required regulatory approvals or achieve commercial success. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in P.R.China, the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; Akeso’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the Akeso’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.
Akeso does not undertake any obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, except as required by law.
About Akeso
Akeso (HKEX: 9926.HK) is a leading biopharmaceutical company committed to the research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of the world’s first or best-in-class innovative biological medicines. Founded in 2012, the company has created a unique integrated R&D innovation system with the comprehensive end-to-end drug development platform (ACE Platform) and bi-specific antibody drug development technology (Tetrabody) as the core, a GMP-compliant manufacturing system and a commercialization system with an advanced operation mode, and has gradually developed into a globally competitive biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative solutions. With fully integrated multi-functional platform, Akeso is internally working on a robust pipeline of over 50 innovative assets in the fields of cancer, autoimmune disease, inflammation, metabolic disease and other major diseases. Among them, 26 candidates have entered clinical trials (including 15 bispecific/multispecific antibodies and bispecific ADCs. Additionally, 7 new drugs are commercially available. Through efficient and breakthrough R&D innovation, Akeso always integrates superior global resources, develops the first-in-class and best-in-class new drugs, provides affordable therapeutic antibodies for patients worldwide, and continuously creates more commercial and social values to become a global leading biopharmaceutical enterprise.
SOURCE Akeso, Inc.
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Attack kills six Pakistani soldiers, raises tension with Afghanistan | News
It comes as tension simmers along the border, threatening shaky truce between Islamabad and Kabul.
Published On 9 Dec 2025
An attack on a security checkpoint in northwest Pakistan has killed…
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IMF approves $1.2 billion for Pakistan from bailout, citing progress on economic and climate reforms
ISLAMABAD (AP) — The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday approved the release of $1.2 billion to Pakistan, giving the cash-strapped country a fresh boost as it works to recover from one of its worst…
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Characterization of drug resistance patterns, mutation profiles and pr
Introduction
Tuberculosis (TB), caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, remains a major global health challenge and is now the leading cause of mortality from infectious diseases worldwide.1 According to the World Health Organization…
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Airbus fosters Callebaut deforestation-free supply
Toulouse, France, 09 December 2025 – Airbus Defence and Space supports global chocolate and cocoa manufacturer Barry Callebaut, with satellite-based deforestation monitoring across Barry Callebaut`s entire cocoa supply chain using the space imagery-enabled Starling solution. This collaboration supports Barry Callebaut’s efforts to develop a deforestation-free supply chain and includes a comprehensive risk assessment throughout the chocolate manufacturer`s global operations.
“Beyond being a trusted, data-driven solution provider, Airbus is a strategic partner for Barry Callebaut in monitoring deforestation risks,” said Juliette Cody, Director for Global Sustainability Programs at Barry Callebaut. “The insights provided by Starling have become a cornerstone of our strategy to advance our forest positive commitments.”
Eric Even, Head of Space Digital at Airbus Defence and Space, said: “We are pleased to support Barry Callebaut through the Starling solution, providing optical satellite imagery at various resolutions ranging from 10m to Pléiades Neo’s 30cm resolution. With real eyes in the sky, satellite imagery empowers organisations to make informed decisions and maintain transparency across global supply chains.”
As part of its ‘Forever Chocolate’ programme, Barry Callebaut has made a strong commitment to sustainable sourcing. By integrating Starling, the cocoa and chocolate trader proactively monitors and seeks to mitigate environmental risks within and around cocoa farms, supporting both internal controls and compliance.
Starling automatically analyses Barry Callebaut’s supply chain to provide information about all cocoa plots. It produces global detailed land-cover maps that differentiate between natural forest, plantation, agroforestry, and other land types, reducing the number of false positive alerts. AI-powered algorithms continuously monitor changes in forest cover to spot any deforestation and conversion alerts that would be in breach with the company’s forest policy or regulations. In addition, Starling provides evidence verification based on high-resolution satellite imagery at the plot level, thus limiting the burden of field investigation along with fostering discussions with buyers and suppliers. Finally, the solution conducts risk assessments to identify areas at risk of future deforestation based on historical land use and practices.
By using Starling, Barry Callebaut gains reliable, up-to-date insights to engage its suppliers with the aim of meeting its sustainability commitments effectively.
Starling, launched in 2016 as a joint initiative between Airbus and Earthworm Foundation, is a geospatial solution designed to measure environmental impact across entire supply chains, supporting deforestation and conversion-free commitments. The initiative combines high-resolution satellite data with open-source Sentinel imagery and Airbus constellations, tracking vegetation-cover changes worldwide.
Evolution of cocoa plantations in Ecuador (March 2023 / May 2023 / August 2023) using Pléiades Neo 30cm resolution satellite imagery. @Pléiades Neo Airbus DS 2023
@BarryCallebaut @EarthwormFoundation
#Sustainability #Starling #PleiadesNeo #EarthObservation
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No signal? iPhone users in this country can now message via satellite (HT Tech)
Updated on: Dec 09, 2025 01:01 pm IST
iPhone users in Japan can now send messages even without a signal via Apple’s satellite connectivity. Here’s everything you need to know.
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Forget expensive supplements. Peanuts might be the new magic pill for your brain health and memory, say medical experts
A new research wave is challenging the premium health supplement industry with an unexpectedly humble contender: peanuts. A study from Maastricht University Medical Center in The Netherlands, published in the journal Clinical Nutrition, has…Continue Reading
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Lithium-Ion Battery Pack Prices Fall to $108 Per Kilowatt-Hour, Despite Rising Metal Prices: BloombergNEF
New York, December 9, 2025 – lithium-ion battery pack prices have dropped 8% since 2024 to a record low of $108 per kilowatt-hour, according to latest analysis by research provider BloombergNEF (BNEF). Continued cell manufacturing overcapacity, intense competition and the ongoing shift to lower-cost lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries helped drive down pack prices despite an increase in battery metal costs according to BNEF’s 2025 Lithium-Ion Battery Price Survey.
Battery metal prices increased in 2025, in part due to supply risks at certain Chinese lithium assets and new cobalt export quotas in the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, metal price increases did not translate to higher annual prices for cells or packs. The industry ultimately absorbed these shocks through greater LFP adoption, long-term contracts, and broader hedging strategies.
China has consistently produced more cells than are needed for domestic electric vehicle and stationary storage demand, creating intense competition among manufacturers. The effect has been most pronounced in the stationary storage sector, where many suppliers can serve the same projects. China’s dominance in LFP production has allowed its producers to meet nearly all global demand.
BNEF’s industry-leading battery price survey covers multiple battery end-uses, including different types of electric vehicles and stationary storage projects. Each sector typically requires different cells and packs to meet distinct performance metrics, leading to varied pricing dynamics across these use cases. Battery pack prices for stationary storage dropped to $70/kWh in 2025, 45% lower than in 2024. This is the sharpest drop across all segments, making stationary storage the lowest-priced segment for the first time. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) packs were the cheapest in the transport segment at $99/kWh – the second year that they were below the $100/kWh threshold.
Average LFP battery pack prices across all segments came in at $81/kWh while nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) packs were at $128/kWh. BNEF clients can find the full breakdown by chemistry, application and country here.
Evelina Stoikou, the head of BNEF’s battery technology team and lead author of the report, said: “Cut-throat competition is making batteries cheaper every year. This is an important moment for the industry, as record-low battery prices create an opportunity to lower EV costs and accelerate the deployment of grid-scale storage to support renewables integration around the world. ”
The report also covers regional differences in pricing. Average battery pack prices were lowest in China, at $84/kWh. Pack prices in the North America and Europe were 44% and 56% higher, reflecting higher local production costs and greater dependence on imported batteries, which typically have a premium compared to prices in China. The largest drop in pack prices was in China, down 13% in real terms from 2024, while North America and Europe saw declines of 4% and 8%, respectively. The drop in prices was higher in Europe than in North America due to the changing policy and tariff environment in the US. Many Chinese companies redirected their exports to European markets, where they adopted more aggressive pricing strategies to maintain global sales volumes and meet annual targets. This shift intensified price competition in Europe.
BNEF expects pack prices to decrease again in 2026, based on its near-term outlook, as raw material prices face upward pressure but adoption of low-cost LFP continues to spread. Over the longer term, ongoing investment in R&D, manufacturing efficiency and supply chain expansion is expected to support further technology improvements and cost reductions. Emerging technologies, including silicon and lithium metal anodes, solid-state electrolytes, new cathode materials and new cell manufacturing processes, are also set to play a key role in driving the next wave of price declines.
The full report provides insights on:
- Battery prices across chemistries, regions and segments
- Raw material and battery component price dynamics
- BNEF’s view of global prices in 2026 and beyond
- Key drivers behind price trends this decade
- Public statements and roadmaps from leading industry players
- Impact of tariffs and transport costs on battery prices
BloombergNEF clients can access the full report here.
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