Singapore, Aug. 24 -- Akeso has received clinical trial clearance from China's Center for Drug Evaluation for AK157D1, a next-generation antibody-drug conjugate targeting B7-H3.

The clearance allows the company to initiate a Phase I clinical trial in patients with advanced malignant solid tumours.

Akeso also plans to evaluate AK157D1 in combination with its bispecific antibodies ivonescimab and cadonilimab.

B7-H3 is expressed across a broad range of solid tumours while showing comparatively limited expression in normal tissues, making it an emerging target for antibody-drug conjugate development.

Tumour types associated with B7-H3 expression include non-small cell and small cell lung cancers, prostate cancer, oesophageal cancer, nasop...