[Edaily Reporter Kim Seung-kwon ] Medical artificial intelligence (AI) company Lunit Inc.(328130)announced on the 26th that it has entered into a research collaboration with Summit Therapeutics (hereinafter “Summit”), a biotech company listed on the U.S. Nasdaq, to conduct AI-based biomarker research for the development of the next-generation immuno-oncology drug “ivonescimab.”

This collaboration was initiated to analyze the tumor microenvironment (TME) using AI during Summit’s ongoing research and development of ivonescimab, with the goal of identifying biomarkers that can be utilized in new drug development.

This collaboration is particularly significant given that AstraZeneca recently announced a strategic equity investment of $2 billion (approximately 2.7 trillion won) in Summit and revealed plans to pursue a global development project combining ivonescimab with its own antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), with Lunit Inc. providing AI technology for the ivonescimab research.

Summit is a biotech company specializing in cancer treatment, founded in 2003 and headquartered in Miami, Florida. Summit’s ibonesimab is a first-in-class bispecific antibody that simultaneously targets PD-1 (programmed cell death protein-1) and VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor); it is a new drug candidate that combines immune checkpoint inhibition and anti-angiogenic effects into a single antibody.

Summit has acquired the development and commercialization rights for Ibonesimab in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Japan from Akeso, the Chinese company that originally developed the drug, and is leading its global development. To date, Ibonesimab has yielded positive results in all five Phase 3 clinical trials for which data have been released. In particular, at the World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC 2026) held last September, it demonstrated superiority by statistically significantly improving overall survival (OS) compared to Keytruda (pembrolizumab), the current standard of care immunotherapy, in patients with PD-L1-positive non-small cell lung cancer.

Under this collaboration, Summit will apply Lunit Inc.’s AI biomarker platform, “Lunit Scope IO,” to the ibonesimab development program. Lunit Inc. will use Lunit Scope IO to analyze characteristics of the tumor microenvironment—such as the distribution of cancer cells and immune cells, stromal structure, and spatial interactions between cells—in H&E-stained tissue slides. A key advantage is the ability to perform large-scale analysis using only existing tissue slides, without the need for additional staining or separate tests.

The two companies plan to utilize AI-based pathological analysis for AI-driven biomarker discovery, stratification of patient groups expected to benefit from treatment, and gaining a biological understanding of treatment responses to ivonesimab. The results will be incorporated into future translational research, exploratory biomarker strategies, and clinical development plans.

Seo Beom-seok, CEO of Lunit Inc., stated, “It is highly significant that Summit, a leader in the development of next-generation immuno-oncology drugs, is utilizing Lunit Inc.’s AI technology for its ivonesimab research,” adding “By quantitatively analyzing the characteristics of the tumor microenvironment through Lunit Inc. Scope IO and supporting biomarker research related to treatment response, we will expand the potential applications of AI pathology technology in the global new drug development field.”

Allen Yang, Summit’s Chief Research and Development Strategy Officer, said, “As immuno-oncology drugs evolve toward more complex mechanisms of action and combination therapies, understanding the tumor microenvironment is becoming increasingly important,” adding, “Through our collaboration with Lunit Inc., we will continue to explore ways in which AI technology can contribute to the development of ibonesimab.”

Meanwhile, ibonesimab is currently undergoing Phase 3 clinical trials for various cancer types, including non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, bile duct cancer, bladder cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, head and neck cancer, colorectal cancer, and pancreatic cancer. In particular, for the global Phase 3 clinical trial targeting patients with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer, the company is seeking marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by the end of this year.