Akeso, Inc (9926.HK) - a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of new innovative antibody drugs that are affordable to patients worldwide - today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track Designation for AK104, a novel anti-PD-1/CTLA-4 bi-specific antibody, as monotherapy for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cervical cancer who have disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. "The Fast Track Designation of AK104 is another significant milestone in the development of this innovative bispecific antibody. We are encouraged that the FDA recognizes the potential of AK104 to address a serious condition and fill an unmet medical need in patients whose cancer has unfortunately worsened despite standard of care chemotherapy," said Dr Michelle Xia, Chairman and CEO of Akeso. "We look forward with much optimism to continue working closely with the FDA to bring AK104 to cervical cancer patients earlier." About Fast Track Designation [1] Fast track is a process designed to facilitate the development, and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. The purpose is to get important new drugs to the patient earlier. Fast Track addresses a broad range of serious conditions. Once a drug receives Fast Track designation, early and frequent communication between the FDA and a drug company is encouraged throughout the entire drug development and review process. The frequency of communication assures that questions and issues are resolved quickly, often leading to earlier drug approval and access by patients. About AK104 AK104 is a potential next-generation, first-in-class humanized IgG1 tetrameric bi-specific antibody drug candidate that is developed in house by Akeso,Inc., is designed to achieve preferential binding to tumor infiltrating lymphocytes rather than normal peripheral tissue lymphocytes. Based on Akeso's proprietary "TETRABODY" technology, AK104 can simultaneously targets two immune checkpoint molecules: PD-1 and CTLA-4. AK104 is in a tetrameric form, which is designed to bind to PD-1 and CTLA-4 simultaneously and have so far displayed the efficacy of PD-1 and CTLA-4 combination blockade with lower toxicity. It is currently in Phase Ib/II and Phase II clinical trials in China and Australia for multiple indications. Information about Akeso, Inc The Company is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of innovative antibody drugs that are affordable to patients worldwide. Since the Company's establishment, the Company has established an comprehensive end-to-end drug development platform (ACE Platform) and system, encompassing fully integrated drug discovery and development functions, including target validation, antibody drug discovery and development, CMC process development, and GMP-compliant commercial scale manufacturing. The Company has also successfully established a bi-specific antibody drug development technology (Tetrabody technology). The Company currently has a pipeline of over 20 innovative investigative drugs for the treatment of major diseases like cancer, autoimmune diseases, inflammation and metabolic diseases, 9 of which have entered clinical stage, including two novel first-in-class bi-specific antibody drugs (PD-1/CTLA-4 and PD-1/VEGF). The Company's vision is to become a global leading biopharmaceutical company through efficient and break-through research and development in innovating and developing new drugs that are first-in-class and best-in-class therapies. [1] https://www.fda.gov/patients/fast-track-breakthrough-therapy-accelerated-approval-priority-review/fast-track Source: Akeso, Inc.