New Chinese cancer drug outperforms global leader, draws international attention

A groundbreaking new lung cancer drug called Ivonescimab, developed by a Chinese company, is making waves in the global biotech industry and closing the gap with leading pharmaceutical companies in cancer drug development.

"This is our company's newly developed drug, Ivonescimab. In a randomized, double-blind phase three clinical trial for lung cancer, it surpassed Keytruda, the leading drug in the field," said the drug maker Akeso's chairman and CEO Dr Michelle Xia.

According to the World Conference on Lung Cancer, patients can live on Ivonescimab for 11.1 months before disease progression, compared to only 5.8 months on Keytruda, the world's top-selling cancer medication, which has generated over 130 billion U.S. dollars in sales for its American manufacturer.

"For the pharmaceutical industry, developing a drug that surpasses Keytruda and benefits more patients is a remarkable achievement. Many companies worldwide are striving to develop such drugs, but all of their phase three trials have failed. Our phase three clinical trial is the first in the world to achieve a strongly positive result in a randomized, double-blind study," said Dr Xia.

Akeso spent a decade developing Ivonescimab. Dr. Xia said world-class scientists were brought together to achieve this result, while the company also benefited from the support of the Chinese government.

"We are fortunate that, in the early stages of our company being established, the government began prioritizing the biopharmaceutical industry. Both central and local authorities have invested substantial human and material resources to support the industry's development," she said.

The breakthrough of Ivonescimab might align with a larger trend in China. In recent years, China has made significant strides in pharmaceutical innovation, with an increasing number of new drugs being developed and added to the pipeline.

"A key indicator we use is the number of research and development pipelines. This metric not only reflects our past investment in research and development but, more importantly, serves as a projection of our research and development potential. Based on this indicator, China currently ranks second in the world, just behind the United States," said Wang Shan, associate professor at the Business School of Sun Yat-sen University.

Professor Wang highlighted China’s advantages in pharmaceutical innovation, emphasizing its well-established supply chain, lower research and development costs, and abundant clinical resources.

"China has a well-established pharmaceutical supply chain. Additionally, our research and development costs are relatively low, thanks to abundant clinical resources and a large patient population," she said.

While recognizing these strengths, she also acknowledged that a gap remained between China and the U.S. in research and development pipelines, with China's numbers at about half of America's. However, she emphasized the significant potential for growth and the increasing drive for innovation.

New Chinese cancer drug outperforms global leader, draws international attention

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media