Plain language summary: comparing ivonescimab plus chemotherapy with tislelizumab plus chemotherapy in people with advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer in the HARMONi-6 study

Future Oncol. 2026 Jun 3:1-14. doi: 10.1080/14796694.2026.2676052. Online ahead of print.
No abstract available

Keywords: HARMONi-6; Ivonescimab; clinical trial; non-small cell lung cancer; plain language summary; squamous.

Plain language summary

What is this summary about?HARMONi-6 is a study that looked at a new treatment for people with advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer in China. People participating in the study received first-line treatment (meaning they had not taken any medicine for their cancer before the study). Ivonescimab is a new type of cancer treatment, and the HARMONi-6 study looked at how well ivonescimab worked when given with chemotherapy, compared with tislelizumab plus chemotherapy for treating squamous non-small cell lung cancer. Tislelizumab, when given with chemotherapy, is a medicine that is currently approved to treat advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer in China and Europe.What were the results?This study looked at median progression-free survival, which is how long half of participants lived without their cancer getting worse or spreading after receiving treatment. Participants who took ivonescimab plus chemotherapy had a significantly longer median progression-free survival (11.1 months) than participants who took tislelizumab plus chemotherapy (6.9 months).What were the results? cont.Common side effects related to immunotherapy cancer treatments, such as ivonescimab and tislelizumab, include having a skin rash or having too much protein in the urine. Common side effects related to chemotherapy include hair loss, being very tired, feeling nauseated, and changes in the levels of particular types of blood cells. Side effects can be mild to severe. In this study, side effects related to treatment occurred in 99% of participants who received ivonescimab plus chemotherapy and 98% of participants who received tislelizumab plus chemotherapy. Severe side effects that were related to treatment occurred in 64% of participants who received ivonescimab plus chemotherapy and 54% of participants who received tislelizumab plus chemotherapy. Serious side effects that were related to treatment occurred in 32% of participants who received ivonescimab plus chemotherapy and 54% of participants who received tislelizumab plus chemotherapy.What do the results mean?There was a 40% lower risk of cancer getting worse with ivonescimab plus chemotherapy compared with tislelizumab plus chemotherapy treatment in people with advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer. A similar percentage of participants in both treatment groups experienced side effects during the study. Most of the side effects that occurred during the study could be managed without significantly impacting the participants’ quality of life.Clinical trial number: NCT05840016.

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT05840016