Investigator Sponsored Trial Opportunities

Summit Therapeutics Inc. (“Summit”) may provide support for independent research such as Investigator Sponsored Trials (“ISTs”) that advance medical and scientific knowledge about Summit products, related therapeutic areas, or disease state areas of interest.

An IST is a study that is designed, implemented, and sponsored by an investigator / entity / group who has requested monetary funding and / or Summit materials (e.g., drug) to support the execution of a research study. ISTs include a variety of clinical studies such as interventional and non-interventional studies, as well as prospective or retrospective studies. Other types of studies that may be considered an IST include non-clinical (animal), in-vitro and in-vivo studies. Summit may not serve as the sponsor of an IST.

Qualified researchers / investigators are requested to submit their proposals according to the instructions found on this page. Proposals are reviewed by a cross-functional Summit Scientific Review Committee that meets periodically. Summit’s decision to support a proposal will be based on its research merit and alignment with our Areas of Scientific Interest. Furthermore, Summit will also consider the expertise of the proposed sponsor, including their experience in the relevant therapeutic area, demonstrated ability to successfully conduct clinical trials, and available resources.

Summit does not provide operational support (e.g., authorship of a protocol, statistical analysis, study report, publication, site monitoring) for ISTs. Operational support for ISTs is the responsibility of the sponsor. 

Please be aware that funding is limited, and submission of an application (even one that meets stated criteria) does not guarantee that funding will be granted to your organization. Summit receives many applications for support and cannot support them all.


IST Submission Process

Clinical IST: Applications are accepted and reviewed bi-annually following the open submission schedule shown below.​

Non-Clinical IST: Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis.

Clinical IST Submission WindowScientific Review Committee Meeting
March 1 – April 30May / June
September 1 – October 31November / December

To submit an IST concept for consideration by Summit’s Scientific Review Committee, please review the Areas of Scientific Interest and access the IST Portal to complete your application.  

For IST inquiries outside of North America, Europe, Japan, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa, please contact our partner Akeso, Inc. at akma@akesobio.com. ​


Areas of Scientific Interest​

We welcome unsolicited research proposals from qualified investigators in our strategic areas of interest which are listed below. Well-thought through studies that enhance delivery of our innovative therapy, ivonescimab, to more patients worldwide, enhance patient care, and align with our strategic areas of interest will be considered. If there is an area of interest not listed here that you are interested in pursuing with ivonescimab, please reach out to us and we are happy to discuss further.

Clinical ISTs

The submission window for clinical ISTs is currently closed. Please note that the areas of scientific interest for clinical ISTs are updated prior to each open submission window. We encourage you to check back for the latest updates and information before submitting your IST application.

Non-Clinical ISTs

  • Mechanistic studies: further understanding of anti-PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody in vivo from therapeutic index perspective and its effect on the tumor microenvironment ​
  • Biodistribution studies: determine drug tumor retention
  • New indications: determination of drug activity in indications beyond NSCLC 
  • Combination studies: enhancing drug activity by combination approaches in squamous NSCLC & other solid tumors