Home / Business and Economy / Sandoz Strikes Biosimilar Deal with Henlius
Sandoz Strikes Biosimilar Deal with Henlius
17 Aug
Summary
- Sandoz gains global rights to three biosimilar drugs.
- The deal involves drugs for cholesterol, lupus, and cancer.
- Upfront payment could reach $77 million with milestone bonuses.
Swiss pharmaceutical company Sandoz has entered into a significant agreement with Shanghai Henlius Biotech, securing global commercialization rights outside of China for three promising biosimilar drugs. This strategic alliance, announced on Monday, involves an upfront payment of up to $77 million to Henlius.
The three targeted therapies are biosimilar versions of established biologics. They aim to treat conditions including high cholesterol, lupus, and colorectal cancer. Currently, these treatments are in various stages of clinical or pre-clinical development.
This deal significantly boosts Sandoz's strategy to capitalize on the burgeoning global biosimilar market over the next decade. Henlius is also eligible for substantial future payments, with potential development milestone payments up to $160 million and commercial milestone payments reaching an additional $77 million.
The drugs in question are biosimilars of evolocumab (cholesterol), belimumab (lupus), and cetuximab (colorectal cancer). In 2025, global sales for these reference biologics collectively generated billions in revenue, highlighting the market potential for their biosimilar counterparts.
