Lugano, Switzerland – Shanghai, China, October 12, 2021 - Helsinn Group (“Helsinn”), a Swiss Biopharmaceutical Group with an innovative R&D pipeline in cancer supportive care and oncology therapeutics, strategically investing in a fully integrated targeted therapy structure to develop, manufacture and commercialize small molecules in precision medicine with higher market potential, and Fosun Pharmaceutical A.G., a corporation organised and existing under the law of Switzerland and a wholly owned subsidiary of Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd. (Fosun Pharma), a leading global pharmaceutical and healthcare provider in China, announced today the signing of exclusive license and distribution agreements effective from October 1st 2021 in the territory of Mainland China for Aloxi®, Akynzeo® and anamorelin.
Under the terms of the agreements, Helsinn will grant Fosun Pharmaceutical A.G. an exclusive license to distribute, promote, market, and sell the following products in the aforesaid territory:
Approved products:
- Aloxi® (Palonosetron hydrochloride) for the prevention of Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV) and for Post-Operative Nausea and Vomiting
- Akynzeo® oral (Netupitant and Palonosetron hydrochloride) for the prevention of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting associated with highly emetogenic cancer chemotherapy and with moderately emetogenic cancer chemotherapy
Products under development
- NEPA (Fosnetupitant and Palonosetron hydrochloride) IV, which is being developed in China for the prevention of CINV
- anamorelin, a selective, novel, orally active ghrelin receptor agonist, which is being developed for the treatment of Malignancy Associated Weight Loss and Anorexia in non-small cell lung cancer patients
Helsinn will also grant Fosun Pharmaceutical A.G. an exclusive license for the said products in Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR. In addition, Helsinn’s Chinese subsidiary, Helsinn Pharmaceuticals Beijing Co. Ltd. (HPC) will provide Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Industrial Development Co. Ltd., a subsidiary company of Fosun Pharma with certain medical, marketing and commercial services, including co-promotion services in Shanghai, China, in support to the commercialization of the products in Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR.
Riccardo Braglia, Helsinn Group Vice Chairman and CEO, commented: “Delivering therapies and supportive care to those living with cancer is at the core of what we do here at Helsinn, and we are pleased to have found a partner in Fosun Pharmaceutical A.G. that shares our values. Through these agreements we are able to provide patients across Mainland China and other territories with much needed therapies, targeting a variety of cancer-related illnesses and we look forward to working closely with Fosun Pharma in doing so.”
Wu Yifang, Chairman and CEO of Fosun Pharma, commented: “We are very pleased to sign this agreement with Helsinn. At Fosun, we are passionate about providing better health solutions for patients and these exclusive license and distribution agreements for Aloxi®, Akynzeo® and anamorelin across Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR show our commitment to that mission. We are looking forward to working with Helsinn and to making these therapies available to patients in these territories as soon as possible.”