Sino Biopharmaceutical Limited expanded its strategic partnership with GSK Plc (NYSE:GSK) and separately signed an exclusive licensing deal with AstraZeneca Plc (NYSE:AZN), advancing its global expansion strategy.
The agreements strengthen Sino Biopharma’s respiratory portfolio in China while extending the international reach of one of its internally developed drug candidates.
The company said its subsidiary, Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. (CTTQ), expanded its exclusive partnership with GSK, building on an agreement signed in May 2026.
Under the expanded agreement, CTTQ will receive commercialization rights in mainland China for GSK’s respiratory therapies Trelegy Ellipta (fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol) and Anoro Ellipta (umeclidinium/vilanterol).
CTTQ will handle importation, distribution, hospital access and promotion of both products in mainland China, with revenue from local sales recognized by the subsidiary.
Respiratory Products Have Multi-Billion Dollar Sales
Trelegy Ellipta was approved in China in 2019 for the maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and, in 2026, its label was expanded to include asthma, making it the first and only single-inhaler triple therapy approved in the country for both conditions. The treatment generated global sales of £3 billion in 2025.
Anoro Ellipta, approved in China in 2018 for long-term COPD maintenance treatment, generated global sales of £542 million in 2025.
AstraZeneca Deal Expands Global Reach For TQC3721
Separately, CTTQ entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with AstraZeneca covering the development, manufacturing and commercialization of its PDE3/4 inhibitor TQC3721 outside China.
Under the agreement, AstraZeneca will receive exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize TQC3721 globally outside China, along with rights to certain future development programs.
Sino Biopharma is eligible for a $200 million upfront payment, up to $1.9 billion in development, regulatory and sales milestone payments, and tiered royalties reaching double-digit percentages.
The company said the deal marks its second out-licensing transaction with a multinational pharmaceutical company in 2026, following a licensing agreement with Sanofi SA (NASDAQ:SNY) in February.
AZN/GSK Stock Price Activity: AstraZeneca shares were down 1.50% at $190.22, and GSK shares were down 1.24% at $52.66 at the time of publication on Wednesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney
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