On November 2, 2022, the winners of Global Generics & Biosimilars Awards 2022 (the GGB Awards), hosted by Generics Bulletin, a well-respected and trusted newsletter from Pharma Intelligence covering commercial and regulatory information for the global generics and biosimilars industry, were announced in Frankfurt, Germany. Among hundreds of enterprises, Henlius took home the award for ‘Business Development of the Year’ due to its outstanding success in global partnership growth and excellent brand reputation. In 2019, the first China-developed biosimilar independently developed by Henlius HANLIKANG (rituximab), won the “Biosimilar Initiative of the Year” from the GGB Awards.
The Global Generics and Biosimilars Awards celebrate the greatest achievements and innovations across the development, authorisation, marketing, and distribution of global off-patent pharmaceuticals. A fair and objective reviewing process was conducted over nearly three months by around 20 expert judges and recognised winners across 14 categories including Accord, Sandoz, Dr. Reddy's, Stada, and Samsung Bioepis. The judges said Henlius’ deals “provide access to key biosimilars for companies who lack the technology to develop such molecules,” describing Henlius’ achievements as “a success story made all the more impressive by being achieved despite significant pandemic-related setbacks.” Henlius “have demonstrated speed and business development tenacity” and have “firmly put China on the map in terms of biosimilar development.”
In the passing of 2022, Henlius has achieved significant breakthroughs in business development and out-licensing. In the first half of the year alone, Henlius has closed over multiple out-licensing deals for Henlius' four biosimilars on the market and two biosimilars in development. Among these, Henlius entered into a license and supply agreement with Organon in June 2022 for the exclusive commercialization of Henlius’ independently developed HLX11 (pertuzumab biosimilar) and HLX14 (denosumab biosimilar) in ex-China countries, covering mature markets such as the United States, the European Union and Japan, as well as a number of emerging markets. Under the agreement terms, Henlius may receive up to a total of USD541 million including a USD73 million upfront payment. Additionally, Henlius has collaborated with Getz Pharma, Eurofarma and Abbott to bring HANDAYUAN, HANLIKANG, HANQUYOU and HANBEITAI to 27 emerging market countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America such as Pakistan, Nigeria and Brazil respectively.
In 2022, Henlius continues to enhance internal innovation capacities and external cooperation and strives for continuous innovation to develop a more beneficial course of treatment for patients. In June 2022, Henlius entered a strategic collaboration with Palleon Pharmaceuticals, a company co-founded by the winner of the 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Carolyn Bertozzi, to develop and commercialize two bifunctional sialidase programs which will further enhance the company's competitiveness in the global oncology field. In September, the company announced a strategic partnership with MEDx Translational Medicine (MEDx) to jointly develop and commercialization of key companion diagnostic kits for two indications of Henlius PD-1 inhibitor HANSIZHUANG.
This year, Henlius won its second GGB Awards and was again recognized by professionals in the field, its global peers, and the markets for the company’s high quality and stable development, as well as its advances in the international layout. Today, Henlius has gained robust experience in overseas clinical operations, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, and business development. Looking forward, Henlius will continue fully leveraging the vertically integrated platform, expanding its global presence, and providing innovative and affordable medicines in alignment with international quality standards for patients worldwide, achieving its long-term vision of becoming the most trusted biopharmaceutical company.