Hengrui Pharma Partners with GSK to Develop 12 Innovative Medicines

Hengrui Pharma has entered into a significant agreement with GSK to develop up to 12 innovative medicines across various therapeutic areas, including respiratory conditions, immunology, inflammation, and oncology. This partnership is intended to bolster Hengrui’s globalisation strategy while providing GSK with substantial growth opportunities that extend beyond 2031.

As part of the agreement, GSK will pay an upfront fee of $500 million, which includes the licensing for the phosphodiesterase (PDE)3/4 programme. The collaboration has the potential to generate nearly $12 billion in future success-based payments to Hengrui Pharma, assuming all programmes are successfully optioned and milestones are achieved. Furthermore, Hengrui Pharma will receive tiered royalties on worldwide product net sales, with specific regional exclusions.

Details of the Collaboration

A focal point of the partnership is the worldwide licence for HRS-9821, a PDE3/4 inhibitor currently in clinical development for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This programme aligns with GSK’s objective to meet the needs of a diverse range of COPD patients, particularly those experiencing ongoing dyspnoea or those who are less likely to be prescribed inhaled corticosteroids or biologics. Initial trials have indicated that HRS-9821 exhibits positive anti-inflammatory and bronchodilation effects, and its potential for a dry-powder inhaler formulation could seamlessly integrate with GSK’s existing inhaled portfolio.

Frank Jiang, Executive Vice-President and Chief Strategy Officer at Hengrui Pharma, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “GSK brings additional research and development expertise, a robust global clinical network and broad regulatory capabilities that will accelerate our PDE3/4 inhibitor as well as an array of other innovative therapy programmes to overseas markets, potentially delivering breakthrough treatments to patients globally.”

Beyond HRS-9821, the collaboration encompasses up to 11 additional programmes. Hengrui Pharma will lead the development of these projects up to Phase I trials. Following this, GSK may choose to continue development and commercialisation on a global scale, excluding mainland China, the Macau Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Taiwan.

Strategic Implications

This expansive collaboration is structured to expedite the development of innovative medicines, leveraging GSK’s extensive expertise and global reach alongside Hengrui Pharma’s capabilities in discovery and clinical evaluation. The licensing of HRS-9821 is subject to customary regulatory approvals, including compliance with the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act in the United States.

In a related development, in March 2025, MSD entered into an exclusive licence agreement with Hengrui Pharma for the investigational oral small-molecule lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] inhibitor, HRS-5346. This agreement further underscores Hengrui Pharma’s commitment to advancing its pipeline of innovative therapeutic solutions.

The collaboration with GSK represents a pivotal move for Hengrui Pharma as it seeks to expand its presence in the global pharmaceutical market while enhancing GSK’s portfolio with promising new treatments for serious health conditions.