Weekly Medical Overview (02.02-02.06)

China Biopharmaceuticals: Signs Exclusive Licensing Agreement with Sanofi for Rova-T, Total Deal Value Exceeds $1.5 Billion

On March 4, China Biopharmaceuticals announced an exclusive licensing agreement with Sanofi for Rova-T, a first-in-class, potent oral small-molecule JAK/ROCK inhibitor.

Under the agreement, China Biopharmaceuticals’ subsidiary, Zhengda Tianqing, grants Sanofi exclusive rights worldwide to develop, produce, and commercialize Rova-T. China Biopharmaceuticals is entitled to up to $1.53 billion in payments, including a $135 million upfront payment and potential milestone payments for development, regulatory approval, and sales. Additionally, they will receive tiered royalties based on annual net sales of Rova-T, with a maximum double-digit percentage. The agreement is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

JD Health: Net Profit to Grow 29.1% to 5.375 Billion Yuan in 2025, Over 100 New Drug Launches Expected

Recently, JD Health released its annual performance report for the year ending December 31, 2025. The company’s revenue reached 73.441 billion yuan, up 26.3%; gross profit was 18.199 billion yuan, up 36.7%; net profit attributable to shareholders was 5.375 billion yuan, up 29.1%.

Management highlighted that in 2025, the company continued leveraging supply chain advantages, deepening collaborations with pharmaceutical companies, and launched over 100 new drugs, a significant increase from over 30 in 2024. Additionally, policy support for health consumption promoted AI applications in healthcare, enhancing user experience. The company also continued strengthening integrated online and offline healthcare services, with JD Daojia’s rapid testing business maintaining strong growth, with order volume up 81.9% year-over-year.

In health management, AI health concierge services received positive feedback. By December 31, 2025, AI doctor “Dawei” had completed hundreds of millions of interactions, with a 98% positive rating. The retail pharmacy and online healthcare services continued expanding, with the company operating over 300 self-owned pharmacy stores by the end of 2025.

Deqi Pharmaceuticals: Signs Near-USD 1.2 Billion Licensing Deal with UCB

Recently, Deqi Pharmaceuticals announced that it has entered into a global exclusive licensing agreement with UCB for ATG-201, a bispecific T-cell engager targeting CD19/CD3 for autoimmune diseases.

Under the agreement, Deqi’s wholly owned subsidiaries, Antengene Biologics Limited and Deqi (Hangzhou) Biotech Co., Ltd., grant UCB exclusive rights to further develop, produce, and commercialize ATG-201 globally.

Deqi will receive an $80 million upfront payment and milestone payments, including $60 million upfront and an additional $20 million upon meeting certain conditions.

Furthermore, Deqi is eligible for milestone payments of up to approximately $1.1 billion based on successful development and commercialization, as well as tiered royalties based on future net sales.

ATG-201 is an investigational bispecific T-cell engager designed for B-cell mediated autoimmune diseases. Deqi plans to submit clinical trial applications for ATG-201 in China and Australia in Q1 2026, and after completing initial human (phase I) trials in these regions, will transfer subsequent clinical and related development work to UCB.

Hutchison China MediTech: Sales of FRUZAQLA® (Tafenoquine) Increase 26% to $366.2 Million, Sales of Non-Core Businesses Contribute $457 Million

Recently, Hutchison China MediTech released its 2025 full-year results and latest business updates, reporting a net gain of $457 million from core business profits and divestment of non-core businesses.

The company’s total revenue was $549 million, down 13% from 2024. Net profit attributable to shareholders was $457 million. Tumor products generated $285 million in revenue (2024: $363 million), impacted by declines in sales of Evotaz®, Sutent®, and Votrient® in China.

Financial review noted that sales of FRUZAQLA® grew 26% to $366 million, driven by successful market launch and expanded insurance coverage. Evotaz®’s sales reached $100 million. Additionally, Votrient® received approval for a third lung cancer indication in China, triggering an $11 million milestone payment from AstraZeneca.

Management discussed that the ATTC platform has entered clinical trials, with multiple candidates advancing, and potential collaborations with multinational pharmaceutical companies are anticipated. The oncology/immunology segment continues focusing on new drug development and market expansion, while other segments remain stable.

Aihong Pharmaceuticals: Cervical Precancer Non-Invasive Treatment Product Xivetha® Approved

Recently, Aihong Pharmaceuticals announced that its core product, APL-1702 (brand name: Xivetha®/CEVIRA®, generic: Hydroxyaminoacetate Esters for Cervical Photodynamic Therapy), has received the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approval and official registration certificate for marketing.

This product is a non-invasive, non-surgical treatment for CIN2 patients, filling a clinical gap and redefining the non-invasive treatment market in this field.

Angelalign: Net Profit Expected to Increase 140% to 200% in FY2025, Usage of Clear Aligners on the Rise

Recently, Angelalign announced that for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, net profit is expected to be between approximately $24 million and $30 million, representing a 140% to 200% increase from about $10 million in the previous year.

The increase is mainly attributed to higher adoption of clear aligner solutions, operational leverage from global sales networks, and delayed costs from some manufacturing facilities.