On March 20, 2015 Eli Lilly and Company and Innovent Biologics, reported one of the largest biotech drug development collaborations in China to date between a multi-national and domestic company (Press release, Eli Lilly, MAR 20, 2015, View Source [SID:1234502401]). Under terms of the agreement, Lilly and Innovent will collaborate to support the development and potential commercialization of at least three cancer treatments over the next decade. The agreement creates possible new treatment options for cancer patients, while strengthening the presence of both companies in the Chinese oncology market.

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As a part of the agreement, Innovent will lead the development and manufacturing for the China market, while Lilly will be responsible for commercialization of the three potential medicines. Innovent also has co-promotion rights. Details include:

Lilly will contribute its cMet monoclonal antibody gene for possible treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Separate from this collaboration, Lilly will continue the development of its cMet monoclonal antibody program outside of China.

Innovent will contribute its monoclonal antibody targeting protein CD-20 for investigation in hematologic malignancies. Innovent has received investigational new drug approval in China to begin Phase I development of this potential therapy.

Innovent will contribute a pre-clinical immuno-oncology molecule for development in China. The companies have agreed that Lilly will be responsible for development, manufacturing and commercialization of this molecule outside of China.

Lilly will also receive rights to develop and commercialize up to three pre-clinical bispecific immuno-oncology molecules outside of China.

Under the terms of the agreement, Innovent will receive a total upfront payment of $56 million. Lilly could also issue future payments exceeding $400 million for the pre-clinical immuno-oncology molecule if the product reaches certain development, regulatory and sales milestones. Sales royalties and other payments would occur on certain products if commercialized. Further financial terms were not disclosed.

"We are pleased to collaborate with Innovent to develop potential therapies for those fighting cancer in China and around the world," said Alfonso Zulueta, senior vice president, and president, Lilly Emerging Markets. "This alliance marks an important milestone in our longstanding commitment to China, and further reinforces our focus to develop collaborative networks to advance research and clinical development in emerging markets."

Michael Yu, Ph.D., co-founder, president and CEO of Innovent, stated, "This groundbreaking collaboration establishes Innovent as the very first company in China to form such a broad alliance with a global pharmaceutical company, and we are honored to collaborate with a company as esteemed as Lilly. Given our experience, significant insights into the China market and international compliance standards, we strongly believe Innovent is ideally suited to serve as Lilly’s Chinese collaborator of choice."

Lilly has a robust oncology pipeline that includes both small molecules and monoclonal antibodies, which are being studied to treat a wide range of cancers including breast, colorectal, liver and non-small cell lung.