Sandoz enters global collaboration license agreement with Henlius to commercialize leading oncology therapy, ipilimumab, in multiple indications

MEDIA RELEASE

  • Agreement offers rights to commercialize proposed biosimilar of Yervoy®* for treatment of variety of cancer types, targeting net reference medicine sales of USD 2.5 billion[1]
  • Henlius to develop and manufacture biosimilar, with Sandoz to register and commercialize after expiry of relevant patents across global markets
  • Combination therapy of ipilimumab and nivolumab used in 95% of eligible patients[2]; ipilimumab highly complementary to proposed Sandoz nivolumab biosimilar
  • Potential to address considerable unmet medical needs and increase worldwide access; reinforces Sandoz commitment to expand patient access and drive sustainable savings for healthcare systems

Basel, April 29, 2025 – Sandoz (SIX:SDZ/OTCQX:SDZNY), the global leader in generic and biosimilar medicines, announced today that it has signed a global collaboration agreement with Shanghai Henlius Biotech, Inc. (Henlius, HKEX:02696) to commercialize a biosimilar of leading oncology therapy, ipilimumab. The agreement is milestone-based for a total consideration of up to USD 301 million, including an upfront payment of USD 31 million, and will target net reference-medicine sales of USD 2.5 billion[1].

Under the terms of the agreement, Sandoz has exclusive commercial rights for a biosimilar of ipilimumab in Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan and the US. The core sequence patent for ipilimumab expired in March 2025 in the US and will expire no later than February 2026 in the EU.

Richard Saynor, CEO of Sandoz, said: “The global burden of cancer continues to grow and the potential to address unmet patient needs has never been greater.[3] This agreement offers us the chance to reach many more millions of patients, while helping to drive the long-term sustainability of healthcare systems.”

The reference medicine, ipilimumab, is a monoclonal (CTLA-4) antibody-blocking medication, which is used alone or with other medicines to treat certain types of colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (a type of liver cancer), malignant pleural mesothelioma, melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and renal cell carcinoma (a type of kidney cancer).[4,5,6]

Henlius is developing its own proposed biosimilar of ipilimumab in an integrated Phase I/III trial in the unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma setting, targeting 656 patients to be enrolled (NCT06841185).

Sandoz is developing its own proposed biosimilar of nivolumab in an integrated Phase I/III trial in the advanced melanoma setting, targeting 720 patients to be enrolled (NCT06587451). The reference medicine, nivolumab, (Opdivo®**) is a monoclonal (PD-1) antibody-blocking medication, which is used alone or with other medicines to treat more than 10 different cancer types. In combination with ipilimumab, nivolumab is indicated for the treatment of melanoma, malignant pleural mesothelioma, renal cell carcinoma, certain types of colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma.[7,8]

Sandoz is the leading biosimilar provider globally and has recently moved up to third position in the US, with a strategic ambition to occupy the leading position in that market.[9] The Company’s industry-leading biosimilars pipeline comprises 28 molecules, complemented by around 450 generic pipeline medicines to support its goal of sustainable and broadly-based long-term growth. The marketed biosimilar oncology portfolio includes Rixathon®, Zarzio®, Ziextenzo®, and Binocrit®. This year, Sandoz expects to launch its biosimilars Wyost®/Jubbonti® (denosumab) in the US in the second quarter and in Europe in the fourth quarter.

* Yervoy® is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb (US)
** Opdivo® is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb (US)

DISCLAIMER
This Media Release contains forward-looking statements, which offer no guarantee with regard to future performance. These statements are made on the basis of management’s views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance at the time the statements are made. They are subject to risks and uncertainties including, but not confined to, future global economic conditions, exchange rates, legal provisions, market conditions, activities by competitors and other factors outside of the control of Sandoz. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those forecasted or expected. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement, and Sandoz undertakes no obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

REFERENCES
1. Loss-of-exclusivity (LoE) dates based on IP databases; originator-sales data at LoE-1 from internal analysis and Evaluate Pharma [November 2024]
2. Decisions Resource Group (DRG) database of total treated population with Yervoy® (G7 markets) [accessed April 2025]
3. Cancer Today [accessed March 2025]
4. Yervoy® US Prescribing Information [accessed March 2025]
5. Yervoy® EMEA Summary of Product Characteristics [accessed March 2025]
6. Definition of Yervoy® - NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms - NCI [accessed March 2025]
7. Opdivo® US: Prescribing Information [accessed March 2025]
8. Opdivo® EMEA Summary of Product Characteristics [accessed March 2025]
9. IQVIA [download February 2025]

ABOUT SANDOZ
Sandoz (SIX: SDZ; OTCQX: SDZNY) is the global leader in generic and biosimilar medicines, with a growth strategy driven by its Purpose: pioneering access for patients. More than 20,000 people of 100 nationalities work together to ensure 900 million patient treatments are provided by Sandoz, generating substantial global healthcare savings and an even larger social impact. Its leading portfolio of approximately 1,300 products addresses diseases from the common cold to cancer. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Sandoz traces its heritage back to 1886. Its history of breakthroughs includes Calcium Sandoz in 1929, the world’s first oral penicillin in 1951, and the world’s first biosimilar in 2006. In 2024, Sandoz recorded net sales of USD 10.4 billion.

CONTACTS

Global Media RelationsInvestor Relations
Global.MediaRelations@sandoz.comInvestor.Relations@sandoz.com
Alex Kalomparis
+41 79 279 0285
Craig Marks
+44 7818 942 383
Joerg E. Allgaeuer
+49 171 838 4838
Rupreet Sandhu
+41 79 410 5472

Attachment

  • Media release_collaboration license agreement

Sandoz enters global collaboration license agreement with Henlius to commercialize leading oncology therapy, ipilimumab, in multiple indications


THỦ THUẬT HAY

Hướng dẫn cập nhật lên phiên bản mới nhất cho Google Chrome

Vì vậy, khi có phiên bản mới bạn nên cập nhật ngay để sở hữu những tính năng mới nhất, hấp dẫn nhất. Tuy nhiên, một số người chưa biết cách cập nhật Google Chrome như thế nào?

Cách cập nhật đúng Driver cho máy tính trên Windows

Sử dụng công cụ Windows Update được tích hợp sẵn để cập nhật Driver là cách an toàn nhất. Bởi vì các gói Driver dùng để cập nhật cho các thiết bị đã được xác minh và ký kết bởi Microsoft.

11 phím tắt biến bạn thành siêu nhân Excel

Excel là 1 công cụ cực kì phổ biện tại Việt Nam, do đó việc thao tác nhanh tiết kiệm thời gian sẽ giúp bạn tập trung và giải quyết các vấn đề hiệu quả hơn rất nhiều bằng việc nắm vững 11 phím tắt sau đây.

Hướng dẫn cách sao chép lời bài hát trên Zing Mp3 và Nhaccuatui đơn giản và dễ thực hiện

Zing Mp3, Nhaccuatui là hai nền tảng nghe nhạc được giới trẻ Việt Nam ưa chuộng nhất hiện nay. Không chỉ nghe nhạc, bạn hoàn toàn có thể sao chép lời bài hát từ hai nền tảng này. Nếu bạn chưa biết cách sao chép lời bài

ĐÁNH GIÁ NHANH

Trên tay OPPO F5 Youth: Fullview 6-inch Full-HD+, vi xử lý Helio P23, pin 3.200 mAh

OPPO F5 Youth vẫn trung thành với kiểu thiết kế giả kim loại giống như mẫu F5, với các góc cạnh được bo tròn mềm mại kết hợp cùng màn hình tỉ lệ 18:9 giúp cho cảm giác cầm nắm sử dụng máy rất thoải mái ngay cả với một

Đánh giá OnePlus 5 - Chiếc điện thoại giống tất cả

Bản Oneplus 5 này đã thay đổi về quan điểm chiếc siêu điện thoại giá rẻ đến từ Trung Quốc này, xu hướng giống các siêu phẩm đang bị lạm dụng quá đà đã làm giảm sự húng thú của khách hàng.

Đánh giá nhanh đồng hồ thông minh Fossil Q Explorist

Đầu năm 2017 Fossil cho biết sẽ ra mắt hơn 300 mẫu đồng hồ thông minh, nghe mà choáng ngợp luôn, tất nhiên các sản phẩm sẽ trải dài trong chuỗi 14 thương hiệu mà Fossil sở hữu, ví dụ như Armani Exchange, Michael Kors,