China-based Hua Medicine (HKG: 2552) has announced the termination of its co-promotion agreement with German pharmaceutical giant Bayer AG (ETR: BAYN) regarding HuaTangNing (dorzagliatin tablets, HMS5552), effective January 1, 2025. The agreement, which began in August 2020, focused on the promotion and distribution of the drug in China.
Dorzagliatin’s Impact and Achievements
Dorzagliatin, a first-in-class glucokinase activator (GKA), is designed to address the progressive degenerative nature of diabetes by restoring glucose homeostasis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The original deal, valued at RMB 4.5 billion (USD 663.8 million), allowed Bayer to handle marketing, promotion, and medical education for the drug in China. Since the agreement’s inception, several milestones have been achieved, including dorzagliatin receiving marketing approval in China in October 2022, its inclusion in the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) in January 2024, and access to over 2000 hospitals as of the announcement date.
Continuation of Agreement and Future Plans
Despite the termination, both partners will continue to honor the existing agreement until it ends, with a patient-centered transition plan being developed. Hua Medicine has not ruled out the possibility of seeking new partners to continue the commercialization of dorzagliatin in China, indicating the company’s commitment to the drug’s success in the market.-Fineline Info & Tech
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