By Fineline Cube 
China-based CStone Pharmaceuticals (HKG: 2616) announced a licensing agreement with Istituto Gentili S.R.L., granting the Italian biopharma exclusive commercialization rights to its Cejemly (sugemalimab) in 23 countries, including 18 European Economic Area (EEA) nations and the UK.
Deal Details
Under the agreement, CStone will receive up to USD 192.5 million in total consideration, comprising an upfront payment and milestone payments tied to regulatory approvals and sales performance. Additionally, CStone will be entitled to nearly 50% of the net sales revenue from sugemalimab in the licensed territories. Gentili will oversee registration and commercialization activities for the drug in the designated regions.
Drug Information
Sugemalimab, a programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor developed by CStone using the OmniRat platform, is approved for first-line use in combination with chemotherapy to treat metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. It is also expected to gain additional approvals for stage III NSCLC and other indications.
Future Expansion
CStone plans to explore collaboration opportunities for sugemalimab in Southeast Asia, Canada, and other regions. The company has already secured global partnerships for the drug, covering over 60 countries and regions.-Fineline Info & Tech