Shanghai Henlius Biotech, Inc. (HKG: 2696) announced an exclusive license agreement with Abbott for the commercialization of serplulimab (trade name in Europe: Hetronifly), Henlius’ novel anti‑PD‑1 monoclonal antibody, across selected emerging markets. The deal covers Asia Pacific, Africa, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and other developing regions, significantly expanding serplulimab’s global reach beyond existing partnerships.
Transaction Overview
Item
Detail
Licensor
Shanghai Henlius Biotech, Inc. (HKG: 2696)
Licensee
Abbott
Licensed Product
Serplulimab (Hetronifly in Europe) – anti‑PD‑1 mAb
Territory
Asia Pacific, Africa, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and other emerging regions
Rights Granted
Exclusive commercialization
Prior Collaborations
2022 and 2024 agreements (oncology biosimilars + serplulimab in Latin America)
Serplulimab Regulatory Status
Metric
Detail
Regulatory Approvals
40+ countries and regions (as of Dec 2025)
Key Markets Approved
China, EU, UK, Switzerland, Peru, India, Southeast Asia
Emerging Market Access: Abbott’s established commercial infrastructure across Asia Pacific, Africa, and Eastern Europe provides Henlius with immediate market access in regions where building proprietary sales forces would be capital‑intensive and time‑consuming.
Partnership Continuity: This agreement builds on two prior collaborations (2022, 2024), demonstrating successful execution and deepening trust between Henlius and Abbott in oncology commercialization.
Global Expansion Strategy: Henlius continues to execute a multi‑partner global strategy, leveraging regional specialists (Fosun in China, Intas in India, KGbio in Southeast Asia, Abbott in emerging markets) rather than attempting solo global launches.
PD‑1 Market Positioning: With 40+ approvals, serplulimab is establishing itself as a differentiated anti‑PD‑1 option, competing with Keytruda, Opdivo, and domestic Chinese PD‑1 inhibitors through strategic geographic segmentation.
Market Impact
Factor
Impact
Emerging Market Oncology Growth
High‑growth regions with increasing cancer burden and expanding healthcare access; PD‑1 inhibitors represent premium therapeutic category
Abbott’s Commercial Strength
Deep primary care and specialty care presence in target regions; proven track record in oncology biosimilars and novel biologics
Henlius Revenue Diversification
Milestone and royalty income from multiple geographic partnerships reduces reliance on any single market
Competitive Dynamics
Serplulimab gains first‑mover advantage in select emerging markets ahead of other Chinese PD‑1 inhibitors
Forward‑Looking Statements This brief contains forward‑looking statements regarding commercial launch timelines, market penetration rates, and revenue projections for serplulimab in Abbott territories. Actual results may differ due to risks including reimbursement negotiations, competitive launches, and regulatory delays in specific countries.-Fineline Info & Tech
By Fineline Cube 