GSK, Hengrui Pharma Partner on Development of Up to 12 Innovative Medicines
The strategic collaboration will also provide GSK with an exclusive worldwide license for Hengrui’s potential best-in-class PDE3/4 inhibitor, which is in clinical development as an add-on maintenance treatment for COPD.
GSK has entered into agreements with Hengrui Pharma to co-develop up to 12 new medicines focusing on the therapeutic areas of oncology and respiratory, immunology, and inflammation. The deal includes an initial upfront payment of USD 500 million from GSK to Hengrui that could reach USD 12 billion if all programs are progressed and all milestones achieved (1).
The agreement grants GSK an exclusive worldwide license for Hengrui’s phosphodiesterase 3/4 (PDE3/4) inhibitor, HRS-9821 (excluding mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan), which is currently in clinical development as an add-on maintenance therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The inhibitor has been developed for use regardless of existing background treatments targeting patients who, based on their disease characteristics, are unlikely to benefit from inhaled corticosteroids or biologic therapies.
Chosen for its potential to be a best-in-class or first-in-class treatment, HRS-9821 has shown strong inhibition of PDE3 and PDE4 enzymes, resulting in enhanced bronchodilation and anti-inflammatory benefits in early clinical and preclinical studies. HRS-9821 is being developed as a convenient dry-powder inhaler (DPI) formulation, strategically aligning with GSK’s existing inhaled product portfolio to offer significant growth potential for the company beyond 2031.
"We're delighted to announce these exciting agreements with Hengrui Pharma which complement our already-extensive pipeline,” said Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer at GSK, in a company press release (1). “This deal reflects our strategic investment in programs that address validated targets, increasing the likelihood of success, and with the option to advance those assets with the greatest potential for patient impact.”
The wider scope of the agreement encompasses a collaboration to develop up to 11 additional programs alongside HRS-9821, each governed by their own financial terms. Hengrui Pharma will lead these programs through to the completion of Phase I clinical trials with GSK holding the exclusive option to advance and commercialize each program globally (excluding mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan) or exercise their rights earlier if desired.
Hengrui Pharma’s strengths in early discovery, platform technologies, a robust preclinical pipeline, and rapid clinical evaluation will be complemented by GSK’s therapeutic expertise, deep knowledge of disease biology, clinical development capabilities, and extensive global commercial infrastructure.
"This strategic collaboration with GSK marks yet another significant milestone in Hengrui’s globalization journey and our mission to innovate and deliver higher-quality, cutting-edge therapies for patients worldwide,” added Frank Jiang, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Hengrui Pharma, in the press release (1). “GSK brings additional R&D expertise, a robust global clinical network, and broad regulatory capabilities that will accelerate our PDE3/4 inhibitor as well as an array of other innovative therapy programs to overseas markets, potentially delivering breakthrough treatments to patients globally."
The interest in PDE3/4 inhibitors has surged following the 2024 FDA approval of Verona Pharma’s Ohtuvayre, a similar therapy for COPD (2). Industry analysts expect the COPD drug market to reach USD 30.8 billion across the seven major markets by 2033, further highlighting the potential value of GSK’s new addition (3).
This latest alliance reflects an ongoing pharmaceutical industry trend of Western drugmakers partnering with Chinese biotech firms (4). Companies like Hengrui have been credited with rapidly advancing drug candidates from discovery into early-phase clinical trials, presenting a strong value proposition for global partners seeking pipeline expansion. The license to HRS-9821 is subject to customary conditions, including regulatory clearances under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act in the U.S., which could not only broaden GSK’s pipeline but accelerate global access to a new generation of therapies designed to address key unmet medical needs in respiratory and oncologic diseases.
References
GSK. GSK and Hengrui Pharma Enter Agreements to Develop up to 12 Innovative Medicines Across Respiratory, Immunology & Inflammation and Oncology. Press Release, July 28, 2025.
Verona Pharma. Verona Pharma Announces US FDA Approval of Ohtuvayre (Ensifentrine). Press Release, June 26, 2024.
GlobalData. COPD Market to Reach $30.8 Billion in 7MM by 2033, Forecasts GlobalData. Report, Oct. 17, 2024.
DrugPatentWatch. The Dragon Awakes: Charting the Unstoppable Growth of Chinese Pharmaceuticals in the Global Market. Blog, July 9, 2025.