Transcenta Holding has announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, HJB, has signed an exclusive agreement with Eli Lilly and Company to license a portfolio of novel biotherapeutics programs in the therapeutic area of bone diseases for development and commercialization in Greater China, including the phase 2-completed Blosozumab, a humanized antibody to sclerostin.

Transcenta will be responsible for the overall preclinical/clinical development, regulatory filing and manufacture of these biologic therapeutics. As part of this transaction, Lilly will receive an upfront payment in cash plus equity shares in Transcenta, and will be eligible for potential regulatory and sales milestones, and commercial royalty payments.

Blosozumab has been studied by Lilly as a potential treatment for osteoporosis. It is the second novel biotherapeutics in anti-sclerostin class to have completed phase 2 clinical trials in the US and Blosozumab is expected to enter clinical trials in China next year. Several other novel biologic assets to treat bone diseases at earlier pre-clinical development stages are also included in this deal.