Innovent Biologics and Eli Lilly and Company have announced that the companies will now expand the strategic partnership through an agreement for Innovent to obtain the sole commercialization rights to import, market, promote, distribute and detail Cyramza (ramucirumab) and Retsevmo (selpercatinib) once approved in Mainland China, and a right of first negotiation granted to Innovent for potential future commercialization of Pirtobrutinib in Mainland China.

In China, Cyramza (ramucirumab) in combination with paclitaxel was approved by National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for second-line treatment in patients with advanced or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma in March 2022, making it the first and only drug approved for the second-line treatment of advanced gastric cancer in China. 

Retsevmo (selpercatinib) is a highly selective and potent rearranged during transfection (RET) inhibitor.  

With a further expanded oncology product portfolio, Innovent intends to use its experienced oncology commercial team to leverage its broad commercial coverage in hospitals and pharmacies at various tiers to make these novel treatment options available to cancer patients in China.

Under the terms of the agreement, upon regulatory approvals of Cyramza in the hepatocellular carcinoma indication and Retsevmo in the non-small lung cancer indication, Innovent will make payments of $45 million in total and then intends to commercialize Cyramza and Retsevmo in China.