Simcere Pharma and Connect Sign Pact For Innovative Autoimmune Drug

Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Limited (Simcere) and Connect Biopharma HongKong Limited (Connect) have entered into an exclusive licensing and partnership agreement for Rademikibart, a novel IL-4Ra monoclonal antibody.

Pursuant to the Agreement, Simcere obtains the exclusive rights in the development, manufacturing and commercialization of Rademikibart for all indication in Greater China. Connect will retain its rights outside Greater China and will complete the ongoing pivotal clinical trial for atopic dermatitis (AD) treatment and other ongoing clinical trials. Simcere will independently conduct future clinical trials in Greater China, as per pharmabiz

This agreement will expand its autoimmune product line and boost the synergistic effect in its commercialization efforts. Simcere has previously released the world's first iguratimod tablets, Iremod, in the field of autoimmunity. Simcere's interleukin-2 mutant Fc fusion protein (SIM0278) began clinical trials in China in August of this year. Almirall, its international research and commercialization licensee, has been permitted by the FDA to conduct US clinical trials. The JAK1 inhibitor LNK01001, developed in collaboration with Lynk Pharmaceuticals, received promising results from a phase II clinical study in rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis this year.

“We are very excited to have reached this agreement with Connect Biopharma. Rademikebart has demonstrated highly differentiated and best in class potential in Chinese AD patients. The addition of Rademikibart expands our immune diseases portfolio, where we can leverage our knowledge and expertise to advance its program and bring it to market,” commented Jinsheng Ren, chairman and CEO of Simcere. “We look forward to this collaboration and believe this partnership will help us bring better and more effective therapy to patients suffering from Th2 inflammatory diseases.”