On March 4, 2026, China’s biopharmaceutical industry officially announced a major partnership with global pharmaceutical giant Sanofi, signing an exclusive licensing agreement for the world’s first in Class JAK/ROCK dual target inhibitor, rosuvastatin. This cooperation not only sets a new record for the scale of external authorization by Chinese pharmaceutical companies in the field of transplantation, but also becomes a key step in the internationalization layout of Chinese biopharmaceuticals, marking the official entry of local original research and innovative drugs into the global commercialization journey.

According to the agreement, Chinese biopharmaceutical subsidiary Zhengda Tianqing will grant Sanofi Rovacitinib an exclusive license for development, production, and commercialization worldwide. Chinese biopharmaceuticals will receive a down payment of $135 million, combined with potential development, regulatory, and sales milestone payments, with a cumulative maximum of $1.53 billion; At the same time, it will also enjoy the highest double-digit tiered royalty based on the annual net sales of rosuvastatin. The effectiveness of the agreement is subject to the completion of customary delivery conditions and obtaining approval from relevant regulatory authorities.

Xie Qirun, Chairman of the Board of Directors of China Biopharmaceuticals, stated that the core of this partnership with Sanofi is to bring the world’s first JAK/ROCK inhibitor to more patients worldwide. Relying on Sanofi’s profound advantages in global research and commercialization, the innovative value of rosuvastatin will be further unleashed. This cooperation is an important milestone in the company’s internationalization layout, and we will continue to strive to become the preferred Chinese partner for multinational pharmaceutical companies, bringing more breakthrough therapies to patients worldwide

Core competitiveness – the world’s first dual target mechanism, targeting the core pathology of diseases directly

Being able to gain the heavyweight favor of Sanofi stems from the unique global pioneering mechanism and clinically validated high clinical value of rosuvastatin. As a novel and potent oral small molecule inhibitor, Rovacitinib is the world’s first drug with dual inhibition mechanisms of JAK1/2 and ROCK1/2. Through dual pathway synergy, it achieves dual anti-inflammatory and anti fibrotic effects, accurately solving the core pathological problems of various refractory diseases.

Its mechanism of action has highly differentiated advantages: on the one hand, it targets the JAK/STAT pathway, directly blocks inflammatory signal transduction, reduces the inflammatory factors produced by myeloid cells from the source, and quickly controls the inflammatory response; On the other hand, targeting the ROCK pathway by regulating STAT3/STAT5 phosphorylation, downregulating overactivated T helper cells (Th17), and enhancing regulatory T cell (Treg) function fundamentally rebuilds the immune balance of the body, laying the foundation for long-term disease control.

Remarkable clinical results – approved for bone marrow fibrosis, with outstanding potential in the field of cGVHD

With its unique mechanism of action, the clinical performance of rosuvastatin continues to be impressive, and the research and commercialization process is steadily advancing. In February 2026, Rovacitinib (trade name: Anxu) ®） Approved for marketing by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China, it is used as first-line treatment for adult patients with moderate to high risk primary myelofibrosis (PMF), post polycythemia vera myelofibrosis (PPV-MF), or post thrombocytopenia myelofibrosis (PET-MF). Clinical research data shows that the proportion of subjects whose spleen volume decreased by ≥ 35% compared to baseline (SVR35) at week 24 was 58.33%, and the proportion of SVR35 at any time point was even higher at 63.89%. The optimal total symptom score improvement rate of ≥ 50% (TSS50) was 77.78%, and the safety was much better than existing treatment drugs. The incidence of ≥ 3 adverse reactions and treatment termination rate were significantly reduced.

In the field of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD), the potential of rosuvastatin is also highly anticipated. The Phase Ib/IIa clinical data of its treatment for cGVHD have been published in the top international hematology journal Blood (IF: 21.0). The study showed that the 12-month failure free survival rate (FFS) of rosuvastatin was significantly better than other approved therapies, demonstrating stronger therapeutic response in fibrotic organs and greater potential to overcome resistance to rosuvastatin. At present, this indication has entered the phase III clinical trial stage in China and will be included in the breakthrough treatment drug program by CDE in August 2025; Phase II clinical trials have also been approved in the United States, accelerating the global research and development process.

Accumulate and develop – China’s biopharmaceutical innovation strength, forging international confidence

The achievement of this heavyweight cooperation is not accidental, but the accumulation and development of China’s biopharmaceutical industry over the years, focusing on innovative research and development, and laying out the entire industry chain. As a leading innovation driven pharmaceutical group in China, China’s biopharmaceutical business covers the entire industry chain of drug research and development, intelligent production, and commercial sales. Its products include multiple categories such as biopharmaceuticals and chemical drugs, and it has significant leading advantages in the four core treatment areas of tumors, liver disease/metabolism, respiration/immunotherapy, and surgery/analgesia. It has also been selected for seven consecutive years in the “Top 50 Global Pharmaceutical Companies” list published by the US Pharmaceutical Manager, becoming a benchmark for innovation among local pharmaceutical companies.

Adhering to the mission of “health technology, warming more lives”, China Biopharmaceuticals has always adhered to original research and innovation. The successful research and development and launch of rivarotinib is an important breakthrough for the company in the field of First in Class drug research and development; And this global licensing cooperation with Sanofi is a crucial step in the company’s internationalization strategy. With Sanofi’s global clinical development capabilities, mature commercial channels, and strong brand influence, rosuvastatin will reach patients worldwide more quickly, bringing new treatment hope to patients with refractory diseases such as bone marrow fibrosis and cGVHD.

Industry Insights

From local original research to global cooperation, the $1.53 billion overseas journey of rosuvastatin is not only an international journey for a First in Class innovative drug, but also a microcosm of the improvement of innovation strength in China’s biopharmaceutical industry. In recent years, with the continuous efforts of local pharmaceutical companies in the field of original research and innovation, from combining imitation and innovation to pioneering new drugs, from domestic approval to global cooperation, more and more Chinese innovative drugs are going abroad and occupying an important position in the global pharmaceutical innovation map.

The collaboration between Chinese biopharmaceuticals and Sanofi not only paves the way for the global commercialization of rosuvastatin, but also sets a new example for innovative cooperation between Chinese and foreign pharmaceutical companies. In the future, with the continuous output of more local innovative achievements, China’s bio pharmaceutical industry will move towards higher quality and more international direction, so that more “Chinese intelligent” innovative drugs can benefit global patients, and show the power of Chinese innovation on the global pharmaceutical stage.

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