Glenmark Pharma Inks $1.1 Billion Global Licensing Deal with Hengrui Pharma for Cancer Drug Trastuzumab Rezete

Glenmark Specialty SA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, announced a major global licensing agreement with China-based Hengrui Pharma on Wednesday. The deal grants Glenmark exclusive development and commercialisation rights for the cancer therapy drug Trastuzumab Rezetecan in select global markets.

Glenmark Pharma Inks $1.1 Billion Global Licensing Deal with Hengrui Pharma

This is one of Glenmark's largest oncology-focused licensing deals to date and signals its aggressive push into high-value, targeted cancer therapies.

According to a regulatory filing with the BSE, the agreement excludes key markets such as Mainland China, the Hong Kong SAR, the Macao SAR, Taiwan, the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, Russia and several countries across Central Asia including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Glenmark will hold the rights to all remaining international markets, positioning the company to significantly expand its oncology footprint across emerging geographies.

Financial Terms of the Glenmark Pharma & Hengrui Pharma Deal

As part of the agreement, Glenmark will make an upfront payment of $18 million to Hengrui Pharma. Additionally, Hengrui is eligible to receive regulatory and commercial milestone payments of up to $1.093 billion, along with tiered royalties based on net sales in the licensed territories.

Glenn Saldanha, Chairman and Managing Director of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals announced, "We are delighted to collaborate with Hengrui and build on the scientific momentum of Trastuzumab Rezetecan as we continue expanding our oncology pipeline and leadership."

He added that the deal reflects Glenmark's long-term commitment to bringing innovative therapies to underserved markets and enhancing access to breakthrough treatments.

Jo Feng, President of Hengrui Pharma stated, "This collaboration with Glenmark is a significant step in Hengrui's ongoing strategy to deepen its presence in emerging markets. We look forward to working together to enhance the accessibility of innovative therapies and to bring new hope to patients in more countries and regions."

Know About Cancer Drug Trastuzumab Rezetecan

Trastuzumab Rezetecan is an innovative antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) developed to target HER2-positive cancers. The drug received regulatory approval in China in May 2025 for the treatment of adult patients with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) carrying HER2 mutations, who have undergone at least one prior therapy.

The molecule is also under regulatory review for breast cancer in China and holds Breakthrough Therapy Designation for nine cancer types, including:

• Lung cancer
• Breast cancer
• Gastric and colorectal cancer
• Biliary tract cancers
• Gynaecological tumours

In addition, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Trastuzumab Rezetecan Orphan Drug Designation in August 2025 for the treatment of gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) like Trastuzumab Rezetecan are considered a next-generation cancer treatment, combining the targeting capability of monoclonal antibodies with the cancer-killing power of cytotoxic drugs.