Glenmark Pharmaceuticals’s wholly owned subsidiary, Glenmark Specialty S.A. has signed an exclusive licensing and collaboration agreement with Hengrui Pharma for Trastuzumab Rezetecan (SHR-A1811), a next-generation HER2-targeting antibody drug conjugate (ADC) used for cancer treatment.
Under the deal, Glenmark will develop and commercialize the drug in most parts of the world, excluding markets such as the US, Canada, Europe, Japan, Russia, and China. The company will pay Hengrui an upfront payment of $18 million, with additional regulatory and commercial milestone payments of up to $1.093 billion. Hengrui will also receive royalties based on net sales within the licensed territories.
Trastuzumab Rezetecan gains China approval for HER2-mutated NSCLC
Trastuzumab Rezetecan, developed by Hengrui, is used in cancer treatment. In May 2025, it received approval in China for adult patients with HER2-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had previously undergone systemic therapy. It became the first China-developed ADC to gain approval for this indication.
In September 2025, China’s drug regulator accepted a new application to use Trastuzumab Rezetecan for breast cancer under its priority review program. So far, the drug has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation in China for nine indications, including NSCLC, breast cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, biliary tract cancer, and gynecologic cancers.
The drug is also progressing in international trials. In August 2025, the US Food and Drug Administration granted Orphan Drug Designation for Trastuzumab Rezetecan in combination with adebrelimab and chemotherapy for gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.
Company eyes innovation-led therapies in high-burden areas
The deal underscores Glenmark’s shift toward complex biologics and innovation-led therapies in high-burden therapeutic areas. The company said in its regulatory filing that the move marks an important step in its long-term strategy to deliver next-generation cancer treatments in underserved geographies.
Share price of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals
The share price of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has gained 25.12 per cent so far this year.