On 15 January 2026, Zydus Lifesciences Ltd and Agenus Inc. announced the closing of a deal in which Zydus acquired Agenus’ biologics manufacturing facilities in Emeryville and Berkeley, California, and obtained exclusive rights to develop and commercialise Agenus’ botensilimab and balstilimab (BOT+BAL) immunotherapy combination program in India and Sri Lanka.
The transaction includes a US$75 million cash payment by Zydus to Agenus for the transfer of the biologics manufacturing facilities, a US$16 million purchase of shares in Agenus by Zydus and up to US$50 million in milestone payments by Zydus to Agenus based on BOT+BAL production orders. Agenus is also eligible to receive a 5% royalty on net sales of BOT+BAL in India and Sri Lanka.
Zydus is establishing a new US subsidiary, Zylidac Bio LLC, which will provide biologics manufacturing sites offering CDMO services to biopharmaceutical companies globally. According to Zydus, the launch of Zylidac Bio is designed to provide a “safe-harbour” for global biopharmaceutical companies seeking to transition their supply chains to US based partners, in light of the US BIOSECURE Act, which was signed into law in December 2025 and restricts US federal procurement and grants involving biotechnology products or services provided by “biotechnology companies of concern”.
Zydus recently signalled its entry into the North American market, entering into an exclusive licensing and supply agreement with Formycon for the commercialisation of Formycon’s FYB206, biosimilar to MSD’s Keytruda® (pembrolizumab), in the US and Canada.