On 29 April 2025, Sandoz and Shanghai Henlius Biotech announced that they have entered into a global collaboration agreement to commercialise a biosimilar of BMS’ Yervoy® (ipilimumab).
Under the agreement, Henlius will develop and manufacture the biosimilar, HLX13, while Sandoz has the exclusive commercialisation rights in the US, Europe, Canada, Japan and Australia. Henlius will receive an upfront payment of USD 31 million, and up to USD 270 million in milestone payments.
Ipilimumab is approved in combination with nivolumab (BMS’ Opdivo®) for metastatic melanoma and other cancers. The Henlius deal will therefore complement Sandoz’s development of its own biosimilar to nivolumab, in relation to which Sandoz is recruiting patients for an integrated Phase I/III trial in the advanced melanoma setting.