AstraZeneca China and Boan Biologics Forge Strategic Partnership to Expand Access to Local Anti-Cancer Biologic in County-Level Markets
On May 26, 2021, AstraZeneca China announced that it had obtained the rights to Boan Biotech’s anti-tumor biologic drug, Boyounuo. Boan Biotech is a subsidiary controlled by Luye Pharma Group.®(Exclusive promotion rights for Bevacizumab Injection in the county-level markets of 21 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions across mainland China.) Both parties will leverage their respective advantages and resources in market coverage and drug development to expand the reach of anti-tumor biologics into county-level markets, enabling more patients with non-small cell lung cancer and colorectal cancer to benefit from domestically produced anti-tumor biologics, thereby improving the accessibility of innovative oncology drugs in county-level areas.
Signing Ceremony
Left: Jiang Hua, CEO of Boan Biotech
Right: Du Haochen, Vice President of AstraZeneca China and Head of County Business
In the field of oncology, AstraZeneca is committed to providing diversified cancer treatment solutions by continuously innovating to build a diverse product portfolio and distribution channels, thereby driving ongoing transformation in medical practice and improving patient experiences. This collaboration with Boan Biotechnology on bevacizumab injection covers the therapeutic areas of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and metastatic colorectal cancer. The high incidence and mortality rates of lung cancer represent one of the major public health concerns attracting widespread societal attention. AstraZeneca remains dedicated to delivering innovative medicines and integrated diagnostic and therapeutic solutions for patients with lung cancer. This partnership also marks AstraZeneca’s first step into the field of colorectal cancer treatment, offering more personalized diagnostic and therapeutic solutions for cancer patients in county-level regions.
AstraZeneca holds a leading position in China’s county-level markets, backed by a specialized oncology product sales and marketing team, extensive local commercialization expertise, and broad market coverage. With deep roots in China’s county-level regions for many years, AstraZeneca not only enhances access to innovative medicines and provides integrated diagnosis-and-treatment solutions for comprehensive disease management, but also collaborates with various societal stakeholders to actively advance diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities in these areas and support the development of county-level healthcare systems. The company remains committed to intelligently building a healthy medical ecosystem, delivering high-quality solutions, and benefiting hundreds of millions of residents in county-level regions. AstraZeneca is also actively exploring expanded collaborations with Chinese domestic enterprises to bring high-quality local solutions deeper into county-level markets, striving to ensure that county residents can receive efficient, high-quality diagnosis and treatment without having to leave their home counties.
Wang Lei, Executive Vice President of AstraZeneca, President of International Business and China“Throughout, AstraZeneca has upheld its ‘patient-centric’ philosophy, actively collaborating with diverse societal resources to ensure that more patients in county-level areas benefit from advanced innovative therapies and comprehensive solutions covering the entire disease course and full life cycle. Boan Biologics is a comprehensive biopharmaceutical company with end-to-end industry chain capabilities, boasting excellent R&D and manufacturing teams, and stands as a leading domestic enterprise in China. We look forward to close collaboration between both parties in the future, bringing more innovative solutions to patients in county-level areas and making unremitting efforts to meet China’s growing healthcare needs.”
Jiang Hua, CEO of Boan Biotechstated, “AstraZeneca has cultivated deep expertise in the field of oncology and county-level markets for many years, boasting extensive innovative resources and broad market coverage. This strategic collaboration with AstraZeneca serves as a significant complement to and expansion of Boyounuo®’s commercialization network. Moving forward, we will leverage our respective strengths in channel distribution and patient population coverage across multi-tiered markets, while actively exploring opportunities for cooperation in overseas markets, thereby providing more patients with high-quality, affordable treatment options.”
The bevacizumab injection jointly promoted by the two parties is an anti-tumor biologic indicated for the treatment of advanced, metastatic, or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and metastatic colorectal cancer. The product recently received marketing approval from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).
Bevacizumab Injection is a recombinant humanized immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody that targets vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). By binding to VEGF-A, it inhibits its interaction with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), thereby blocking the biological effects of VEGF, including modulation of vascular permeability, proliferation, and endothelial cell migration and survival. This results in sustained inhibition of tumor angiogenesis, growth, and metastasis.
AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) is a science-led global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the research, development, manufacturing, and marketing of prescription medicines, with a primary focus on three major therapeutic areas: oncology; cardiovascular, renal, and metabolism; and respiratory and immunology. Headquartered in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in more than 100 countries, and its innovative medicines benefit millions of patients worldwide. For more information, please visit www.astrazeneca.com.
Since entering China in 1993, AstraZeneca has adhered to a science-led approach and prioritized innovation to meet the growing health needs of the Chinese population, striving to realize its ambitious vision of “pioneering innovation, benefiting patients, and becoming China’s most trusted healthcare partner.” Headquartered in Shanghai, AstraZeneca China has established regional headquarters in Beijing, Guangzhou, Wuxi, Hangzhou, and Chengdu, and employs more than 18,000 people across the country. The company has invested in manufacturing bases in Wuxi and Taizhou, Jiangsu Province, and established its China logistics center in Wuxi. In China, AstraZeneca focuses primarily on therapeutic areas with the most urgent patient needs, including respiratory, cardiovascular, metabolic, oncology, gastrointestinal, and renal diseases. In 2017, the China Health Internet of Things (IoT) Innovation Center was launched in Wuxi to explore innovative IoT-enabled integrated solutions for whole-disease-course management. In the same year, AstraZeneca formed a joint venture with SDIC Innovation to establish Dizal (Jiangsu) Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., accelerating local new drug research and development. In 2019, AstraZeneca announced a partnership with Wuxi to co-establish the Wuxi International Life Science Innovation Park, leveraging global expertise to benefit Chinese patients. Also in 2019, AstraZeneca announced the establishment of its Global R&D China Center in Shanghai and launched a global healthcare industry fund. In 2020, AstraZeneca announced its support for the “Internet Hospital” initiative.
Luye Pharma Group (Luye Pharma) is an international pharmaceutical company dedicated to the research and development, manufacturing, and commercialization of innovative medicines. With R&D centers established in China, the United States, and Europe, Luye Pharma has more than 30 drug candidates under development in China and over 10 overseas. The company has initiated registration and clinical studies for multiple innovative formulations and novel drugs in the fields of central nervous system (CNS) disorders and oncology across Europe, the United States, and Japan. Luye Pharma has achieved internationally advanced capabilities in advanced drug delivery technologies, including microspheres, liposomes, and transdermal drug delivery systems, and has actively laid out and developed capabilities in areas such as biological antibodies, cell therapy, and gene therapy.
Luye Pharma has strategically established a comprehensive global supply chain network, operating eight manufacturing bases and over 30 production lines worldwide, along with a GMP quality management and control system aligned with international standards. The company currently markets more than 30 products, covering therapeutic areas such as oncology, central nervous system disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and digestion and metabolism. Its business presence extends to over 80 countries and regions, encompassing major pharmaceutical markets including China, the United States, Europe, and Japan, as well as rapidly growing emerging markets worldwide.
Boan Biotech, a controlling subsidiary of Luye Pharma Group, is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of therapeutic antibodies, with a focus on oncology, autoimmune diseases, pain management, and endocrine disorders. The company’s antibody discovery activities are built upon three core platforms: transgenic mice producing fully human antibodies and phage display technology, bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) technology, and antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology. Currently, Boan Biotech has established a product portfolio comprising more than 10 innovative antibodies protected by international intellectual property rights and eight biosimilars.
Boan Biotech possesses a fully integrated industrial chain encompassing antibody generation and lead optimization, cell line establishment and process development, technology transfer, pilot-scale production, and commercial manufacturing. Furthermore, the company is actively strategically positioning itself around cutting-edge technologies; its cell therapy products utilize non-viral vectors to develop CAR-T therapies for advanced solid tumors, while also laying out next-generation universal and controllable CAR-T platforms to rapidly develop safer, more effective, and affordable CAR-T products. In addition to China, Boan Biotech is engaged in the development of biopharmaceutical products in the United States and European Union markets.