# Innovent Biologics and Lilly Enter into Commercialization Agreement for Verzenios® (abemaciclib) in Mainland China

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/pr-news/innovent-biologics-and-lilly-enter-into-commercialization-agreement-for-verzenios-abemaciclib-in-mainland-china
- Published: 2026-06-30T11:00:00+07:00
- Author: PR Newswire

SAN FRANCISCO and SUZHOU, China, June 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Innovent Biologics,
Inc. ("Innovent") (HKEX: 01801), a world-class biopharmaceutical company that develops,
manufactures, and commercializes high-quality medicines for the treatment of oncology,
autoimmune, cardiovascular and metabolic, ophthalmology and other major disease 
areas, and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today jointly announced that they have
entered into a distribution and promotion agreement regarding Lilly’s CDK4 & 6 inhibitor
Verzenios^(®) (abemaciclib) in mainland China:

 ◦ Innovent will be responsible for the importation, marketing, distribution and
   promotion of Verzenios^(®) (abemaciclib) in mainland China;
 ◦ Lilly will continue to be responsible for manufacturing, supply, and development
   for the product.

Verzenios^(®) (abemaciclib), developed by Lilly, is a CDK4 & 6 inhibitor that has
been approved in China for multiple indications, including:

**(1) Early Breast Cancer:** in combination with endocrine therapy (tamoxifen or
an aromatase inhibitor) for the adjuvant treatment of adult patients with hormone
receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative,
node-positive early breast cancer at high risk of recurrence.
**(2) Locally Advanced
or Metastatic Breast Cancer:a) For the treatment of hormone receptor (HR)-positive,
human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative locally advanced or metastatic
breast cancer:

 ◦ In combination with an aromatase inhibitor as initial endocrine-based therapy
   in postmenopausal women.
 ◦ In combination with fulvestrant for patients who have experienced disease progression
   following prior endocrine therapy.

b) In combination with imlunestrant: for the treatment of adult patients with estrogen
receptor (ER)-positive, HER2-negative, ESR1-mutated locally advanced or metastatic
breast cancer who have previously received endocrine therapy.

The product was included in the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) Class B 
in 2021, becoming the first CDK4 & 6 inhibitor covered by national reimbursement
in China. In 2025, it successfully renewed its NRDL listing, achieving full coverage
across both early and advanced breast cancer indications.

Under the agreement, Innovent will hold sole commercialization rights for Verzenios
^(®) (abemaciclib) in mainland China, while Lilly, as the Marketing Authorization
Holder (MAH), will continue to be responsible for manufacturing, supply, and ongoing
product development. This collaboration combines Innovent’s experienced oncology
commercialization team and extensive market reach in China with Lilly’s expertise
in innovative medicine development and lifecycle management, further enhancing access
to this important therapy and benefiting more breast cancer patients across the 
country.

**Dr. Michael Yu, Founder, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Innovent**, stated: "
We are delighted to further deepen our strategic partnership with Lilly through 
this eighth collaboration, bringing the number of our partnered, on-market products
in China to seven. This also marks the 19^(th) product in Innovent’s portfolio. 
Enhancing patient access to high-quality, innovative medicines has always been at
the core of Innovent’s mission. Leveraging our established commercial infrastructure
and strong market presence in China, we remain focused on addressing critical unmet
needs in major oncology indications. Breast cancer, one of the most prevalent and
life–threatening malignancies among women, is a strategic priority within Innovent’s
oncology portfolio. Through this commercial collaboration with Lilly on Verzenios
^(®) (abemaciclib) – backed by its robust clinical efficacy, comprehensive labeled
indications and national reimbursement coverage – we are expanding our presence 
in this area, laying a solid foundation for our pipeline development and market 
expansion deliver lasting benefits to patients in breast cancer."

**Huzur Devletsah, Lilly Group Vice President and China General Manager**, said:"
For 150 years, Lilly has remained committed to putting health above all, advancing
human health through scientific innovation and expanding access through collaboration.
This agreement for Verzenios^(®) (abemaciclib) is an important step in strengthening
patient access in China, combining Lilly’s global R&D expertise with Innovent’s 
commercialization capabilities in China. Looking ahead, Lilly will continue to advance
its oncology efforts in China. Since the beginning of this year, we have secured
approvals for one new medicine (with two indications) and two new additional indications
for on market products in China, including Inluriyo^(®), which has become the first
and currently only approved precision therapy in China only targeting ESR1-mutated
advanced breast cancer, accelerating the introduction of globally innovative therapies
and addressing unmet medical needs."

**About InnoventInnovent is a leading biopharmaceutical company founded in 2011 
with the mission to empower patients worldwide with affordable, high-quality biopharmaceuticals.
The company discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes innovative medicines
that target some of the most intractable diseases. Its pioneering therapies treat
cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic, autoimmune and eye diseases. Innovent has 
launched 19 products in the market. It has 1 asset in NMPA NDA review, 5 assets 
in Phase 3 or pivotal clinical trials and 14 more molecules in early clinical stage.
Innovent partners with over 30 global healthcare companies, including Lilly, Takeda,
Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Incyte, LG Chem and MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Guided by the motto, "Start with Integrity, Succeed through Action" Innovent maintains
the highest standard of industry practices and works collaboratively to advance 
the biopharmaceutical industry so that first-rate pharmaceutical drugs can become
widely accessible. For more information, visit [www.innoventbio.com](http://www.innoventbio.com/),
or follow Innovent on Facebook and LinkedIn. 

Statement:
_1) Innovent does not recommend the use of any unapproved drug (s)/indication(
s).2) Ramucirumab (Cyramza) and Selpercatinib (Retsevmo), Pirtobrutinib (Jaypirca)
and abemaciclib (Verzenios) were developed by Eli Lilly and Company.Disclaimer: 
Innovent does not recommend any off-label usage.

**About Lilly** 
Lilly is a medicine company turning science into healing to make
life better for people around the world. We’ve been pioneering life-changing discoveries
for 150 years, and today our medicines help tens of millions of people across the
globe. Harnessing the power of biotechnology, chemistry and genetic medicine, our
scientists are urgently advancing new discoveries to solve some of the world’s most
significant health challenges: redefining diabetes care; treating obesity and curtailing
its most devastating long-term effects; advancing the fight against Alzheimer’s 
disease; providing solutions to some of the most debilitating immune system disorders;
and transforming the most difficult-to-treat cancers into manageable diseases. With
each step toward a healthier world, we’re motivated by one thing: making life better
for millions more people. That includes delivering innovative clinical trials that
reflect the diversity of our world and working to ensure our medicines are accessible
and affordable.

**Forward-Looking Statements of Innovent BiologicsThis news release may contain 
certain forward-looking statements that are, by their nature, subject to significant
risks and uncertainties. The words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect","
intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to Innovent, are intended to identify
certain of such forward-looking statements. Innovent does not intend to update these
forward-looking statements regularly.

These forward-looking statements are based on the existing beliefs, assumptions,
expectations, estimates, projections and understandings of the management of Innovent
with respect to future events at the time these statements are made. These statements
are not a guarantee of future developments and are subject to risks, uncertainties
and other factors, some of which are beyond Innovent’s control and are difficult
to predict. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from information 
contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of future changes or developments
in our business, Innovent’s competitive environment and political, economic, legal
and social conditions.

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