Key facts
- Eli Lilly transferred the mainland China commercialization rights for its breast cancer drug Verzenios to Innovent Biologics.
- Innovent Biologics will have sole commercialization rights for Verzenios in mainland China.
- Eli Lilly will continue to manufacture, supply, and develop the drug.
- Verzenios generated 1.5 billion yuan ($221 million) in China sales in 2025.
- A generic version of the drug has been approved locally.
Eli Lilly has transferred the commercialization rights for its breast cancer drug Verzenios in mainland China to Innovent Biologics, the Chinese drugmaker announced Tuesday. The agreement grants Innovent sole rights to sell the drug in China, while Eli Lilly will continue its manufacturing, supply, and development.
This move comes as Eli Lilly faces generic competition in China's pharmaceutical market. A generic version of Verzenios has received local approval from a unit of China's Qingfeng Pharmaceutical Group. Verzenios recorded sales of 1.5 billion yuan ($221 million) in China in 2025, according to data provider PharmCube.
Analysts view the deal as a strategy for managing the drug in its later lifecycle, with Innovent potentially aiding sales through its strong local commercial execution. The generic version is not expected to launch until Eli Lilly's patent on the compound expires in China in late 2029. Pharmaceutical companies often seek to offload drugs once they lose patent protection or exclusivity.