Henlius Biotech holds R&D day in Shanghai

Hong Kong-listed Shanghai Henlius Biotech Inc, a subsidiary of Fosun Pharma, held its 2025 Global R&D Day with the theme of "collaborate to create" in Shanghai on Tuesday. 

The event drew hundreds of representatives from academia, industry, and the investment community to engage in in-depth discussions on the latest advances in R&D, future strategic planning, and the deployment of cutting-edge technologies and therapies.

Jason Zhu, executive director and CEO of Henlius, said the company remains steadfast to its patient-centric philosophy, and continues to strengthen its differentiated competitive edges through innovation-driven R&D. 

"We are advancing the development of several key innovative assets with the potential to reshape the treatment landscape for lung and gastrointestinal cancers. Beyond that, we are actively exploring frontier technologies, such as targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and glyco-editing, as we build a diversified innovation platform," he said.

In terms of global expansion, Henlius is strategically focused on major markets, such as the United States, the European Union, and Japan. Zhu said that through full value chain integration and deepening international partnerships, the company is making a strategic leap from exporting products to building a global value chain.

"Looking ahead, Henlius will continue to focus on antibody drug innovation, accelerate breakthroughs in targeted and immune therapies, and drive the global advancement of China's innovative biologics. Our goal is to deliver high-quality, affordable biologics to patients all around the world," he said.

Since the inception of the company in 2010, its six products have been launched in China, four have been approved for marketing in overseas markets, and five marketing applications have been accepted for review in China, the US, and the EU, respectively.

Li Jin, vice-president of Henlius regulatory affairs, said at the event that the company is advancing its "internationalization 2.0 strategy" with Japan as a key market, leveraging the company's differentiated advantages in gastric cancer and lung cancer, among others. She said Henlius has initiated clinical trials in Japan to establish foundational support for indication development. 

"Japan represents a strategic priority as a global pharmaceutical hub, offering unique opportunities through its aging population dynamics and innovative drug policy environment. We are systematically building local operational capabilities while strengthening our market position through innovative biologics," she said.