HanchorBio, a Taiwan-based biotech company specializing in innovative immuno-oncology therapies, announced on June 30 that it has entered into an exclusive regional licensing agreement with Shanghai Henlius Biotech, Inc. The deal includes a $10 million upfront payment and up to $192 million in milestone payments, for a total potential value of $202 million. The agreement covers the development and commercialization of HCB101 across Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, selected Southeast Asian countries, and the entire MENA region (Middle East and North Africa). This collaboration marks a significant milestone for Taiwan’s homegrown oncology drug development on the international stage.
HCB101 is a novel multifunctional fusion protein biologic developed using HanchorBio’s proprietary FBDB™ (Fc-Based Designer Biologics) platform. It is designed to precisely activate macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of cancer cells while sparing red blood cells and other hematologic cells—addressing the hematologic side effects seen with first-generation CD47 antibodies. The drug has nearly completed its global Phase 1 multicenter clinical trial, which has confirmed its safety, and is currently in Phase 2a trials, showing early signs of efficacy in both solid tumors (such as head and neck cancers) and hematologic malignancies (including non-Hodgkin lymphoma).
Notably, Taiwan has a disproportionately high incidence of head and neck cancer, with 57.68 cases and 22.34 deaths per 100,000 people annually—both significantly above global averages of 14.24 and 6.87, respectively. It is the third most common cancer and fourth leading cause of cancer death among Taiwanese men, remaining among the top five cancer-related deaths for over two decades.
Henlius, a publicly listed pharmaceutical company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX 18A), is a well-established player in the global biopharma space with five marketed products and 2023 net profits exceeding RMB 820 million. Under this agreement, Henlius will receive exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize HCB101 in the designated territories. Once commercialized, HanchorBio will receive royalty payments ranging from 6% to 12% based on net sales between USD 300 million and USD 800 million, while retaining full control over core IP and manufacturing technologies.
According to BCC Research, the global immuno-oncology market is projected to reach USD 247.2 billion by 2029, driven by the advancement of novel therapies and increasing cancer incidence, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.4%. The sustained growth of immunotherapies is expected to further deepen market penetration.
So far in 2024, Taiwan has seen nine international licensing deals for new drugs, totaling approximately USD 310 million, involving companies such as Oneness Biotech, Pharmosa Biopharm, PharmaEssentia, and Energenesis Biomedical.
Dr. Scott S. Liu, Chairman and CEO of HanchorBio, remarked:
“If the HCB101 licensing deal is successfully executed, it will represent another critical step for Taiwanese innovative drugs in reaching global markets. This not only strengthens HanchorBio’s position as a globally recognized innovator in oncology, but also helps us further our mission to benefit cancer patients around the world.”
Resource: HCB101攻全球腫瘤商機！漢康生技2.02億美元授權上海復宏漢霖
