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.