Brii Biosciences Limited a multi-national company developing innovative therapies for diseases with significant unmet medical needs and large public health burdens, announced that TSB Therapeutics (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“TSB Therapeutics”), a joint venture majority-owned by the Company, is partnering with China Resources Pharmaceutical Commercial Group Co., Ltd. (“CR Pharma Comm”) to advance stockpiling, channel distribution and hospital access for the Company’s long-acting neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy, the amubarvimab/romlusevimab combination. The two parties are working together to ensure timely drug supply that supports the COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control efforts in China. The collaboration will also explore other novel partnership opportunities to enable expanded access of the combination therapy in China.
On December 8, 2021, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China approved the amubarvimab/romlusevimab combination for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients (age 12-17 weighing at least 40 kg) with mild and normal type of COVID-19 at high risk for progression to severe disease, including hospitalization or death. The indication of pediatric patients (age 12-17 weighing at least 40 kg) is under a conditional approval. On March 15, 2022, the National Health Commission of China added the amubarvimab/romlusevimab combination to its COVID-19 Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines (9th Pilot Edition) for the treatment of COVID-19. On July 7, 2022, the amubarvimab/romlusevimab combination was made commercially available in China.
“As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the health of communities worldwide, we are proud to bring the amubarvimab/romlusevimab combination to patients in urgent need in China, and pleased with the 27-month timeline on which we were able to expedite this important work,” said Rogers Luo, President and General Manager, Greater China of Brii Bio, and Chief Executive Officer of TSB Therapeutics. “In 2019, Brii Bio started a strategic partnership with China Resources Group to jointly build an integrated industriBiotechnology, Healthcareal chain of life sciences. CR Pharma Comm is a large-scale pharmaceutical distribution enterprise owned by China Resources Pharmaceutical Group, which has an extensive drug marketing and channel distribution network. This strong and strategic partnership and unique operating model enables Brii Bio to rapidly expand access to our amubarvimab/romlusevimab combination to help more COVID-19 patients in China, and we look forward to exploring in-depth collaborative efforts with China Resources Pharmaceutical Group down the line for the long-term benefit of patients and the healthcare community.”