Innovent Biologics and Daiichi Sankyo have signed an exclusive agreement that will give Innovent sole commercialization rights for Vanflyta (quizartinib) in China, expanding the Chinese drugmaker’s growing portfolio of cancer treatments.
Under the agreement, Daiichi Sankyo will continue to oversee the development, manufacturing and supply of Vanflyta, while Innovent will take responsibility for marketing and commercial activities in China.
Vanflyta was approved in China in June 2026 for adults with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that tests positive for the FLT3-ITD mutation. The treatment is used alongside standard cytarabine and anthracycline induction chemotherapy, followed by cytarabine consolidation, and can also be used as maintenance therapy after consolidation chemotherapy.
The Chinese approval was supported by results from the Phase 3 QuANTUM-First trial, which evaluated quizartinib in combination with standard chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed FLT3-ITD-positive AML.
The partnership comes as both companies look to strengthen their presence in China’s hematology and oncology markets. For Innovent, adding Vanflyta brings another targeted therapy into its commercial portfolio and marks the company’s 20th marketed product.
Vivian Zhang, Executive Director and Chief Commercial Officer of Innovent Biologics, said the agreement strengthens the company’s hematology franchise and complements its existing cancer portfolio. Innovent currently markets several oncology medicines, including sintilimab, rituximab, olverembatinib, equecabtagene autoleucel and pirtobrutinib.
Daiichi Sankyo will continue to provide the drug and support its development, while Innovent’s established commercial infrastructure in China is expected to help expand access to the treatment.
Michio Hayashi, China President of Daiichi Sankyo, said the partnership combines the Japanese pharmaceutical company’s research and development capabilities with Innovent’s commercial reach in China.
Vanflyta is an oral, highly potent type II FLT3 inhibitor designed to target FLT3-ITD mutations, one of the genetic alterations associated with AML. FLT3 mutations are among the most common mutations found in AML, with FLT3-ITD accounting for roughly 80% of FLT3 mutations.
FLT3-ITD mutations occur in around one-quarter of AML cases and are associated with more aggressive disease, a higher risk of relapse and poorer overall survival. This makes targeted treatment particularly important for patients whose newly diagnosed AML carries the mutation.
AML is an aggressive blood cancer that primarily affects adults. In China, nearly 82,000 leukemia cases were reported in 2022, with more than 50,000 deaths attributed to the disease. AML represents a substantial proportion of leukemia cases in the country.
The commercialization agreement gives Innovent an opportunity to build on its existing position in oncology while providing Daiichi Sankyo with an established commercial partner for Vanflyta in one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical markets. The companies expect their respective development and commercial capabilities to support wider availability of the targeted therapy for Chinese patients with FLT3-ITD-positive AML.