Innovent, Lilly Expand Verzenios Access for Breast Cancer in China

Innovent Biologics and Eli Lilly and Company have entered into a new distribution and promotion agreement for Verzenios® (abemaciclib) in mainland China, expanding their commercial partnership and aiming to improve access to the CDK4/6 inhibitor for patients with early and advanced breast cancer.

Under the agreement, Innovent will be responsible for importing, marketing, distributing and promoting Verzenios in mainland China. Lilly will remain the marketing authorization holder and will continue to manage the drug’s manufacturing, supply and ongoing clinical development.

The agreement gives Innovent sole commercialization rights for Verzenios in mainland China. The partnership combines Lilly’s global oncology research and development capabilities with Innovent’s established oncology sales infrastructure and market reach in China.

Verzenios is a CDK4/6 inhibitor developed by Lilly for the treatment of hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. CDK4/6 inhibitors are targeted cancer medicines that work by blocking proteins involved in cell division, helping slow the growth of certain breast cancer cells.

In China, Verzenios is approved for several breast cancer indications. In early breast cancer, it can be used with endocrine therapy, including tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor, as adjuvant treatment for adult patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative, node-positive disease that carries a high risk of recurrence.

The therapy is also approved for hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. It may be used in combination with an aromatase inhibitor as an initial endocrine-based treatment for postmenopausal women, or with fulvestrant for patients whose disease has progressed after prior endocrine therapy.

In addition, Verzenios has been approved in China in combination with imlunestrant for adults with estrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative, ESR1-mutated locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer who have previously received endocrine therapy.

Verzenios was added to China’s National Reimbursement Drug List, or NRDL, in 2021 as a Class B medicine. It became the first CDK4/6 inhibitor to receive national reimbursement coverage in the country. The product renewed its NRDL listing in 2025, maintaining reimbursement coverage across both early-stage and advanced breast cancer indications.

Dr. Michael Yu, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Innovent, said the agreement represents the eighth collaboration between Innovent and Lilly. He added that Verzenios will become the 19th product in Innovent’s commercial portfolio and the seventh partnered product currently marketed by the company in China.

Yu said breast cancer remains a strategic priority for Innovent’s oncology business because it is one of the most common and life-threatening cancers among women. He said the addition of Verzenios strengthens Innovent’s presence in breast cancer treatment and supports its longer-term oncology pipeline and commercial growth strategy.

Huzur Devletsah, Lilly Group vice president and China general manager, said the agreement is intended to strengthen patient access to innovative breast cancer medicines in China. He added that Lilly will continue to advance its oncology portfolio in the country, including precision therapies for patients with ESR1-mutated advanced breast cancer.

The agreement reflects the continued importance of commercial partnerships in China’s pharmaceutical market, where global drugmakers increasingly work with local biopharmaceutical companies to expand access, improve distribution and support the adoption of innovative oncology medicines.