On July 8, Sino Biopharmaceutical Limited (1177.HK) announced that its subsidiary, Chia Tai Tianqing (CTTQ), has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with AstraZeneca for SBP Group's self-developed PDE3/4 inhibitor (development code: TQC3721). 

Under the terms of the agreement, SBP Group will grant AstraZeneca an exclusive license to develop, manufacture, and commercialize TQC3721 in regions outside of China. AstraZeneca will also hold exclusive global rights under certain agreed development plans for TQC3721. SBP Group is eligible to receive an upfront payment of $200 million, and potential development, regulatory, and sales milestone payments totaling up to $1.9 billion, as well as tiered royalties of up to double-digit percentages on the annual net sales of TQC3721. The effectiveness of the agreement is subject to customary closing conditions, including obtaining approvals from relevant regulatory authorities. 

AstraZeneca is a leading global multinational pharmaceutical company in the respiratory field. This collaboration will leverage its deep clinical development experience and expertise in the respiratory field, combined with SBP Group's innovation capabilities, to accelerate the global clinical development of TQC3721, maximizing the clinical value and commercial potential of this potential best-in-class drug to benefit more patients worldwide. 

This collaboration is SBP Group's second licensing deal with a multinational pharmaceutical company this year, following the licensing agreement with Sanofi in February. It marks another significant milestone in SBP Group's internationalization process and further validates SBP Group's independent innovation capabilities and excellent business development (BD) execution. In the future, SBP Group will continue to expand its global partner network, deepen diverse strategic collaborations with multinational pharmaceutical companies, and strive to become the preferred innovation partner for global pharmaceutical enterprises. 

About TQC3721

TQC3721 is a self-developed inhaled dual PDE3/4 inhibitor by SBP Group with significant differentiation advantages and best-in-class potential in multiple respiratory indications. Through balanced inhibition of PDE3 and PDE4, TQC3721 achieves synergistic effects of bronchodilation and anti-inflammation, which is expected to improve lung function, reduce the risk of acute exacerbations, and effectively reduce the long-term disease burden for patients with chronic respiratory disease. 

As an innovative inhaled formulation, TQC3721 is being developed in two dosage forms, a nebulized inhalation suspension and a dry powder inhaler, which can be adapted to different patient populations, disease severities, and commercialization scenarios. For chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the TQC3721 nebulized inhalation suspension has demonstrated best-in-class potential in a Phase IIb study[1]. This dosage form is currently undergoing Phase III clinical trials in China, while the dry powder inhaler has also advanced to the Phase II clinical stage. It is expected to become the first domestically developed inhaled dual PDE3/4 inhibitor approved for marketing in China.