BeiGene may not be a profitable business quite yet, but the Chinese biotech has two top oncology products and saw its sales soar to USD 2.2 billion in 2023. Having set its sights on markets outside of China, with its BTK inhibitor Brukinsa already approved across multiple geographies, the company is expanding its footprint in Asia Pacific and entering India through a partnership with Glenmark Pharmaceuticals.

 

Expanding into New Markets

BeiGene has two leading commercial products: its BTK inhibitor Brukinsa and its PD-1 inhibitor Tevimbra. Brukinsa has been greenlighted by the US FDA to treat five types of blood cancer, approved for selected indications in a large number of markets, including the European Union (EU), and more than doubled sales last year, achieving a full-year figure of USD 1.3 billion.

Tevimbra, the firm’s other top product, already approved for multiple indications in China, also recently won an FDA approval for metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and an EU approval, its second, for treatment for non-small cell lung cancer.

On the back of these therapies, BeiGene is on course for major growth and looking to develop new markets. After creating a BeiGene subsidiary in the US and starting work on a USD 700 million biopharmaceutical manufacturing and R&D site there, the firm is now looking to take on additional geographies.

In a first entry into India, the biotech inked a marketing and distribution agreement with Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, a branded and generics maker that has existing partnerships with Pfizer, Jiangsu Alphamab Biopharmaceuticals and 3D Medicines, to commercialize Brukinsa and Tevinbra in India.

According to BeiGene, recent statistics show that India has the third largest number of cancer cases in the world and that cancer causes approximately 900,000 deaths per year. Blood cancer particularly is becoming a growing problem and ranks third highest in the world in terms of reported cases after the US and China. “This collaboration is a testament to our shared vision of enhancing healthcare access across Asia,” said Adam Roach, VP, and head of Asia-Pacific at BeiGene. “We take great pride in advancing mission-driven access, especially given the significant disease burden in India, where rising cancer rates require comprehensive healthcare.”

“Through our collaboration with Glenmark in India, we are taking significant steps forward in our mission towards global health equity, and to expand access to high-quality cancer treatments,” said Dr Senthil Sockalingam, BeiGene head of Asia-Pacific Medical Affairs. “We have developed leading therapies across a broad range of cancers, and we are pleased to be able to support patients in India facing challenging diagnoses.”

 

Asia Pacific

With the Glenmark partnership, BeiGene plans to underscore its ongoing growth across the Asia Pacific region, which encompasses Japan, Korea, and Indonesia. The Chinese biotech’s efforts to expand its footprint in APAC have already seen BeiGene open new affiliates in Seoul, South Korea and Sydney, Australia. In addition, in another recent APAC agreement, the company signed a partnership deal with PT Etana Biotechnologies to commercialize Tevimbra in Indonesia.

“We look forward to a transformative year for BeiGene as we continue to deliver on operational excellence propelled by outstanding growth in revenue across new and existing geographies,” John V. Oyler, co-founder, chairman and CEO asserted at the end of last year, revealing the biotech’s intention to continue its global expansion in 2024.