Apr 17, 2025｜2025
Henlius 2025 Global R&D Day: Harnessing the Power of Innovation to Propel Global Strategy to New Heights
Shanghai, April 15, 2025 — Henlius (2696.HK) held its 2025 Global R&D Day under the theme of “Collaborate to Create”. Senior executives from Henlius gathered with leading experts, scholars, and heads of innovation from across the industry to engage in in-depth discussions on the latest advances in R&D, future strategic planning, and the deployment of cutting-edge technologies and therapies. The event drew hundreds of guests from academia, industry, and the investment community, making it a grand gathering of shared insight and collaboration.
Jason Zhu, Executive Director and CEO of Henlius, stated: "At Henlius, we remain steadfast in our patient-centric philosophy and continue to strengthen our differentiated competitive edge through innovation-driven R&D. We are advancing the development of several key innovative assets, including HANSIZHUANG (serplulimab, anti-PD-1 mAb), HLX22 (anti-HER2 mAb), and HLX43 (PD-L1 ADC), with the potential to reshape the treatment landscape for lung and gastrointestinal cancers. Beyond that, we are actively exploring frontier technologies such as targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and glyco-editing, as we build a diversified innovation platform. In terms of global expansion, Henlius is strategically focused on major markets such as the U.S., EU, and Japan. Through full value chain integration and deepening international partnerships, we are making a strategic leap from exporting products to building a global value chain. Looking ahead, Henlius will continue to focus on antibody drug innovation, accelerate breakthroughs in targeted and immune therapies, and drive the global advancement of China's innovative biologics. Our goal is to deliver high-quality, affordable biologics to patients around the world while forging a sustainable, globally integrated value core."
Jijun Yuan, CSO of Henlius, elaborated on the company's differentiated innovation strategy: "Henlius' R&D strength is reflected not only in our innovative pipeline but also in the continuous expansion of our platform capabilities. We focus on key therapeutic areas such as oncology and autoimmune diseases, extending our innovation reach to diverse modalities—including protein-based therapies, small molecules, and ADCs—to maximize synergistic potential across pipeline assets. Our three flagship technology platforms—the Hinova TCE (tri-specific T-cell engager) platform, the independently developed ADC platform Hanjugator™, and the AI-driven drug discovery platform HAI Club—have formed a collaborative R&D matrix. Leveraging these platforms and AI-driven approaches, we are accelerating the development of differentiated molecules, such as TCEs for solid tumors, to rapidly deliver more potential blockbuster therapies."
In Henlius' innovative pipeline, late-stage clinical assets such as HLX22 and HLX43 have emerged as breakthrough candidates, underscoring the company's potential to drive future growth. Lixin Feng, Strategic Products Deputy GM of Henlius, shared that, "HLX43 is a precisely designed ADC targeting the pan-tumor antigen PD-L1. Its core framework incorporates the company's proprietary novel anti-PD-L1 mAb, combined with MediLink Therapeutics' innovative linker-toxin payload featuring a dual-release mechanism (intracellular and extracellular). As the world's second and China's first PD-L1 ADC to enter clinical development, HLX43 has demonstrated early potential as an innovative PIP (pipeline in a pill).Preclinical studies have shown favorable druggability and safety profiles with significant tumor-killing activity. Meanwhile, clinical studies of HLX43 as both monotherapy and in combination with HANSIZHUANG are accelerating across multiple solid tumors, with the potential to deliver superior treatment options for patients."
