Innovent and Lilly strike China deal for breast cancer drug

Innovent Biologics and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) have entered into a distribution and promotion agreement under which Innovent will take over commercialization of Lilly's CDK4 & 6 inhibitor Verzenios® (abemaciclib) in mainland China, according to a joint statement released June 30, 2026.

Under the terms of the agreement, Innovent will be responsible for the importation, marketing, distribution and promotion of abemaciclib in mainland China, while Lilly will retain the Marketing Authorization Holder status and remain responsible for manufacturing, supply and product development.

Abemaciclib is approved in China for multiple breast cancer indications, covering both early-stage and locally advanced or metastatic disease. The drug was added to China's National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) Class B in 2021 and renewed its listing in 2025, achieving coverage across both early and advanced breast cancer indications.

Innovent founder and CEO Dr. Michael Yu described the deal as the company's eighth collaboration with Lilly, bringing the number of jointly partnered, on-market products in China to seven. He noted that abemaciclib becomes the 19th product in Innovent's portfolio.

Huzur Devletsah, Lilly Group Vice President and China General Manager, said that since the beginning of 2026, Lilly has secured approvals for one new medicine with two indications and two additional indications for existing products in China, including Inluriyo®, which he described as the first approved precision therapy in China targeting ESR1-mutated advanced breast cancer.

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