GSK has reached an agreement with Hong Kong-listed Sino Biopharmaceutical to support access to its experimental chronic hepatitis B treatment, bepirovirsen, in mainland China, where the disease remains a major health issue.
The agreement, announced Monday, will see Sino subsidiary Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical (CTTQ) purchase supplies of bepirovirsen from GSK for an initial term of five and a half years. CTTQ will distribute and promote the therapy through a network of more than 5,000 medical centers across China, while GSK will book sales of the drug. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
Bepirovirsen is currently under regulatory priority review in China for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B infections, which can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer if left untreated. Chronic hepatitis B remains a global health issue, affecting more than 250 million people worldwide, according to GSK. China accounts for roughly one-third of the global disease burden, according to the World Health Organization, and GSK estimates that about 75 million people in the country are affected.
Many people living with chronic hepatitis B take antiviral medicines for life. GSK and its development partner, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, are positioning bepirovirsen as a “functional cure” instead. The RNA-based therapy has shown potential in clinical testing to reduce the virus to undetectable levels within six months.
Bepirovirsen is designed to tackle hepatitis B in three ways: blocking viral DNA replication, lowering hepatitis B surface antigen levels in the blood, and boosting the immune response to help achieve longer-lasting control of the disease.
GSK expects to launch bepirovirsen in some markets later this year. A regulatory decision in China is expected in 2027, while the drug could receive approval in the United States by Oct. 26. During a recent earnings call, CEO Luke Miels said China and the United States together account for about two-thirds of the expected global market opportunity for the treatment.
Nina Mojas, GSK’s president of global product strategy, said during the same earnings call that there is a “very high desire for treatment” in China and noted that a stigma is associated with the disease in the country.
In a statement announcing the partnership, GSK said CTTQ has “played a significant role” in advancing the diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis B in China and would help the company reach more patients more quickly. The statement was issued by the British drugmaker.
The agreement also gives GSK an opportunity to evaluate Sino Biopharmaceutical’s early-stage pipeline for possible partnership opportunities outside China.
The deal is the latest in a series of agreements between GSK and China-based drug companies. Since early 2025, GSK has completed three licensing agreements with China-based firms. Earlier agreements included a $500 million drug development deal with Hengrui last year and a 2023 agreement with Hansoh Pharma for multiple cancer drugs.
More than one million people died as a result of chronic hepatitis B in 2022, according to the World Health Organization.
Bepirovirsen is at the center of a major strategic agreement between GSK and Sino Biopharmaceutical to expand access to innovative hepatitis B treatment solutions in China. The collaboration is designed to accelerate the launch and commercialization of Bepirovirsen across mainland China through Sino Biopharmaceutical’s healthcare network.
Bepirovirsen Gains Momentum in China
The agreement allows Sino Biopharmaceutical’s subsidiary, Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group, to manage the importation, distribution, hospital access, and promotional activities for Bepirovirsen in mainland China. The partnership initially covers a 5.5-year term with options for future extension.
The deal reflects the increasing importance of China in global pharmaceutical growth strategies and highlights how Bepirovirsen could become a key treatment option for chronic hepatitis B patients.
