Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals has entered into a licensing agreement with Delaware-based startup Braveheart Bio for its selective myosin blocker HRS-1893, receiving $65 million upfront with the potential for more than $1 billion in total payments. The deal, announced on September 2, 2025, grants Braveheart Bio worldwide rights to the heart disease drug outside of mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.
Strategic Licensing Deal Structure
Under the agreement terms, Hengrui will receive the $65 million upfront payment plus up to $10 million in additional near-term payments once certain technology transfers are completed. The company remains eligible for up to $1.013 billion in clinical and sales-related milestones, plus royalties on worldwide sales in Braveheart Bio's territories.
The two companies will establish a joint steering committee, with each nominating at most five members, to oversee global development and commercialization of HRS-1893. This collaborative approach reflects the strategic nature of the partnership as the asset advances through late-stage development.
HRS-1893 Mechanism and Development Status
HRS-1893 is a first-in-class myosin inhibitor currently in Phase III trials for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (OHCM). The drug works by suppressing excessive myocardial contraction, which prevents hypertrophy in the left ventricle and improves heart muscle relaxation. This mechanism of action positions the drug for potential broader applications in heart failure, a condition affecting millions in China.
The timing of the licensing agreement is particularly significant as HRS-1893 enters its critical Phase III trial phase. This stage provides Braveheart Bio with a near-term pathway to regulatory approval while allowing Hengrui Medicine to secure upfront payments and milestone-based returns without diverting internal resources.
Competitive Landscape
The licensing deal positions Braveheart Bio and Hengrui to compete directly with Cytokinetics, which earlier this week achieved "potentially best-in-class" efficacy for its own cardiac myosin inhibitor aficamten, according to analysts at Truist Securities. Aficamten is also being developed for oHCM, with an FDA application currently under review and a target action date of September 26.
However, both companies must navigate significant challenges including regulatory hurdles, pricing pressures, and competition from established pharmaceutical giants like Amgen and Novartis. The success of HRS-1893 will depend on clinical outcomes, reimbursement policies, and Braveheart Bio's ability to build commercial infrastructure capable of competing with industry leaders.
Hengrui's Partnership Strategy
This deal represents Hengrui's third major partnership in 2025, highlighting the company's strategic approach to monetizing its pipeline while maintaining focus on core development areas. In March, Hengrui received $200 million upfront from Merck for its investigational small-molecule lipoprotein(a) blocker HRS-5346, with potential total payments reaching up to $1.77 billion in developmental, regulatory and commercial milestones plus royalties.
The company's most significant deal came in July with a sprawling 12-target partnership with GSK. GSK paid $500 million upfront for HRS-9821, a potentially best-in-class PDE3/4 inhibitor being tested for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, along with rights to work on 11 additional molecules. Future payments under this agreement could reach up to $12 billion if all programs are optioned and milestones achieved.
Market Implications
The HRS-1893 licensing agreement reflects broader trends in China's biopharma sector, where strategic licensing agreements are increasingly used to accelerate innovation and capture market share. The competitive dynamics in China's oncology sector are particularly intense, with projected growth rates exceeding 12% through 2030.
For Hengrui, the licensing represents a calculated approach to long-term value creation, allowing the company to monetize a late-stage asset while reinvesting resources in earlier-stage projects to maintain pipeline diversity. For Braveheart Bio, acquiring HRS-1893 offers an opportunity to fast-track a potential blockbuster candidate, similar to successful partnerships like BeiGene's collaboration with Novartis.
