Chance Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on innovative inhalation therapies, has entered into an exclusive commercialization agreement with Huadong Medicine to bring CXG87, an improved asthma treatment, to the Chinese market. The partnership positions the companies to capitalize on the significant commercial potential of this enhanced respiratory therapy.
Strategic Partnership Structure
Under the terms of the agreement announced on October 9, 2025, Chance Pharma will retain responsibility as the Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH) for research and development, registration, manufacturing, and supply of CXG87. The company will receive an upfront fee, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, and a share of sales profits. Huadong Medicine, a wholly owned subsidiary of Huadong Medicine Co., Ltd. (000963.SZ), will handle commercialization and marketing activities across mainland China.
"We see significant potential for CXG87 in respiratory treatment," stated Mr. Liang Lv, Chairman and General Manager of Huadong Medicine. "This partnership will strategically enhance our respiratory pipeline and, by leveraging our nationwide commercial network and specialized promotion team, will enable CXG87 to achieve rapid market access and broad coverage upon launch."
Enhanced Therapeutic Profile
CXG87 represents an improved therapy of budesonide/formoterol dry powder, classified as a Class 2.2 new drug independently developed by Chance Pharma for treating respiratory diseases such as asthma. The treatment offers several key advantages over the originator product, Symbicort Turbuhaler, most notably significantly lower flow rate dependency, making it more accessible for patients with impaired inspiratory flow.
The drug utilizes a simple, easy-to-use mono-dose inhaler designed to minimize operational errors and ensure more consistent therapeutic performance. Dr. Lan Chen, Co-founder and Head of R&D at Chance Pharma, emphasized the clinical significance: "We look forward to making CXG87 a better treatment option for asthma patients with impaired inspiratory flow, ultimately providing a superior treatment choice for the asthma community worldwide."
Development Timeline and Regulatory Progress
The Phase III clinical trial for the asthma indication has completed enrollment of all subjects, marking a significant milestone in the drug's development trajectory. Chance Pharma expects to submit the New Drug Application (NDA) in the first half of 2026, positioning CXG87 for potential market entry in the near term.
Dr. Donghao Chen, Founder and CEO of Chance Pharma, highlighted the strategic importance of CXG87 as "the first product developed on our unique VFC platform" and "a key differentiated asset that validates the platform's strong scientific and commercial value."
Technology Platform and Manufacturing Capabilities
Chance Pharmaceuticals leverages two core technology platforms—milling/blending and spray drying—to develop its diversified product pipeline. The company's proprietary spray drying platform enables the transformation of biological macromolecules, low-activity drugs, and deep lung/systemic delivery drugs into highly efficient dry powder inhalation formulations.
The company operates a modern manufacturing facility designed and built in compliance with CDE, FDA, and EMA standards, providing end-to-end capabilities from research and development to commercial production. Founded in 2015 by seasoned industry experts, Chance Pharma operates under the mission to "harness respiratory delivery technology to deliver clinical value."
Commercial Infrastructure and Market Access
Huadong Medicine brings substantial commercial capabilities to the partnership, with the company reporting revenue of RMB 41.9 billion in 2024 and employing over 10,000 people. The integrated pharmaceutical company, founded in 1993, operates across four core business segments: Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Pharmaceutical Commerce, Medical Aesthetics, and Industrial Microbiology.
The partnership represents a strategic alignment of Chance Pharma's innovative drug development capabilities with Huadong Medicine's extensive commercial coverage and marketing expertise in the Chinese pharmaceutical market. This collaboration is expected to accelerate patient access to CXG87 upon regulatory approval and commercial launch.
