Junshi Biosciences Licenses Anti-IL-17A Antibody Roconkibart to Fosun Wanbang in Greater China Deal Worth Up to RMB 215 Million Upfront
Key Insights
Junshi Biosciences has entered a licensing agreement with Fosun Wanbang (search) for roconkibart (JS005), an anti-IL-17A (search) monoclonal antibody, covering development, registration, manufacturing, and commercialization across Greater China.
Junshi will receive an upfront payment of RMB 215 million, with additional milestone payments of up to RMB 1.125 million and double-digit tiered royalties on net sales.
Roconkibart's Phase 3 trial in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (search) demonstrated a 91% PASI 90 response rate at week 16 and a 65% PASI 100 response rate at week 52 in the 150 mg dosing group.
Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co., Ltd announced on July 1, 2026, that it has entered into a license agreement with Fosun Wanbang (search) Pharma Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fosun Pharma, for the co-development and commercialization of roconkibart (JS005) across the Greater China region, encompassing the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.
Under the terms of the agreement, Junshi Biosciences grants Fosun Wanbang (search) the rights to develop, register, manufacture, and commercialize roconkibart in Greater China. Junshi will receive a non-deductible, non-refundable upfront payment of RMB 215 million, and will be eligible to receive milestone payments for product development and sales of up to RMB 1.125 million, as well as double-digit tiered royalties based on net sales in the territory.
Mechanism of Action and Clinical Rationale
Roconkibart is a specific anti-IL-17A (search) monoclonal antibody independently developed by Junshi Biosciences. Interleukin-17A is a pleiotropic cytokine whose disordered secretion is closely linked to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases including psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis (search), and ankylosing spondylitis (search). The antibody binds with high affinity to both IL-17A homodimers and IL-17A/IL-17F heterodimers, selectively blocking the interaction between IL-17A and its receptor complex IL-17RA/IL-17RC. This blockade prevents the activation of downstream signaling pathways and the release of inflammatory factors, thereby alleviating autoimmune disease symptoms.
Phase 3 Efficacy Data in Plaque Psoriasis (search)
The Phase 3 clinical study of roconkibart for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (search) in China has been completed, with results demonstrating excellent efficacy and safety. In the 150 mg dosing group, the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index 90 (PASI 90) response rate at week 16 reached 91%. At week 52, the PASI 100 response rate — indicating complete skin clearance — reached 65%.
In December 2025, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) accepted the new drug application (NDA) for roconkibart in adult patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (search) who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. Additionally, study follow-up for all subjects in the Phase 2 clinical trial of roconkibart for ankylosing spondylitis (search) has now been completed.
Strategic Rationale and Executive Commentary
Dr. Jianjun ZOU, General Manager and CEO of Junshi Biosciences, characterized the collaboration as a critical expansion of the company's autoimmune disease portfolio. "With years of extensive expertise in this domain, Fosun Pharma has established a professional commercialization team and a mature, efficient marketing system, which will inject momentum into roconkibart's rapid advancement," Dr. Zou stated. He added that the partnership "not only validates our company's innovative capabilities in the autoimmune sector, but also marks a milestone leap for both parties in meeting patient expectations through robust innovation."
Jing LI, Co-President of Fosun Pharma and Chairman of Fosun Wanbang (search), emphasized that autoimmune diseases represent a core therapeutic focus for Fosun Pharma, citing "massive unmet clinical needs." Li noted that roconkibart "has delivered outstanding efficacy data in its Phase 3 clinical trials, demonstrating rapid and durable disease control in the treatment of psoriasis and other indications," and affirmed that Fosun Pharma will leverage its established clinical development and commercialization framework to accelerate the drug's path to patients.
About Junshi Biosciences
Founded in December 2012, Junshi Biosciences is an innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company with a pipeline spanning cancer, autoimmune, metabolic, and infectious diseases. The company's therapeutic modalities include monoclonal antibodies, small-molecule drugs, antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific and multispecific antibodies, fusion proteins, nucleic acid drugs, and vaccines. Five products have received marketing authorizations in China and internationally, including toripalimab, China's domestically developed anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody, which has been approved in over 40 countries and regions including the United States and Europe.