Simcere Pharmaceutical and Stanford Medicine Launch Collaboration to Develop First-in-Class Therapy for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Key Insights
Simcere Pharmaceutical (search) and Stanford Medicine entered a research collaboration on May 29, 2026, to develop a first-in-class novel molecule for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (search) (IPF).
Simcere will fund the exploratory research and, upon success, in-license the molecule with 100% of global rights to the resulting product.
The project leverages Stanford's chemical biology expertise, including LYTAC-related technologies and fibrosis target knowledge from labs led by Professors Khosla and Bianxiao.
Simcere Pharmaceutical (search) Group Limited (2096.HK) has entered into a research collaboration agreement with Stanford Medicine to jointly advance an exploratory study aimed at developing innovative therapies for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (search) (IPF). The agreement, signed on May 29, 2026 (Pacific Time), marks the second first-in-class original project worldwide between the two organizations.
Under the terms of the agreement, Simcere Pharmaceutical (search) will fund the exploratory research of a first-in-class novel molecule. Upon successful completion of the research phase, Simcere will in-license the molecule and obtain 100% of the global rights to the resulting product.
Scientific Leadership and Expertise
The project will be carried out in collaboration with world-class chemical biology laboratories at Stanford Medicine, led by Chaitan Khosla, PhD, and Cui Bianxiao, PhD, both affiliated with the Stanford Innovative Medicines Accelerator.
Professor Khosla holds appointments in the Departments of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Stanford University and serves as an Institute Scholar of the Sarafan ChEM-H Institute and Director of the Innovative Medicines Accelerator. He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and is recognized as an expert in LYTAC-related technologies.
Professor Bianxiao is a professor in the Department of Chemistry at Stanford University and a Fellow of the Wu Tsai Neuroscience Institute. She brings expertise in fibrosis-related targets and has received awards including the Biophysical Society's Barany Award and the NIH New Innovator Award.
The Unmet Need in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (search)
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (search) is a chronic, progressive interstitial pneumonia of unknown etiology, characterized by fibrosis that primarily affects the pulmonary interstitium. The disease leads to stiffening and loss of elasticity of lung tissue, ultimately resulting in respiratory failure. Current medical treatments cannot completely reverse pulmonary fibrosis. From the time of diagnosis, the median survival time of patients is approximately 3 years, with a 5-year survival rate of only 20–40%.
Strategic Significance
Mr. Zhou Gaobo, Chief Investment Officer of Simcere Pharmaceutical (search), stated: "This marks the second first-in-class original project worldwide in collaboration between Simcere and Stanford Medicine. This ongoing collaboration reflects Simcere's active steps toward Innovation 2.0 and fulfills its corporate mission ('For patients, for life'). We look forward to jointly developing more innovative products to benefit patients."
Professor Khosla commented: "Highly targeted therapies for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (search) have long been an urgent unmet clinical need. We are pleased to work with Simcere to advance the translation of chemical biology breakthroughs together."
Simcere Pharmaceutical (search) is an innovation and R&D-driven pharmaceutical company that has established the National Key Laboratory for Neurology and Oncology Drug Development. The company focuses on neuroscience, oncology, autoimmune, and anti-infection therapeutic areas, while proactively planning for disease areas with significant unmet clinical needs.