Menarini Asia-Pacific to Commercialise Cosela (trilaciclib) Across Multiple APAC Markets, First Launch Anticipated in Hong Kong in 2028

Menarini Asia-Pacific (搜索)搜索该词条 has been appointed by Pharmacosmos (搜索)搜索该词条 as its exclusive partner to register, commercialise and distribute Cosela查看药品详情 (trilaciclib查看药品详情) across multiple Asia-Pacific markets, with a first launch anticipated in Hong Kong in 2028 and other markets to follow. The agreement reflects a broader strategic shift in which Asia-Pacific is moving from being viewed primarily as a later-stage commercial market to becoming a more important source of drug discovery, investment and scientific collaboration.

The partnership is the culmination of a sustained collaboration between the two companies. Menarini and Pharmacosmos (搜索)搜索该词条 initially partnered to commercialise Monofer查看药品详情 in Australia in 2023, before expanding into Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong in 2024, united by a shared objective of broadening patient access to innovative iron deficiency (搜索)搜索该疾病 treatments. In 2025, that collaboration was recognised when Menarini's Australia team received Pharmacosmos' Golden Viking Award as its best-performing partner market globally.

"This success laid the foundation for Pharmacosmos (搜索)搜索该词条 to appoint Menarini Asia-Pacific (搜索)搜索该词条 as its exclusive partner to register, commercialise and distribute Cosela查看药品详情 (trilaciclib查看药品详情) across multiple Asia-Pacific markets," said Girisan Kariangal, Regional Vice President – Business Development & Alliance Management at Menarini Asia-Pacific. "For me, that is one of the clearest indicators of a successful strategic partnership. It demonstrates how sustained execution can transform a single licensing agreement into broader collaboration across therapies, markets and therapeutic areas."

Asia-Pacific as a Strategic Priority

The Cosela查看药品详情 agreement underscores the region's growing importance in global biopharmaceutical strategy. Glen Godresse, Chief Executive Officer of Menarini Asia-Pacific (搜索)搜索该词条, noted that for many innovators, Asia-Pacific has moved from being a later-stage expansion opportunity to a strategic priority from the outset. "Alongside Europe, Asia-Pacific was identified as a priority region for expansion outside the US, with the first launch anticipated in Hong Kong in 2028 and other markets to follow," he said.

Asia-Pacific's healthcare market is expected to reach US$5 trillion by 2030 and contribute around 40% of global healthcare growth. The region already accounts for 43% of the global innovative pipeline and around one in four global out-licensing deals, with China emerging as a major centre of early-stage drug discovery and clinical development.

From Distribution to Full-Lifecycle Commercialisation

The partnership reflects a fundamental evolution in Menarini's operating model. Recognising that partners increasingly expect commercial organisations to contribute far beyond product distribution, Menarini has strengthened capabilities across medical, regulatory, market access, digital and commercial functions to support an increasingly innovative portfolio across Asia-Pacific.

"Today, we support more than 50 licensing partners and manage over 250 brands across 13 Asia-Pacific markets, demonstrating our ability to combine regional scale with locally informed strategies," said Kariangal. The company's "glocal" model combines regional capabilities across medical, regulatory, market access, digital and commercial functions with empowered local teams who are experts in their local healthcare systems, clinical practice and patient needs.

The Limits of Regulatory Approval

Both executives emphasised that regulatory approval alone does not guarantee patient access. "Regulatory approval is a major milestone, but it's only the beginning of a much longer journey," said Godresse. "The real challenge is ensuring innovative therapies reach the patients who need them most."

This principle has been demonstrated across Menarini's portfolio. In Malaysia, demonstrating the clinical and economic value of an oral anticoagulant therapy that helps prevent stroke and treat serious blood clots led to its inclusion in the public hospital Blue Book, expanding access to patients treated in the public healthcare system, which serves approximately 70% of the population. In New Zealand, working with clinicians and a patient group secured a high-priority recommendation for an IV iron therapy for patients with Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia (搜索)搜索该疾病 (HHT), which has already led to funding for a subgroup of patients.

Therapeutic Opportunities Ahead

Looking ahead, cardiovascular disease (搜索)搜索该疾病 is expected to remain one of the most important areas for innovation and investment across the region. It is the leading cause of death across the WHO South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions, accounting for an estimated 9.85 million deaths annually. As populations age and the burden of chronic disease continues to rise, there will be an increasing need for innovative therapies that not only treat cardiovascular disease but also address its complex complications and long-term management challenges.

Kariangal advised companies planning APAC expansion to "plan for the portfolio you hope to build, not just the therapy you are preparing to launch," and to involve regional partners early to help shape strategy before execution begins. "The decisions made at the beginning of an Asia-Pacific expansion often shape opportunities well beyond the first commercialisation," he said.