GSK and Sino Biopharmaceutical’s subsidiary CTTQ have entered a strategic collaboration to support the planned launch of investigational chronic hepatitis B therapy bepirovirsen in mainland China, where the therapy is currently under priority regulatory review.
Written By: Samiksha Jadhav, BPharm
Reviewed By: Pharmacally Editorial Team
GSK has announced an exclusive strategic collaboration with Sino Biopharmaceutical Limited (SBP Group), through its subsidiary Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. (CTTQ), to support the planned launch of bepirovirsen for chronic hepatitis B in mainland China. The investigational therapy is currently under priority regulatory review in China as a potential first‑in‑class treatment for chronic hepatitis B (CHB).
The collaboration combines GSK’s infectious disease expertise with CTTQ’s extensive commercial infrastructure and leadership in hepatology across China. Under the agreement, CTTQ will oversee importation, distribution, hospital access, and promotional activities for bepirovirsen in mainland China, while GSK will retain responsibility for regulatory affairs, quality, pharmacovigilance, and global medical strategy.
Under the terms of the agreement, CTTQ will purchase bepirovirsen from GSK under agreed supply terms for an initial 5.5‑year period, with the option to extend the collaboration through mutual agreement. GSK will record sales of bepirovirsen supplied to CTTQ through the partnership.
China remains heavily impacted by chronic hepatitis B, with approximately 75 million people living with the disease and nearly 450,000 related deaths annually. Chronic hepatitis B is also strongly associated with liver cancer in China, accounting for more than 84% of liver cancer cases linked to CHB infection.
Mike Crichton, President International at GSK, said the partnership is intended to combine GSK’s scientific innovation with CTTQ’s local execution capabilities to improve patient access and help address a major healthcare burden in China.
Bepirovirsen has received several regulatory recognitions in China, including Breakthrough Therapy designation in 2021 and Priority Review acceptance in April 2026. The regulatory submission is supported by positive Phase III B‑Well 1 [NCT05630807] and B‑Well 2 trial [NCT 05630820] results, which demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful functional cure rates in patients with chronic hepatitis B.
Functional cure, a major treatment goal highlighted in China’s National Action Plan for the Prevention and Treatment of Viral Hepatitis (2025–2030), is achieved when hepatitis B virus DNA and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) remain undetectable in the blood for at least six months after treatment discontinuation. Achieving functional cure is associated with a substantial reduction in long‑term complications, including liver cancer.
Bepirovirsen is an investigational antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapy designed with a triple‑action mechanism. The therapy inhibits viral DNA replication, reduces HBsAg levels in the blood, and stimulates immune responses to support durable viral control. GSK licensed bepirovirsen from Ionis Pharmaceuticals and collaborated with the company on its development.
The agreement also provides GSK with the opportunity to review selected early‑stage pipeline assets from SBP Group to explore potential collaboration opportunities outside China.
SBP Group is one of China’s leading research‑driven pharmaceutical companies, with capabilities spanning oncology, liver disease, cardiometabolic disorders, respiratory disease, and autoimmune conditions. Through CTTQ, the company has established one of China’s most comprehensive liver disease portfolios and a commercial network covering more than 5,000 medical centres across multiple healthcare settings.
Bepirovirsen has received multiple regulatory milestones globally for chronic hepatitis B. In the United States, the investigational therapy is under FDA Priority Review. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted the marketing application for review, while Japan has accepted the therapy’s New Drug Application (NDA) for review.
The collaboration expands GSK’s presence in China’s hepatitis B market while leveraging CTTQ’s established hepatology network and commercial reach across the country.
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About the Writer
Samiksha Vikram Jadhav (LinkedIn) is a B. Pharm graduate with a strong academic foundation in pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacology, and drug development. She specializes in pharma market research, with a focused interest in mergers and acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and global pharma and biotech deals. Her work centers on analyzing industry transactions, market positioning, and business strategies, translating complex developments into clear, accurate, and insightful scientific and commercial reporting.