India Licenses second Immuno-oncology drug from China

（the article has been updated to make the text concise and cohesive)

India’s growing interest in Chinese biotech is evident as Mankind Pharma announces its second licensing deal for an immuno-oncology drug from China.

Mankind Pharma has secured the rights to sintilimab, a PD-1 inhibitor antibody developed by Suzhou-based Innovent Bio. Approved and marketed in China under the brand name Tvvyt, sintilimab will now be introduced to India. Mankind plans to conduct a Phase 3 clinical trial, aiming for regulatory approval early next year and subsequent market launch. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

This follows a similar move by Dr. Reddy’s, another leading Indian pharmaceutical company, which in November 2023 licensed toriparimab (brand name Tuoyi), a PD-1 antibody developed by Shanghai Junshi Pharma. Dr. Reddy’s secured the rights to toriparimab in May 2023, marking another example of India’s increasing reliance on Chinese biopharma innovations.

China's PD-1 inhibitors have found a promising future in India. Sintilimab was the first PD-1 drug in China to gain medical insurance coverage, after Innovent Bio aggressively reduced the pricing. On the other hand, Toriparimab became the first Chinese PD-1 inhibitor to receive approval from the U.S. FDA, followed by tisleilizumab from BeiGene.

Innovent Bio has committed to supplying sintilimab to India, ensuring a stable supply and adherence to quality standards.

In another development, Indian pharmaceutical giant Cipla Ltd. acquired the remaining 6% of shares in its joint venture with Jiangsu Xidi Pharma Co., which was finalized in September 2023. This acquisition allows Cipla to leverage its Chinese manufacturing site to supply drugs to the U.S. market.