Teva and Fosun Pharma Forge Strategic Partnership to Develop and Commercialize Innovative Anti-PD1-IL2 Therapy (TEV-56278) in Immuno-Oncology
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.and Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd.today announced a significant strategic partnership for the development and eventual commercial delivery of TEV-56278, a novel investigational anti-PD1-IL2 ATTENUKINE therapy with the potential to transform the way many forms of cancer are treated.
This collaboration marks a significant step forward in global oncology drug development. The two companies — through their respective subsidiaries — have entered into a strategic agreement that aims to accelerate the generation of high-caliber clinical data for TEV-56278 while extending its reach to patients across geographies with high unmet medical need.
TEV-56278 is a first-in-class anti-PD1-IL2 ATTENUKINE therapy designed by Teva’s internal team of innovative scientists. The candidate utilizes a unique delivery platform (ATTENUKINE) to enable more potent and selective delivery of IL-2 directly to PD-1+ T-cells within the tumor microenvironment. This sophisticated approach is expected to enable greater anti-tumor activity while reducing the toxicities typically associated with IL-2 therapy when administered in a non-targeted or systematic manner.
This collaborative framework specifies the respective responsibilities for each party. Fosun Pharma is granted an exclusive license to develop, manufacture, and commercialize TEV-56278 in Chinese mainland, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Macau SAR, Taiwan, and select Southeast Asian countries. Meanwhile, Teva maintains the rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize the therapy in all other jurisdictions. Importantly, the agreement underscores the opportunity for Teva to leverage data generated by Fosun Pharma in its own ongoing and future clinical programs outside of the licensed territories — a synergy that promises to streamline and accelerate the eventual delivery of this therapy to patients in need across the globe.
Eric Hughes, MD, PhD, Executive Vice President of Global Research and Development and Chief Medical Officer at Teva, explained the significance of the collaboration. “This partnership with Fosun Pharma in the development of our internally designed TEV-56278 — a cutting-edge, anti-PD1-IL2 ATTENUKINE therapy with strong potential to aid patients battling difficult-to-treat cancers — is a reflection of our ongoing commitment to accelerate the delivery of innovative medicines that make a dramatic difference in patient care. The new data we generate together will enable us to expand the understanding of TEV-56278’s therapeutic profile and maximize its eventual clinical impact.”
He further stressed the role of strategic collaborations in advancing biotechnology innovations: “TEV-56278 exemplifies the power of collaborations with strong, specialized companies like Fosun Pharma in unlocking the full potential of a new therapeutic platform. Our respective expertise — their extensive experience in clinical development and navigating the Chinese market, alongside our own strength in biologic innovation and growing pipeline of novel oncology treatments — forms a powerful synergy. This synergy lets us collectively accelerate the delivery of this much-needed therapy to patients.”
Anti-PD1-IL2 fusion proteins represent a remarkable new class of cancer immunotherapy. TEV-56278’s design involves delivering IL-2 directly to a population of PD-1+ T-cells within the tumor microenvironment. This innovative approach stimulates and strengthens their activity against the tumor while reducing the collateral damage — the side effects typically related to IL-2 — frequently seen with less-targeted treatments. The result might be enhanced efficacy alongside improved tolerability, offering a much-needed new option for patients battling a range of difficult-to-treat oncology disorders.
Fosun Pharma’s Executive President and Global R&D Center Chief Executive Officer, Xingli Wang, MD, PhD, also shared his enthusiasm for this collaboration. “We are delighted to collaborate with Teva on the development of TEV-56278. This agreement brings together Teva’s expertise in designing innovative biologic drugs with Fosun Pharma’s strong capabilities in developing and commercializing medicines within the Chinese market and the broader Asia-Pacific region. This powerful synergy will enable us to accelerate the delivery of this promising therapy to patients not only in our respective jurisdictions but also across the globe.”
He added, “This collaboration underscores our ongoing commitment to advancing forward-thinking and patient-centric innovations in oncology. We believe that by delivering TEV-56278 to patients faster and more efficiently, we can make a profound and measurable improvement in their lives. Furthermore, this collaboration strengthens our growing portfolio of innovative biologic medicines — a portfolio designed to address significant unmet medical needs and improve health outcomes for people battling some of the most aggressive forms of cancer.”
This agreement signals a major step forward in the quest to bring new and potent treatment options to patients with difficult-to-treat tumors. Furthermore, by combining their respective expertise, resources, and infrastructures, Teva and Fosun Pharma are poised to maximize the clinical and commercial potential of TEV-56278. This collaboration not only strengthens both companies’ pipelines but also underscores their shared mission to transform the standard of care in oncology and make a measurable, positive difference in the lives of patients.
Teva is a global leader in generic and specialty medicines, delivering high-caliber treatments to approximately 200 million patients every da. The company’s portfolio includes innovative medicines and complex generics across numerous disease areas — from neuroscience to oncology — reflecting its deep expertise and strong R&D capabilities. Teva strives to enable access to essential medicines and improve health outcomes for patients, health care providers, and health care systems alike.
About Fosun Pharma (Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd.):
Established in 1994, Fosun Pharma is a global, innovation-centric biopharmaceutical enterprise with extensive capabilities across R&D, manufacturing, and commercial operations. The company focuses on improvements in health care, developing innovative medicines to address significant unmet medical needs and extending the reach of high-value treatments to patients in China and many other jurisdictions. Fosun’s expertise in navigating complex markets, securing marketing authorization, and delivering medicines efficiently is a powerful asset in its collaboration with Teva.
Together, Teva and Fosun Pharma are poised to bring forward a new era in oncology treatment — one that merges cutting-edge scientific innovation with extensive commercial expertise — ultimately improving patient outcomes and extending survival for people battling some of the most challenging forms of cancer.
