GSK and Zhifei Partner to Extend the Availability of Shingrix

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Global biopharma company, GSK, has entered into an exclusive strategic partnership with Chongqing Zhifei Biological Products Co. (Zhifei)—a fully-integrated biotechnology company—to co-promote GSK’s shingles vaccine, Shingrix, to healthcare professionals and points of vaccination in China.

According to an Oct. 9, 2023 press release, the partnership, which has been set to last for an initial three-year period with the option to extend in the future, will broaden the availability of Shingrix in China significantly. Additionally, the partnership is expected to support future co-development and commercialization in China of GSK’s respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, Arexvy, for adults aged 60 years and older.

The agreement is set to begin on Jan. 1, 2024 and will see Zhifei gain the exclusive rights for the importation and distribution of Shingrix within China, while GSK will co-promote the vaccine in the country through raising awareness of the importance of shingles vaccination for healthcare professionals. Under the terms of the agreement, Zhifei will buy agreed upon volumes of Shingrix that will equate to a total value of £2.5 billion ($3.1 billion) to GSK over the course of three years. The volumes of the vaccine purchased will be phased over time to accommodate the expected increase in demand as the vaccine and its importance are promoted. Further, as a part of the terms of the partnership, Zhifei has given GSK the right of first refusal to be the exclusive partner for a similar arrangement for GSK’s Arexvy vaccine once it has been approved in China.

“This partnership is consistent with our focus on products with a high and durable level of differentiation,” said Luke Miels, chief commercial officer, GSK, in the press release. “It materially expands the number of Chinese adults who can benefit from Shingrix and includes the option to extend the collaboration to include our novel RSV vaccine Arexvy.”

Source: GSK