Sanofi acquires global rights to Sino Biopharmaceutical’s Anxu in USD1.53B deal

CHINA—French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi has secured global rights to rovadicitinib, a groundbreaking dual-mechanism drug developed by Hong Kong-based Sino Biopharmaceutical, in a licensing deal valued at up to USD1.53 billion.

The agreement includes a USD135 million upfront payment to Sino Biopharmaceutical for worldwide development, manufacturing, and commercialization rights.

Sanofi has committed an additional USD1.39 billion in potential milestone payments tied to development progress, regulatory approvals, and sales performance.

Sino Biopharmaceutical will also receive tiered royalties in the double digits based on the drug’s annual net sales.

Sino’s subsidiary, Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group, developed rovadicitinib as a first-in-class oral medication that simultaneously inhibits Janus kinase (JAK) and Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) pathways.

The drug currently sells in China under the brand name Anxu, where regulators approved it in February 2026 for treating myelofibrosis, a rare bone marrow cancer.

This approval marked a historic milestone as rovadicitinib became the world’s first dual JAK/ROCK inhibitor to reach patients.

Expanding beyond cancer treatment

Sanofi plans to position rovadicitinib within its transplant franchise, specifically targeting chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD), a serious complication affecting transplant recipients.

A Sanofi spokesperson explained that the drug will complement Rezurock (belumosudil), demonstrating the company’s ongoing commitment to patients facing significant unmet medical needs.

Research published in Haematologica indicates that 20 to 50 percent of transplant patients develop GVHD.

Chia Tai Tianqing currently conducts a Phase III trial in China evaluating rovadicitinib for GVHD, with completion expected in October 2029 according to ClinicalTrials.gov.

American regulators have also authorized a Phase II study within the United States, expanding the drug’s clinical investigation beyond Chinese borders.

Unique therapeutic approach

Rovadicitinib employs a distinctive dual-action mechanism that blocks both JAK/STAT and ROCK pathways simultaneously.

This approach directly reduces inflammatory cytokine production while regulating overactive T-regulatory cells to restore immune balance.

The GVHD treatment landscape currently features several blockbuster medications, including Jakavi (ruxolitinib), a JAK1/2 inhibitor co-developed by Novartis and Incyte, and Imbruvica (ibrutinib), a Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

Both drugs face impending patent expiration, potentially creating opportunities for differentiated alternatives like rovadicitinib.

GlobalData reports that 201 clinical trials spanning Phase I through Phase III currently investigate various monotherapies and combination approaches for GVHD treatment, highlighting robust pipeline activity in this therapeutic area.