LONDON, UK – May 11, 2026
GSK plc announced an exclusive strategic collaboration with Sino Biopharmaceutical (SBP Group) through its subsidiary Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. (CTTQ) to accelerate the launch and commercialization of bepirovirsen, GSK’s investigational therapy for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in mainland China. The partnership significantly expands GSK’s access to China’s hepatology market through CTTQ’s commercial network covering more than 5,000 medical centres, positioning the companies to target one of the world’s largest hepatitis B patient populations.
The collaboration comes as bepirovirsen remains under priority regulatory review in China and reflects growing industry focus on achieving a functional cure for chronic hepatitis B, a disease affecting an estimated 75 million people in China and more than 250 million patients globally. GSK stated that combining its scientific innovation with CTTQ’s extensive commercial infrastructure and liver disease expertise could accelerate patient access to next-generation hepatitis B therapies in one of the world’s most important healthcare markets.
Bepirovirsen Targets Functional Cure in Chronic Hepatitis B
Bepirovirsen is an investigational antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapy designed with a triple-action mechanism intended to inhibit hepatitis B viral DNA replication, suppress hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels and stimulate immune responses to improve the likelihood of sustained viral control. The therapy has gained significant attention globally as a potential first-in-class treatment capable of helping patients achieve a functional cure.
Functional cure in hepatitis B occurs when viral DNA and HBsAg become undetectable in the blood for at least six months after discontinuation of therapy. Achieving functional cure is associated with a substantial reduction in long-term complications, including cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer, making it one of the most important objectives in hepatitis B treatment development.
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According to GSK, bepirovirsen previously received Breakthrough Therapy designation in China in 2021 and was accepted for Priority Review by Chinese regulators in April 2026. Regulatory submissions are supported by positive data from the Phase III B-Well 1 and B-Well 2 clinical trials, which demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful functional cure rates in chronic hepatitis B patients.
GSK President International Mike Crichton emphasized that chronic hepatitis B remains one of China’s most pressing healthcare priorities and a leading cause of liver cancer nationwide. He stated that the collaboration is intended to rapidly expand patient access while improving disease management outcomes through local market execution and large-scale commercial reach.
China’s Hepatitis B Burden Drives Strategic Expansion
China continues facing one of the world’s largest hepatitis B disease burdens, with approximately 450,000 hepatitis B-related deaths annually and more than 84% of liver cancer cases linked to chronic hepatitis B infection. Chinese healthcare authorities recently identified functional cure as a central objective within the country’s National Action Plan for the Prevention and Treatment of Viral Hepatitis (2025–2030), increasing urgency around development of innovative therapeutic approaches.
Under the terms of the agreement, CTTQ will oversee importation, distribution, hospital access and promotional activities for bepirovirsen throughout mainland China. GSK will retain responsibility for regulatory oversight, quality, pharmacovigilance and global medical strategy while continuing to serve as the marketing authorization holder. The agreement initially spans 5.5 years, with options for extension through mutual agreement.
Collaboration Expands Future Pipeline Opportunities
Beyond commercialization of bepirovirsen, the collaboration also grants GSK the ability to review certain early-stage assets within SBP Group’s pipeline for potential future partnerships outside China. Industry analysts view this component as strategically important given the increasing globalization of Chinese biopharmaceutical innovation and the growing role of cross-border licensing agreements in expanding international drug pipelines.
Sino Biopharmaceutical and CTTQ maintain strong leadership positions within China’s hepatology market, supported by extensive expertise across liver disease diagnosis, treatment and public health education. By leveraging this established infrastructure, GSK aims to strengthen its presence in Asia while accelerating commercialization of novel therapies targeting major infectious diseases.
As global competition intensifies in chronic hepatitis B therapeutics, the GSK-SBP collaboration highlights the increasing importance of strategic regional partnerships in advancing precision antiviral therapies and improving access to innovative treatments in high-burden markets.
Source: GSK, Sino Biopharmaceutical press release
