FRANKFURT, Germany and GANZHOU, China, May 26, 2026
Merz Therapeutics GmbH and Jiangxi Kvvit Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. have announced an exclusive license and collaboration agreement to develop and commercialize INBRIJA® (levodopa inhalation powder) in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease OFF episodes. The partnership marks a major strategic step toward expanding access to innovative neurological therapies across Greater China while strengthening both companies’ positions in the rapidly growing specialty neurology market. The collaboration combines Merz Therapeutics’ expertise in movement disorder treatments with Kvvit’s regional clinical development and commercialization capabilities to accelerate the potential introduction of inhaled levodopa therapy to patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease-related motor fluctuations.
Under the terms of the agreement, Kvvit will lead local clinical development, regulatory activities, and commercialization of INBRIJA® across the licensed territory, while Merz Therapeutics will maintain responsibility for global product quality and key regulatory functions. The agreement also includes upfront payments, milestone-based compensation, and tiered royalty arrangements tied to future commercial performance in the region. INBRIJA® has not yet received regulatory approval in China, Hong Kong, or Macao, and future commercialization remains subject to successful clinical development and regulatory review.
INBRIJA Targets Parkinson’s Disease OFF Episodes
INBRIJA® is an inhaled levodopa therapy approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2018 and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2019 for intermittent treatment of OFF episodes in adults with Parkinson’s disease already receiving levodopa/dopa-decarboxylase inhibitor therapy. OFF episodes occur when standard Parkinson’s medications temporarily stop working effectively, resulting in sudden worsening of movement symptoms such as tremors, stiffness, and impaired mobility.
Unlike traditional oral levodopa treatments, INBRIJA® delivers levodopa directly through inhalation into the lungs, allowing for rapid systemic absorption while bypassing gastrointestinal complications that can affect oral drug delivery in Parkinson’s patients. Researchers believe this delivery approach may help provide faster symptom relief during sudden OFF episodes and improve patient quality of life.
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Merz Therapeutics executives emphasized that the agreement reflects the company’s long-term commitment to addressing unmet medical needs in movement disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Andrea von der Lippe, President of Region International Markets at Merz Therapeutics, stated that partnering with Kvvit creates a strong foundation to potentially expand access to an additional Parkinson’s treatment option across Greater China.
China Neurology Market Drives Strategic Expansion
The partnership also highlights growing pharmaceutical industry investment in China’s expanding neurology and central nervous system (CNS) therapeutics market. Parkinson’s disease prevalence continues rising globally due to aging populations, creating increasing demand for innovative therapies capable of improving symptom control and reducing treatment limitations associated with traditional medications.
Kvvit stated that the company intends to work closely with healthcare professionals and regulatory authorities to support clinical development and facilitate future adoption of INBRIJA® within neurological treatment settings across China. Company executives described the agreement as part of a broader strategy focused on introducing advanced and innovative neurological therapies to underserved patient populations.
The collaboration also demonstrates increasing cross-border licensing activity within the global pharmaceutical industry, particularly in specialty neurology and rare disease markets where regional commercialization partnerships are becoming increasingly important for accelerating regulatory access and market expansion.
Specialty Neurology Partnerships Continue Growing
Industry analysts note that inhaled therapies and alternative drug delivery technologies are attracting growing attention within the Parkinson’s disease treatment landscape due to their potential to overcome limitations associated with oral medications. The market for advanced Parkinson’s therapies is expected to continue expanding as companies pursue new approaches targeting motor fluctuations, dyskinesia, and disease progression management.
Merz Therapeutics currently operates in more than 80 countries and focuses on innovative treatments for movement disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and other specialty therapeutic areas. Kvvit, a subsidiary of QF Pharmaceutical Group, has rapidly expanded its presence across nearly 30 international markets while building capabilities in CNS disorders, anti-infectives, oncology, and digestive disease therapeutics.
The partnership positions both companies to capitalize on increasing demand for innovative Parkinson’s disease therapies while contributing to broader efforts aimed at improving neurological care access throughout Asia-Pacific healthcare markets.
Source: Merz Therapeutics press release
