According to the announcement from HENLIUS (02696), the company has signed a collaboration and licensing agreement with Palleon Pharmaceuticals Inc. on December 19, 2024. Under this agreement, both parties have agreed to collaborate on the global development of E-602 and combination therapies for the treatment of human diseases, as well as commercialization within their respective licensed areas (defined below).

The licensed product is a sialidase fusion protein independently developed by Palleon, created by fusing human sialidase with human monoclonal antibody genes, aimed at removing the immunosuppressive sialic acid on the surfaces of immune and tumor cells. A Phase 1/2 clinical trial of this licensed product is being conducted by Palleon in the USA among patients with advanced cancer.

After the collaboration and licensing agreement is established, the company plans to conduct clinical research on the licensed product combined with HENLIUS's Hanlikang for the treatment of lupus nephritis. Hanlikang is the company's self-developed rituximab, which was approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for marketing in China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan) in February 2019. As of the date of this announcement, the approved indications for Hanlikang include: (1) non-Hodgkin lymphoma, (2) chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and (3) rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This cooperation is expected to enhance the therapeutic effect of Hanlikang on autoimmune diseases through the licensed product.