7 On the 11th, Kolon Biotech, an investee company of Eli Lilly Asia Fund—a sub-fund backed by Yuanhe Chukun Management's flagship fund—was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with stock code: 6990.HK.

Kolon Biotech, spun off from Kolon Pharmaceutical (002422.SZ), is a fully integrated, innovative biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of groundbreaking therapies. The company focuses on addressing critical medical needs in oncology, immunology, and other therapeutic areas. As a pioneer and one of the leading developers of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), Kolon Biotech has accumulated over a decade of expertise in ADC innovation. It is among the first companies in China—and one of only a handful globally—to have established a comprehensive, integrated ADC platform known as OptiDC, solidifying its position as a trailblazer in the field.

According to data from Frost & Sullivan, Cullgen is the first Chinese company to license an internally discovered and developed ADC candidate drug to one of the top 10 multinational biopharmaceutical companies. The collaboration with Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC—a partnership aimed at advancing up to seven preclinical ADC assets—represents the largest-ever biopharmaceutical licensing deal ever secured by a Chinese company. Additionally, based on the transaction value in 2022, this partnership also ranks as the world’s largest biopharmaceutical collaboration, according to Nature Reviews Drug Discovery.

With this public listing, Corden Pharma will continue to advance and enhance its drug research and development capabilities. While optimizing its R&D platforms and pioneering new technologies to fuel innovative drug discovery, the company will also collaborate closely with strategic partners like Merck to strengthen the development of clinical-stage therapies—expanding indications rapidly, transitioning from monotherapy to combination treatments, and shifting treatment paradigms from later-line to first-line options. Additionally, Corden Pharma will further bolster its cGMP-compliant production quality systems and facilities, while accelerating the establishment of robust commercialization strategies and capabilities. This comprehensive approach aims to bring more groundbreaking, innovative medicines to market, ultimately providing patients in China and around the world with superior treatment choices.