Junshi Biosciences licenses IL-17A antibody roconkibart to Fosun Wanbang
Junshi Biosciences has signed a licensing agreement with Fosun Wanbang Pharma Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fosun Pharma, granting the partner rights to develop, register, manufacture and commercialise roconkibart (JS005) across Greater China, covering the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.
Under the terms of the deal, Junshi will receive a non-refundable upfront payment of RMB215 million. The company is also eligible for milestone payments for development and sales achievements of up to RMB1.125 billion, along with double-digit tiered royalties on net sales in the licensed territory. No equity component was disclosed.
The asset and its clinical standing
Roconkibart is a monoclonal antibody that binds both the IL-17A homodimer and the IL-17A/IL-17F heterodimer with high affinity, blocking the cytokine's interaction with receptors IL-17RA and IL-17RC. IL-17A is a central driver of inflammation in several autoimmune conditions, including plaque psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
The antibody has completed a Phase 3 trial in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in China. In the 150 mg dosing cohort, the PASI 90 response rate at week 16 reached 91%, and the PASI 100 response rate at week 52 reached 65%. Junshi submitted a new drug application to China's National Medical Products Administration in December 2025, which has been accepted for review. Follow-up for a Phase 2 study in ankylosing spondylitis has also completed, though readout data were not included in the announcement.
Jianjun Zou, General Manager and CEO of Junshi Biosciences, said the collaboration "validates our company's innovative capabilities in the autoimmune sector" and that the deal is expected to accelerate commercialisation by leveraging Fosun Wanbang's established marketing infrastructure.
Market context and competitive positioning
The IL-17A inhibitor class is well established globally, with Novartis's secukinumab (Cosentyx) and Eli Lilly's ixekizumab (Taltz) having built substantial market positions in psoriasis, axial spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis. In China, however, the regulatory and commercial environment for locally developed biologics has become increasingly competitive since the NMPA broadened its biosimilar and innovative drug review pathways. Roconkibart's PASI 90 and PASI 100 data, reported by the company as comparing favourably with established benchmarks in the class, will face scrutiny from payers and clinicians looking for differentiated efficacy or pricing advantages over both approved originators and incoming biosimilars.
Fosun Pharma's involvement is strategically notable. The group has built a diversified commercial infrastructure across China and brings established relationships with hospital systems and regulatory bodies. For Junshi, the deal mirrors a broader industry pattern among Chinese innovative biotechs of retaining global rights while out-licensing or co-commercialising domestically with partners better placed to navigate the national reimbursement negotiation process under the National Reimbursement Drug List.
The NMPA's acceptance of the psoriasis NDA puts roconkibart in a standard review queue. Analysts will be watching whether the agency grants priority review status, and whether Phase 2 data in ankylosing spondylitis are strong enough to support a follow-on NDA in that indication. A successful commercialisation in China would also strengthen Junshi's hand if it pursues licensing discussions for roconkibart in markets outside Greater China, where the IL-17A competitive field is well populated but appetite for differentiated candidates remains.