GSK Expands Vaccine Partnership with China’s Zhifei

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has announced a significant expansion of its partnership with Chongqing Zhifei Biological Products, a leading Chinese vaccine company. The agreement, which extends their existing arrangement and explores new collaborations, underscores GSK’s commitment to making its innovative adult vaccines more readily available in China.

The original three-year agreement, set to conclude in 2026, granted Zhifei exclusive rights to import, distribute, and co-promote GSK’s shingles vaccine, Shingrix, in the Chinese market. This new deal extends that exclusivity for an additional eight years, pushing the partnership through 2034. It also revitalizes projected sales volumes.

Expanding Collaboration to Include a Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine

Beyond the Shingrix extension, the agreement paves the way for future collaboration on a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine in China. Zhifei will work exclusively with GSK for an initial 10-year period to commercialize the RSV vaccine, pending regulatory approval.

“This revised agreement with Zhifei puts our collaboration on a sustainable footing, managing the challenges of the macroeconomic environment in the short term and helping us reach more citizens Chinese with our innovative vaccines for adults in the long term,” said Luke Honeys, GSK commercial director. “This revised agreement with Zhifei helps us reach more Chinese citizens with our innovative adult vaccines in the long term.”

Leveraging Zhifei’s Strength and Network

This expanded partnership is a strategic move for GSK, capitalizing on Zhifei’s strong market penetration and established network within China. As the largest Chinese vaccine company by revenue, Zhifei boasts an extensive reach, encompassing over 30,000 vaccination sites across the nation. The company’s proven track record in facilitating access to innovative vaccines makes it a valuable partner for GSK.

The extended collaboration signifies GSK’s confidence in the Chinese market and its commitment to expanding vaccine access for the Chinese population. Together, GSK and Zhifei aim to make a lasting impact on public health in China by providing cutting-edge vaccines to protect against preventable diseases.

What are the ‌key details of the extended agreement‌ between GSK and Zhifei?

‌## GSK Expands Vaccine Partnership with China’s Zhifei

**Interviewer:** Joining us today to discuss‌ the ‍expanded partnership between GlaxoSmithKline and Chongqing ‍Zhifei ‌Biological Products is Alex Reed, a leading expert in the ​pharmaceutical industry. ⁣Welcome to the show.

**Alex Reed:** Thank you for having me.

**Interviewer:** GSK and Zhifei ⁢have announced an extension of their existing three-year agreement, taking their collaboration to 2034. This seems significant. ‍Can you⁢ tell us more about the details of ‍this arrangement and what ⁢it​ means for the vaccine landscape in China?

**Alex Reed:**‍ Absolutely. The original agreement, which was set to expire in 2026,⁤ gave Zhifei exclusive rights ⁤to import, distribute, and⁣ co-promote GSK’s shingles vaccine in‍ China [[1](https://www.wsj.com/health/pharma/gsk-chinas-zhifei-extend-shingles-shot-collaboration-to-2034-f9e25589)]. This extension not only secures the ⁣continued availability of this important vaccine in China but also signals a deeper commitment⁣ from both companies to potentially explore collaborations on other innovative adult vaccines.

**Interviewer:** This partnership clearly benefits GSK in expanding ‍its reach in ⁢the Chinese market. But what about the ⁤advantages for Zhifei?

**Alex Reed:** For​ Zhifei, this partnership ​is⁣ a valuable opportunity to leverage GSK’s world-leading vaccine⁢ technology and expertise. It ​allows them to ‌access⁣ and distribute high-quality vaccines that‌ might otherwise not ⁢be available in China, ultimately​ contributing to‍ improved ⁤public ​health in the country.

**Interviewer:** Looking ahead, how do you see this expanded‌ partnership impacting the future of vaccine availability and accessibility in China?

**Alex Reed:** ‌I believe this collaboration is a positive step ⁤towards making important ⁣adult vaccines more readily available to the Chinese population. ⁢GSK’s dedication to innovative vaccine development ​combined with Zhifei’s strong market presence in China‍ has the potential to significantly improve immunization coverage and ultimately contribute to better⁤ health⁣ outcomes.