Fresenius, WuXi Biologics Strike 37-Biosimilar Deal

Fresenius has signed an exclusive development agreement with WuXi Biologics covering up to 37 biosimilar candidates over the next decade, in one of the largest biosimilar pipeline deals of the year. Announced on 2 November 2026, the agreement could grow Fresenius’ marketed and pipeline portfolio from 29 molecules to up to 66, extending across 13 therapeutic areas and addressing more than €370 billion in originator list-price-based sales.

Under the deal, Fresenius receives exclusive global commercialisation rights, including marketing authorisations, and full economics of each product commercialised through the arrangement, while WuXi Biologics’ global network conducts development. The 37 candidates include monoclonal and bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and fusion proteins, extending Fresenius’ footprint into new therapeutic areas including neurology, nephrology and cardiopulmonary while reinforcing existing strength in oncology, immunology and gastroenterology. Initial development priorities focus on polatuzumab vedotin, an ADC for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and teprotumumab, a monoclonal antibody for thyroid eye disease. Fresenius will select which programmes to advance based on market attractiveness, development risk and expected returns.

Michael Sen, CEO of Fresenius, positioned the agreement around doubling down on the company’s Biopharma business, flagging development capabilities in a market where speed and scale matter alongside potential portfolio tripling while retaining economic ownership and strategic control. The WuXi deal follows Fresenius’ recent acquisition of Spain-headquartered mAbxience (where Fresenius took full ownership in October 2026 for up to €750m) and forms part of a broader pipeline strategy combining internal R&D, targeted collaborations and selective in-licensing. The WuXi partnership leverages the Chinese CDMO’s extensive biosimilar development capacity against Fresenius’ established global manufacturing and commercialisation network, offering a capital-efficient route to pipeline scale without the fixed cost of expanded internal R&D infrastructure.

The commercial signal is a maturing global biosimilars market where strategic CDMO partnerships and selective in-licensing are driving pipeline scale against the €370bn-plus originator pool exposed to biosimilar entry over the coming decade. Portfolio economics favour platform players consolidating scale. Expect sustained biosimilars pipeline expansion and continued focus on ADC and bispecific biosimilar development through 2027 and 2028.

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