New cancer indication pushes Han Qu You rituximab biosimilar further into the spotlight

Fosun Pharma’s Han Qu You, a rituximab biosimilar co-developed with Henlius, has secured an additional cancer indication in China, broadening its role in lymphoma and autoimmune disease treatment and underlining the group’s long-term bet on oncology biologics.

Edited by ad hoc news Flagship & Bestseller Desk. Reviewed before publication on 06/15/2026 at 2:37 PM ET. Details in the imprint.

With a fresh regulatory milestone just announced in Hong Kong, Fosun Pharma’s core oncology biologic Han Qu You, a rituximab biosimilar, is extending its reach beyond its original lymphoma focus and solidifying its status as one of the company’s flagship therapies in China. The drug, co-developed with Shanghai Henlius, has now gained an additional indication for treating certain autoimmune-related conditions in the domestic market, adding volume potential in a therapeutic area where the originator brand has long been entrenched.

Flagship rituximab biosimilar anchored in oncology and autoimmune care

Han Qu You is Fosun Pharma’s Chinese-market rituximab biosimilar referencing Roche’s MabThera/Rituxan, designed for intravenous infusion and indicated primarily for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, with expanded use in rheumatoid arthritis and related autoimmune diseases as approvals have rolled in. According to the product information from Shanghai Henlius, the rituximab biosimilar has been approved by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for multiple lymphoma indications as well as rheumatoid arthritis, giving it a clinical footprint that closely tracks the originator molecule in key disease settings. The official Henlius product overview highlights its role in treating CD20-positive B-cell malignancies and autoimmune disorders.

The latest HKEX filing from Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical points out that the newly added indication in China broadens the reimbursable patient pool for the rituximab biosimilar, which is already included in the national reimbursement drug list (NRDL) for certain uses, and management clearly targets incremental prescription share in county and lower-tier hospitals where biologic penetration has historically lagged top-tier centers. In that disclosure, Fosun Pharma also notes that the company continues to invest in post-marketing clinical research and real-world evidence collection for Han Qu You, aiming to support physicians’ confidence in switching from the originator and competing biosimilars as more indications and combination regimens are approved. The June 15 regulatory progress announcement underscores that the expanded label is expected to have a positive but still uncertain impact on medium- to long-term revenue.

Pricing remains a critical competitive lever: Han Qu You has been through several rounds of centralized volume-based procurement in China, leading to steep discounts versus the original MabThera while securing larger contracted volumes across provincial tender systems. Industry tracking by Chinese pharma media indicates that rituximab biosimilars have significantly eroded the originator’s market share in hospital oncology and rheumatology departments since nationwide tenders were introduced, and Fosun Pharma’s product has been one of the major beneficiaries thanks to its early approval timing and broad coverage. A recent report from domestic trade publication PharmaDJ on China’s CD20 antibody market notes that Fosun-Henlius has emerged as a key local antibody player, with Han Qu You contributing materially to the group’s biologics revenue base. The PharmaDJ market analysis points to rising biosimilar adoption in hematology and autoimmune care as clinicians gain experience with domestic monoclonal antibodies.

For Fosun Pharma, Han Qu You sits at the center of a broader strategy to build a diversified antibody and biosimilar portfolio that can be leveraged in China and select overseas markets where pricing pressure on originator biologics is intensifying. The company has already taken the rituximab biosimilar into global regulatory pathways under different brand names via its Henlius affiliate, including submissions to the European Medicines Agency, while exploring out-licensing and co-marketing agreements in Latin America and emerging markets. Management has repeatedly highlighted monoclonal antibodies and biosimilars as engines for mid-term earnings resilience, helping to offset margin pressure from traditional generics.

Within Fosun Pharma’s overall pipeline, Han Qu You is one of the most commercially advanced biologics, alongside other antibodies in oncology and autoimmune disease, and the latest indication adds another layer to its flagship status in the company’s portfolio. Shares of Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (CNE100000536) closed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange at CNY 36.48 on 06/15/2026, reflecting investor attention on the group’s expanding biologics franchise as detailed in recent exchange filings.

Han Qu You rituximab in brief: key facts

• Product: Han Qu You (rituximab biosimilar)
• Manufacturer: Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd. / Shanghai Henlius Biotech
• Category: Flagship/Bestseller oncology and autoimmune biologic
• Launch date: First NMPA approval in China in 2019 for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma; subsequent indications including rheumatoid arthritis and the newly added autoimmune-related use followed in later years
• MSRP / Price: Subject to China’s centralized volume-based procurement; hospital procurement prices are significantly discounted versus the originator MabThera and vary by province
• Availability: Prescription-only biologic, available in Chinese hospitals and infusion centers, with coverage under the national reimbursement drug list for approved indications
• Target audience: Adult patients with CD20-positive B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and certain autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, as determined by physicians
• Key differentiator / USP: Domestic rituximab biosimilar with multiple approved indications, NRDL inclusion and competitive pricing under China’s volume-based procurement system, positioned as a flagship antibody in Fosun Pharma’s biologics portfolio

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