GSK Acquired New Cancer Therapy in Expansion Effort
The pharmaceutical company aims to boost its oncology pipeline through a deal for an early-stage T-cell therapy.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Cancer
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GSK has entered into a £550 million agreement to acquire an oncology drug candidate from Chimagen Biosciences. This development follows a separate licensing partnership with Hansoh Pharmaceutical as the company looks to diversify its treatment portfolio.
Why it matters
The company is expanding its cancer drug efforts to counter projected revenue declines from pending patent expirations on its HIV medications. These partnerships mark a strategic shift toward Chinese drug discovery pipelines to address previous gaps in oncology offerings.
A licensed drug, Ris-Rez, demonstrated a 54% reduction in death risk compared to current standard-of-care products in small cell lung cancer trials. Clinical evaluation for the Chimagen Biosciences therapy, which utilizes T-cells to combat cancer, is currently in the preliminary stage.
The players
GSK
A global pharmaceutical company focused on vaccines, HIV treatments, and oncology medicines.
Chimagen Biosciences
A biotechnology firm specializing in the development of early-stage cancer therapies.
Hansoh Pharmaceutical
A pharmaceutical developer based in China that collaborates on drug discovery for global markets.
Luke Miels
The current head of GSK who assumed the role in January 2026.
The details
The newly acquired Chimagen drug is designed to leverage T-cells, a type of white blood cell, to recognize and destroy cancer cells. GSK plans to test this therapy for treating multiple myeloma, with phase one trials scheduled for 2027. Under its separate agreement with Hansoh Pharmaceutical, GSK gained global rights for Ris-Rez outside of China, while the partner firm retains domestic rights.
Timeline
2014: GSK was fined £300 million by a Chinese court regarding a bribery network.
January 2026: Luke Miels replaced the previous chief as head of GSK.
September 2026: GSK signed the deal with Chimagen Biosciences.
2027: Phase one trials for the Chimagen drug are scheduled to begin.
Health Landscape
This deal follows a broader industry trend of large pharmaceutical firms partnering with Chinese biotech companies to strengthen their oncology medicine pipeline. The strategy reflects an effort to maintain growth in the face of patent expirations that threaten long-standing revenue streams.
This development involves early-stage research that is not yet available for patient care. Patients living with multiple myeloma or small cell lung cancer should discuss the current standard of care and any relevant clinical trial opportunities with their treating oncologist.
The takeaway
Large pharmaceutical companies are increasingly looking to external partnerships to fill gaps in their cancer treatment portfolios. Patients should track the progress of clinical trials through their oncology team to identify when new T-cell therapies reach the testing phase for their specific condition.
Further reading
For more on the current state of treatment development, read our latest updates on Cancer.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mail Online.
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