Fresenius and WuXi Biologics enter exclusive development agreement to expand biosimilars pipeline

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• Exclusive option rights for up to 37 potential first-to-market biosimilar candidates to significantly expand Fresenius’ portfolio from 29 marketed and pipeline molecules today to up to 66 in the next decade, addressing more than €370 billion in originator sales; the largest development agreement announced in the biosimilars industry to date.  
• Agreement gives Fresenius full strategic flexibility to select and advance biosimilar candidates to develop, against its established selection criteria, while retaining full commercialization economics of products under the agreement.  
• Fresenius will determine the long-term manufacturing strategy for each candidate, with optionality to leverage the mAbxience network, wholly owned since October 2026.
• The next-generation portfolio spans 13 therapeutic areas and multiple biologic technologies, including monoclonal and bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates and fusion proteins.  

Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA (XETR: FRE; OTCM: FSNUY) today announced that it has entered an exclusive development agreement with WuXi Biologics (2269.HK), a leading global contract organization for research, development and manufacturing. WuXi Biologics brings proven large-scale biologics development and manufacturing capability, a track record across monoclonal and bispecific antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates, and a worldwide network spanning Europe, the United States, China and Singapore. The agreement significantly expands and accelerates Fresenius’ biosimilars pipeline while preserving strategic flexibility and disciplined capital allocation. It provides access to a scalable pathway to increase the portfolio from 29 marketed and pipeline molecules today to up to 66 molecules, addressing more than €370 billion in originator list-price-based-sales, extending Biopharma growth in the long term beyond its 2030 ambition.

The agreement provides Fresenius with exclusive access to up to 37 identified biosimilar candidates over the next decade, making it the largest development agreement announced in the biosimilars industry to date. Development programs will be selected and advanced against Fresenius’ established selection criteria, based on market attractiveness, development risk, and expected returns. Fresenius will hold exclusive global commercialization rights, including marketing authorizations, and the full economics of each commercialized product under the agreement.

Michael Sen, Chief Executive Officer of Fresenius, said: “We are doubling down on our Biopharma business. With this agreement we are gaining access to development capabilities in a market where speed and scale are of the essence. It provides a disciplined, scalable way to potentially triple our portfolio while retaining economic ownership, strategic control and the flexibility to allocate capital to the most compelling opportunities. Combined with the full ownership of mAbxience, this fuels our Biopharma growth well beyond 2030.”

The next-generation portfolio is expected to span 13 therapeutic areas, including expanding into neurology, nephrology and cardiopulmonary, while further strengthening Fresenius’ established positions in oncology, immunology, and gastroenterology. It will encompass multiple biologic technologies, including monoclonal and bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates and fusion proteins. Initial development is expected to focus on polatuzumab vedotin, an antibody-drug conjugate for the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and teprotumumab, a monoclonal antibody for the treatment of thyroid eye disease.

The agreement forms part of a balanced pipeline expansion strategy through internal R&D, targeted collaboration, and selective in-licensing. It gives Fresenius privileged access to the rapidly advancing biotech landscape worldwide and combines this with Fresenius’ global manufacturing and commercialization network. Development activities are expected to be conducted using WuXi Biologics’ global network. Building on the recent acquisition of Spain-headquartered mAbxience, the agreement significantly expands the funnel of potential development candidates for Fresenius’ wholly owned platform, enabling greater value capture across the development, manufacturing and commercialization value chain.

Financial Considerations
Fresenius’ full-year 2026 guidance remains unchanged, and the Company confirms the 2030 Biopharma ambition announced in December 2025 of – approximately doubling Biopharma revenue compared with 2025 at an EBIT margin of around 20% – which relates to the existing marketed and late-stage portfolio. The agreement is additive, expanding the opportunity beyond 2030, and, as a result, Fresenius expects to raise its long-term Biopharma ambitions significantly.

Under the terms of the agreement, Fresenius will compensate WuXi Biologics on a fee-for-service basis for each biosimilar candidate that Fresenius selects for development. Research and development investment scales only as selected programs progress, with each option exercised against Fresenius’ established selection criteria (market attractiveness, development risk, and expected returns). Fresenius will determine the long-term manufacturing strategy for each biosimilar candidate, including the potential progressive transfer of selected products to mAbxience. Fresenius will hold exclusive global commercialization rights, including marketing authorizations, and the full economics of each commercialized product under the agreement.

As selected candidates advance, Biopharma research and development expenditure and profitability will correspondingly reflect the increased level of investment during the development phase, ahead of future revenue and profitability growth.

The agreement fits within Fresenius’ unchanged financial framework, with continued priority on a strong balance sheet and further deleveraging; it is funded from operating cash flow and requires no new financing. Fresenius is rated BBB with a positive outlook by S&P, Baa3 with a stable outlook by Moody’s, and BBB- with a positive outlook by Fitch.

Related Publications
The 1 October 2026 announcement of Fresenius' acquisition of the remaining 45% of mAbxience is available here. The 31 March 2022 announcement of Fresenius Kabi's acquisition of a 55% majority stake in mAbxience is available here, and the 1 August 2022 completion announcement here. The Biopharma 'Meet the Management' presentation of 15 December 2025 is available here.