At the beginning of the new year, Qilu Pharmaceutical achieved a new breakthrough in its internationalization strategy. Bevacizumab injection (trade name: Ankevda) received marketing approval from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for the treatment of various malignant tumors, such as metastatic colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, kidney cancer, ovarian cancer, and cervical cancer.

The UK is a major global pharmaceutical market, and this approval marks the entry of this blockbuster anti-tumor drug into the high-end market. High-quality biopharmaceuticals "Made in China" are gaining widespread recognition worldwide and benefiting more patients.

As the world's first anti-angiogenic monoclonal antibody, bevacizumab is a first-line standard treatment recommended by multiple NCCN guidelines for non-small cell lung cancer and colorectal cancer. Bevacizumab exerts its anti-tumor effects primarily through three mechanisms: inhibiting the degradation of existing vascular systems, suppressing angiogenesis, and reducing vascular permeability. Due to its unique mechanism of action, bevacizumab can not only be used in combination with chemotherapy drugs to improve efficacy but also in combination with various molecularly targeted drugs and biological immunotherapies.In December 2019, Qilu Pharmaceutical's bevacizumab injection (Ankeda® ) was approved for marketing, becoming the first bevacizumab biosimilar approved in China. Through pharmaceutical, non-clinical, and clinical comparative studies, results showed that Ankeda® is highly similar to the original product in quality, with consistent safety and efficacy. Since its launch, Ankeda® has broken the foreign monopoly, significantly reduced the economic burden on patients, and has benefited over one million cancer patients.

Lung cancer and colorectal cancer are both common malignant tumors in the UK and globally, with treatment options being particularly crucial for patients with advanced-stage cancer. The high cost of bevacizumab has limited its accessibility to UK patients to some extent. Qilu Pharmaceutical officially launched the UK project for this product in early 2024, systematically advancing its market launch in global regulatory markets to meet unmet clinical needs and improve drug accessibility.

The approval of Qilu Pharmaceutical's bevacizumab in the UK not only demonstrates the company's R&D strength but also has a profound social impact on public health. With its proven efficacy and greater affordability, this drug is expected to become an important means of cancer treatment under the UK's National Health Service, enabling more patients to access high-quality biologics.

Qilu Pharmaceutical has consistently adhered to its quality commitment of "co-production line, global consistency" and implemented full life-cycle quality management for pharmaceuticals. Currently, the company has passed system certifications in all major regulatory markets worldwide and continues to expand into high-end international markets.

In recent years, Qilu Pharmaceutical has accelerated its overseas expansion. In early 2024, Qilu Pharmaceutical's ranibizumab injection (Rimmyrah) received marketing approvals in both the EU and the UK, becoming the first domestically produced ranibizumab to receive EU approval and the first ophthalmic biologic to be exported from my country, already sold in 14 European countries. Bevacizumab injection became the company's second biologic exported to a high-end market, further enhancing the brand influence of domestically produced biologics in Europe. Currently, the company has 27 pharmaceutical products approved for marketing in the EU/UK, with 19 products exported to Europe, and a 32.5% year-on-year increase in export value to Europe in 2025.

The company also exports 37 pharmaceutical preparations to the United States. For many years, Qilu Pharmaceutical has been the only domestic pharmaceutical company simultaneously exporting pharmaceutical preparations to markets regulated by the EU, the US, the UK, Japan, Australia, and Canada. "Qilu Good Medicines" are sold to 110 countries and regions worldwide, benefiting approximately 1.5 billion people annually .

Qilu Pharmaceutical will continue to uphold its mission of "expressing our love through technology," launch more new and effective drugs, meet unmet clinical needs, improve patient experience and accessibility, benefit patients, and make greater contributions to the development of global health.
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