Fresenius adds up to 37 biosimilar candidates through WuXi Biologics partnership

A ten-year development partnership

Fresenius, the DAX-listed health group based in Bad Homburg, announced on Monday, 2 November 2026, a development partnership with the Chinese contract developer WuXi Biologics. Through it, the company secures access over the next ten years to as many as 37 new biosimilar candidates. Biosimilars are copies of biotech medicines whose patents have expired, and they are meant to improve supply and cut healthcare costs. Fresenius describes the agreement as the largest contract of its kind in the industry. Its shares rose 1.7% in early trading and led the DAX gainers.

Pipeline and market size

The partnership would expand Fresenius's portfolio from 29 marketed and in-development products to as many as 66. The company is targeting original biotech drugs that currently represent a market of more than 370 billion euros. Patent protection for many biologic drugs runs out from 2028 onward. The market is contested, and speed of regulatory approval decides who wins. Health systems under financial pressure make cheaper copies especially attractive. Fresenius says the deal complements its own research, its collaborations and its in-licensing.

Current portfolio29

Up to, after WuXi deal66

Current portfolio

29 products

Up to, after WuXi deal

66 products

Data from the article text

Payment terms and financial impact

Fresenius did not disclose any financial details of the deal. The company said it would not pay large sums up front and would instead compensate WuXi in steps as development advances. For each candidate Fresenius selects for development, WuXi is paid on a service basis. Fresenius plans to cover the costs from its ongoing business and does not intend to take on new debt. Rising research and development spending will weigh on profitability during the development phase, before the products add to sales and earnings growth. Fresenius confirmed its 2026 targets and the Biopharma targets for 2030 announced in December 2025.

Political risk and safeguards

CEO Michael Sen does not expect political obstacles on the important US market because of the Chinese partner. The Biosecure Act, passed in the United States at the end of 2025, restricts certain dealings with Chinese biotech companies. Sen stressed that WuXi Biologics, the current partner, is not affected by the law. Fresenius has kept its intellectual property and the decisive cell banks in Bad Homburg. Handelsblatt reports that Fresenius keeps the worldwide marketing rights to the future products. The Spanish mAbxience plants could also take over production of the new WuXi molecules.

Timeline to market

Sen expects the first WuXi-derived products to reach the market only in the early 2030s, because complex drugs take years to develop. The partners will start with biosimilar versions of the cancer drug Polivy and the eye medication Tepezza. Fresenius completed its full takeover of the Spanish biosimilar specialist mAbxience in October. Biosimilars have been the company's growth driver. Sen had earlier announced that the company would invest its stronger financial capacity in partnerships and research.