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Cipla, China's Qilu Partner for US Launch of Merck's Keytruda Biosimilar

Qilu will develop and supply QL2107 while Cipla USA handles U.S. sales, as the companies target a lower-cost cancer treatment ahead of Keytruda’s 2028 patent expiry.

  • On Thursday, Cipla Limited's subsidiary, Invagen Pharmaceuticals Inc., announced a strategic partnership with Qilu Pharmaceutical to license and supply QL2107, a biosimilar of Merck's cancer drug Keytruda, for the United States.
  • This collaboration aligns with Cipla's strategy to expand its oncology-focused biosimilars portfolio, leveraging Qilu's research and manufacturing capabilities alongside Cipla's established U.S. commercial network.
  • QL2107 was developed to offer patients an affordable treatment option matching Keytruda's safety and efficacy profile. Keytruda, until recently the world's top-selling drug, is used against 20 types of tumors and 45 cancer stages.
  • Under the agreement, Qilu will manage development, regulatory approvals, and supply, while Cipla USA Inc. will handle commercialization. "We aim to bring a high-quality, affordable pembrolizumab biosimilar to U.S. patients," Qilu General Manager Hanchang Zhang said.
  • The partnership positions both firms to compete as Merck faces patent expiration for Keytruda in 2028. Cipla North America CEO Marc Falkin noted the collaboration supports expansion in coming fiscal years.
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Reuters broke the news in London, United Kingdom on Thursday, September 3, 2026.
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