Sandoz has announced a major development, manufacturing and commercialisation collaboration agreement with Shanghai Henlius Biotech. The two companies will collaborate on up to ten biosimilars, with an initial bundle of assets already agreed worth a total of up to $322m, with near-term payments associated with the initial assets that could reach up to $100.5m.

One of the initial assets under the agreement will be a proposed cetuximab biosimilar, which is in clinical development. The reference medicine, Erbitux (cetuximab), is an epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted oncology therapy used to treat selected patients with metastatic colorectal cancer and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

In addition, the collaboration also covers a proposed evolocumab biosimilar used in patients with hypercholesterolaemia and for reducing the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults at increased cardiovascular risk, and a proposed belimumab biosimilar intended for the treatment of active systemic lupus erythematosus in adults and children and active lupus nephritis in eligible patients, in addition to standard therapy. Overall, the collaboration expands Sandoz’s biosimilar pipeline to 39 assets, with the potential for that to increase to up to 46.

Gilead Sciences has opened its 182,000-square-foot Research Center at its Foster City, California headquarters, expanding capabilities in oncology, inflammation and research data science to advance medicines for some of the world’s most challenging diseases.

The company currently employs approximately 11,000 people across the US, including more than 7,400 in California and nearly 4,700 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The centre marks the latest milestone in the company’s $32bn investment in US research, development and manufacturing up until 2030.

Gilead marked the milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by company leaders, scientists and government and community guests.

Designed with input from Gilead research colleagues, the five-storey centre will support approximately 325 employees, including 260 laboratory scientists. Flexible laboratory neighbourhoods, specialised collaboration spaces and shared technology platforms will enable teams to adapt as scientific needs evolve. All-electric systems, energy-efficient design and water-saving landscaping featuring California native plants are expected to support LEED Gold certification.

The centre is one of three major Foster City projects. The other two projects include the Technical Development Center, expected to open in 2027, and the biologics facility, expected to open in 2029.

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, has completed the structural framework of its new manufacturing facility in Holly Springs, North Carolina in the US.

The facility, part of Genentech’s approximately $2bn investment in its first-ever US East Coast manufacturing facility, is expected to support more than 2,000 jobs, including more than 500 high-wage manufacturing roles and more than 1,500 construction jobs.

Once operational, the facility will produce next-generation treatments for metabolic conditions, such as obesity. It will incorporate advanced biomanufacturing, automation, robotics and the latest digital manufacturing technologies designed to increase production efficiency, support sustainability and strengthen Genentech’s US-based supply chain.

The investment in technology includes an advanced digital twin – an AI-powered, data-driven virtual model of the manufacturing facility designed to simulate operations and test scenarios before real-world implementation. The approach improves overall reliability and minimises waste, ultimately helping critical medicines reach people faster.

The facility is part of Roche and Genentech’s broader $50bn commitment to R&D and manufacturing infrastructure in the US, which currently includes 13 manufacturing sites, 15 research and development sites and approximately 25,000 employees across 24 locations in eight states