Shanghai, China, March 19th, 2021 - Shanghai Henlius Biotech, Inc. (2696.HK) announced that the Investigational New Drug (IND) application of HLX04-O, a recombinant anti-VEGF humanized monoclonal antibody ophthalmic injection jointly developed by the Company and Essex has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD).

It is believed that Henlius and Essex will speed up the global multicentre clinical trials of HLX04-O and apply marketing authorization in different countries and regions around the globe based on the research results. HLX04-O has the potential to be one of the first bevacizumabs approved for ophthalmic diseases, benefiting more patients with eye diseases worldwide. Looking forward, Henlius will continue advancing the development of innovative biologics on the basis of its established and integrated innovation platform, underscoring its long-term commitment to providing affordable and effective therapies for patients worldwide.

About HLX04-O

HLX04-O is a recombinant anti-VEGF humanized monoclonal antibody ophthalmic injection constructed using genetic engineering technology independently developed by Henlius. HLX04-O can inhibit VEGF?s binding to its receptor Flt-1(VEGFR-1) and KDR(VEGFR-2) on endothelial cells to inhibit the activation of its tyrosine kinase signaling pathway, inhibit endothelial cell proliferation and reduce angiogenesis, thereby treating eye diseases associated with angiogenesis. According to the requirements of ophthalmic drugs, the Company has developed HLX04-O which optimizes the prescription, specifications and production processes of HLX04, assuming that the active ingredients remain unchanged.