CStone and SteinCares Partner to Market and Commercialize Cancer Medication in Latin America

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CStone Pharmaceuticals announced a partnership with SteinCares to market and commercialize cancer medication sugemalimab in multiple Latin American countries.¹

Sugemalimab is a full-length anti-PD-L1 immunoglobulin G4 monoclonal antibody that has been approved by multiple health agencies across the globe to treat various types of tumors. The medication’s primary use is to be used in combination with chemotherapy, where it has been shown to reduce the risk of immunogenicity and toxicity.

CStone, the drug’s developer, previously announced similar deals with various pharmaceutical companies to expand sugemalimab into Europe, Southeast Asia, and Canada. SteinCares has a strong presence in Latin America, which is why it was selected for this partnership.

In a press release, CStone CEO, president of R&D, and executive director Dr. Jason Yang, said, “Following our successful market entries in Central and Eastern Europe, Switzerland, as well as the Middle East and Africa, we are excited to announce another key milestone in the global expansion of sugemalimab. As the first anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody approved in both the EU and UK for first-line, all-comer, Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), sugemalimab is well-positioned for success in Latin America. SteinCares' extensive distribution network and deep marketing expertise will significantly enhance sugemalimab's reach.”

Yang continued, “We are also actively discussing with international partners in Western Europe, Southeast Asia, and Canada, while advancing regulatory submissions for additional indications of sugemalimab. We are confident that these efforts will further unlock the therapeutic and commercial potential of sugemalimab, ultimately benefiting patients worldwide."

In the same press release, SteinCares CEO Mitchell Waserstein added, “This agreement with CStone represents a significant step forward in our mission to create healthcare opportunities for patients in LATAM. At SteinCares, we are committed to providing more Latin Americans with greater access to safe, innovative, and affordable therapies. With our extensive experience and established sales network across the region, we are confident in our ability to successfully commercialize sugemalimab in LATAM and make a meaningful impact on patients' health and well-being."

SteinCares will control the commercialization rights for the drug in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rice, Panama, Peru, Guatemala, and Ecuador.

China’s National Medical Products Administration approved sugemalimab for certain cancer patients in June, 2022.² At the time, Yang (who was the chief medical officer of CStone at the time) commented, “Dr. Jason Yang, Chief Medical Officer of CStone, said, "We are thrilled that sugemalimab has become the first anti- PD-1/PD-L1 monoclonal antibody approved for stage III NSCLC after concurrent or sequential chemoradiotherapy. The GEMSTONE-301 study has an innovative study design that enrolled patients with either concurrent or sequential chemoradiotherapy to better reflect real-world clinical practice and cover a broad patient population. We've also made significant progress in the registrational studies of sugemalimab in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, gastric cancer, and relapsed or refractory extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma in a bid to benefit more cancer patients."

Sources

1. CStone Partners with SteinCares to Market Sugemalimab in Latin America. CStone Pharmaceuticals. January 26, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cstone-partners-with-steincares-to-market-sugemalimab-in-latin-america-302360337.html
2. CStone and Pfizer Announce NMPA Approval of Sugemalimab in Patients With Unresectable Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. CStone Pharmaceuticals. June 6, 2022. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cstone-and-pfizer-announce-nmpa-approval-of-sugemalimab-in-patients-with-unresectable-stage-iii-non-small-cell-lung-cancer-301561552.html