Viela Bio Enters Strategic Collaboration with Hansoh Pharma to Develop and Commercialize Inebilizumab for Autoimmune Diseases and Hematologic Cancers in China

Partnership accelerates access to inebilizumab in China and
supports the mission of both companies to bring transformative therapies
to more patients around the world

Viela Bio is eligible to receive an upfront collaboration fee and
milestone payments of more than $220 million plus royalties on product
sales

GAITHERSBURG, Md. & SHANGHAI–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Viela Bio, Inc. (“Viela”) and Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Company
Limited (“Hansoh Pharma”) today announced a collaboration focused on
development and commercialization of inebilizumab – Viela’s humanized
anti-CD19 monoclonal antibody – in China for neuromyelitis optica
spectrum disorder (NMOSD), as well as other potential
inflammation/autoimmune and hematologic malignancy indications.

“Our collaboration with Hansoh Pharma strengthens our ability to
commercialize inebilizumab throughout the world,” commented Bing Yao,
Ph.D., Viela’s Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Their
significant commercial, regulatory and clinical development
infrastructure gives us a strong strategic partner in China and also may
provide support for our global product expansion and lifecycle plans.”

Under terms of the collaboration, Viela will receive an up-front
collaboration fee and additional payments contingent on certain
development, regulatory, and commercial milestones, totaling potentially
more than $220 million, plus tiered royalties on net sales. Hansoh
Pharma will be responsible for leading development and commercialization
of inebilizumab in China.

“We are thrilled to partner with Viela. They have shown that targeting
CD19 to achieve sustained B cell depletion is a compelling monotherapy
strategy that brings profound benefits to patients with NMOSD, for whom
there is no approved therapy,” said Aifeng Lyu, Ph.D., President of
Hansoh Pharma. “Viela is a leader in researching and developing
breakthrough treatments for inflammation and autoimmune diseases.
Together, we will endeavor to advance inebilizumab as quickly as
possible for patients in China, as well as seek to broaden the potential
of inebilizumab via combination therapies.”

Viela recently presented positive results from a pivotal study of
inebilizumab in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder
(NMOSD) – a rare autoimmune disease characterized by unpredictable
attacks that often lead to severe, irreparable disability including
blindness and paralysis. Inebilizumab is not yet approved for sale in
either the United States or China. Viela expects to file for a Biologics
License Application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in
mid-2019.

ABOUT INEBILIZUMAB

Inebilizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds with high
affinity to CD19, a protein expressed on a broad range of B cells,
including antibody-secreting plasmablasts and plasma cells. After
binding to CD19, these cells are rapidly depleted from circulation.
Inebilizumab is an investigational new drug for which there is no
marketing authorization in the United States or China.

ABOUT HANSOH PHARMACEUTICAL GROUP LIMITED

Hansoh Pharma is a leading biopharmaceutical company in China committed
to discovering and developing life-changing medicines to help patients
conquer serious diseases and disorders, together with its 8,800
employees.

Founded in 1995, Hansoh has fully integrated research and development,
manufacturing and commercial capabilities, supporting a leadership
position in CNS, oncology, infectious diseases, and diabetes, among
others. With 1,400 professionals across R&D, Hansoh ranks top 2 in
innovation among all biotech and pharmaceutical companies in China based
on new molecular entity INDs submitted for clinical development since
2011.

Hansoh Pharma’s 2018 revenue was US$1.1 billion, representing a
year-over-year growth of 25%. For more information, please visit www.hansoh.cn/en/

ABOUT VIELA BIO

Viela Bio, headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland, is a clinical-stage
biotechnology company pioneering and advancing treatments for severe
inflammation and autoimmune diseases by selectively targeting shared
critical pathways that are the root cause of disease.

For more information, please visit www.vielabio.com

Contacts

For Viela Bio:
Investors
Solebury Trout
Chad
Rubin
646-378-2947
[email protected]

Media
Solebury
Trout
Amy Bonanno
914-450-0349
[email protected]

For
Hansoh Pharma:
Investor/Media
[email protected]