ShanghaiJune 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Everest Medicines (HKEX 1952.HK), a biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative drug research and development, clinical development, manufacturing, and commercialization, today announced that since the launch of NEFECON®, it has benefited a broad range of patients with IgA nephropathy. To further expand patient access to the medication, the company has reached an understanding with Hainan Herui Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Hainan Herui”) regarding patents related to NEFECON® (budesonide enteric-coated capsules) and will collaborate on the commercialization of budesonide enteric-coated capsules, which were approved by China’s National Medical Products Administration in December 2025 for Hainan Herui.
Under this collaboration, Hainan Herui’s budesonide enteric-coated capsules will be authorized for marketing in the Chinese mainland market, with Everest Medicines responsible for their commercialization. Everest Medicines will provide rigorous technical guidance and quality audits for Hainan Herui’s production and supply. This partnership aims to enhance patient choice between NEFECON® and Hainan Herui’s budesonide enteric-coated capsules. The collaboration is subject to customary closing conditions before taking effect.
About NEFECON®
NEFECON® (budesonide enteric-coated capsules) is the world’s first targeted therapy for IgA nephropathy, addressing the root cause of the disease. It is an immunomodulator targeting mucosal B cells in the gut, reducing kidney function decline by 50%[1], and in the Chinese population, it can slow kidney function deterioration by 66%[2], delaying progression to dialysis or kidney transplantation by an estimated 12.8 years[3]. Additionally, budesonide has a first-pass metabolism rate of 90%[4], ensuring a favorable safety profile. NEFECON® is specifically designed for IgA nephropathy patients, with each capsule containing 4 mg of budesonide. Through a specialized delayed-release and sustained-release dual formulation process, the budesonide triple-layer coated micro-pellets are targeted for release at the terminal ileum’s mucosal B cells (including Peyer’s patches). The triple-layer coated micro-pellets continuously and stably release budesonide, maintaining high concentrations across the entire target area, thereby reducing the production of galactose-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1) that triggers IgA nephropathy, intervening at the upstream stage of the disease mechanism to treat IgA nephropathy.
In June 2019, Everest Medicines entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Calliditas Therapeutics, obtaining the rights to develop and commercialize NEFECON® in Greater China and Singapore. This agreement was expanded in March 2022 to include South Korea within Everest Medicines’ licensing scope.
About Everest Medicines
Everest Medicines is a biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative drug research and development, clinical development, manufacturing, and commercialization, dedicated to meeting unmet medical needs in global markets. The management team of Everest Medicines possesses deep expertise and extensive experience at leading pharmaceutical companies in China and globally. The company has a commercial-scale global manufacturing base in Jiashan, Zhejiang Province, and has established a comprehensive GMP quality management system in accordance with Chinese, U.S., and EU standards.
The company focuses on therapeutic areas such as autoimmune diseases, ophthalmology, acute critical illnesses, and CKM (cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic) diseases. It has built a commercialization platform integrating a full-channel commercial system and lifecycle drug commercialization capabilities. Leveraging its self-developed mRNA platform with global rights, Everest Medicines continues to advance existing pipelines, including mRNA in vivo CAR-T and mRNA tumor vaccines. Through introductions and ecosystem incubation of potential platforms, it expands research and development capabilities while strengthening global positioning to accelerate international development. For more information, please visit the company’s official website: www.everestmedicines.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
The information released in this press release may contain certain forward-looking statements based on the company’s or management’s current views, beliefs, and expectations regarding the company’s business operations and financial condition at the time of making the statements. These may use words such as “will,” “expect,” “predict,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “confident,” and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, some of which are beyond the company’s control and difficult to predict. Therefore, due to various factors and assumptions, including future changes and developments in our business, competitive environment, and political, economic, legal, and social conditions, actual results may differ materially from the information contained in the forward-looking statements. The company, its subsidiaries, directors, management, advisors, and agents do not and assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained in this document to reflect the latest information, future projects, or circumstances after the date of this press release, unless required by law.
References
3. Jonathan Barratt, et al. 2023 ASN. Poster no. SA-PO886.