The Accelerating Biosimilars Revolution: Abbott and Henlius Lead the Charge in Asia and Global Markets

The biosimilars sector is no longer a niche corner of the biopharma industry—it's a seismic force reshaping global healthcare. With the U.S. FDA approving 12 biosimilars in the first half of 2025 alone and regulatory frameworks evolving to slash development costs, the stage is set for a wave of innovation. At the forefront of this revolution are Abbott and Henlius, two companies leveraging cross-border R&D, strategic partnerships, and emerging market demand to dominate the high-growth biosimilars space. For investors, their trajectories offer a compelling case for long-term capital appreciation.

Abbott's Thailand Gambit: A Strategic Bet on Affordability and Access

Abbott's recent collaboration with mAbxience Holdings S.L. is a masterstroke in the biosimilars arena. By securing exclusive rights to commercialize oncology, women's health, and respiratory biosimilars in 69 emerging markets—including Thailand—Abbott is positioning itself to capitalize on the region's unmet medical needs. Thailand, in particular, represents a critical battleground. With a regulatory framework that emphasizes traceability and post-market surveillance but lacks clear interchangeability guidelines, the market demands a nuanced approach. Abbott's strategy? Local partnerships, physician education, and real-world evidence generation to build trust in biosimilars.

The first wave of biosimilars under this partnership is expected to launch in 2025, targeting high-cost therapies like trastuzumab and rituximab. These products will be manufactured in mAbxience's GMP-certified facilities in Spain and Argentina, ensuring quality while keeping costs low. For investors, this model is a goldmine: Abbott's deep in-country infrastructure in Southeast Asia, combined with mAbxience's manufacturing prowess, creates a flywheel of affordability and scalability.

Henlius' Global Expansion: A BD-Driven Powerhouse

While Abbott is building its footprint in Asia, Henlius is rewriting the rules of global biologics commercialization. The Chinese biotech giant's 2025 partnerships with Dr. Reddy's, Sandoz, and Abbott itself underscore its ambition to become a global leader. By licensing its biosimilars like HANQUYOU (trastuzumab) and HLX11 (pertuzumab) to international partners, Henlius is not just expanding its revenue streams—it's embedding itself in the global supply chain of critical therapies.

Henlius' recent phase 3 trials for HLX22 (anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody) and the initiation of phase 2 trials for HLX43 (PD-L1 ADC) further solidify its pipeline. These programs, coupled with its collaboration with Alligator Bioscience and revenue-sharing agreements, create a diversified revenue model. For investors, the key takeaway is clear: Henlius is not just a biosimilars player—it's a biotech innovator with global reach.

Cross-Border Synergies: The New Normal in Biopharma

The biosimilars revolution is inherently global. Abbott's Thailand strategy and Henlius' BD momentum highlight a broader trend: regulatory harmonization and localized execution. The ASEAN Common Technical Dossier (ACTD) and the U.S. FDA's 2024 guidance eliminating switching studies for interchangeability are accelerating approvals. Meanwhile, partnerships like Abbott-Henlius and Henlius-Sandoz are breaking down silos, enabling faster market entry.

For investors, this means two things:
1. Scalability: Biosimilars with proven efficacy in one market can be rapidly adapted for others.
2. Margin resilience: Partnerships like these reduce R&D costs while expanding revenue pools.

The Investment Case: Why This Is a Long-Term Play

The biosimilars market is projected to grow at a 15% CAGR through 2030, driven by aging populations, rising NCDs, and healthcare cost pressures. Abbott and Henlius are uniquely positioned to capture this growth:
- Abbott: Its Thailand and Southeast Asia strategy taps into a $50B+ biosimilars market by 2030.
- Henlius: Its global BD network and innovative pipeline position it to outperform peers in both emerging and developed markets.

Final Take: Ride the Biosimilars Wave

The biosimilars sector is no longer a speculative bet—it's a structural shift in healthcare. Abbott's Thailand push and Henlius' global BD engine are proof that companies with the right mix of regulatory agility, local partnerships, and innovation will dominate this space. For investors, the message is clear: Position now, before the next wave of approvals and partnerships turns these players into household names.

Actionable Advice:
- ABBOTT (ABT): A buy for its emerging market expansion and strategic partnerships.
- HENLIUS (HNS): A strong buy for its global BD momentum and innovative pipeline.

The biosimilars revolution is here—and it's time to invest.