Hengrui Pharma Licenses Cardiac Myosin Inhibitor HRS-1893 to Braveheart Bio

Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with U.S.-based Braveheart Bio for its novel small-molecule cardiac myosin inhibitor, HRS-1893, currently in Phase III trials for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM). Under the agreement, Hengrui grants Braveheart Bio rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialise the drug globally, excluding Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

The deal includes an upfront payment of USD 65 million – half in cash and half in Braveheart Bio equity – plus a near-term USD 10 million milestone upon completion of technology transfer, making an initial total of USD 75 million. Hengrui is also eligible for up to USD 1.013 billion in further development and commercial milestone payments, as well as royalties on net sales.

Braveheart Bio, founded in 2024 and backed by investors including Forbion and OrbiMed, is led by CEO Travis Murdoch, who previously founded Hi-Bio and successfully led its acquisition by Biogen. The agreement highlights Hengrui’s NewCo model, which has seen successful past deals such as the GLP-1 portfolio licensing to Kailera Therapeutics.

HRS-1893 enters a competitive space alongside therapies like Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Camzyos (mavacamten) and Cytokinetics’ aficamten as a potential best-in-class myosin inhibitor for oHCM. The licensing deal underscores a growing trend of international partnerships enabling Chinese innovation to reach global markets.