Novocure partners with Zai Lab to bring its innovative therapy to Greater China.

After years of growing the Optune brand in the U.S., Europe and Japan, it was time to turn attention to China, the world’s most populated country. In September 2018, Novocure and Zai Lab, a Shanghai-based biopharmaceutical company, announced a strategic collaboration to make Optune available to the Chinese market.

“There are certain parts of the world, such as China, where it makes sense to have a trusted partner,” said Matt Thaeder, Novocure’s Associate Director of Business Development.

Sharing best practices, Novocure ensured that Zai Lab could replicate the high standards of Novocure’s patient-forward business model. In only three months, Zai Lab was treating its first GBM patient in Hong Kong.

“Going from an agreement to treating the first patient with Optune in that short amount of time was the moment when it finally felt real that this treatment had moved to a new part of the world,” Matt said.

It didn't stop with GBM. Together, Novocure and Zai Lab are also pursuing clinical development, regulatory approvals and treatment expansion to other cancer types with high unmet needs.

“Our collaboration with Zai Lab is another way to expand patient access,” Matt said. “I think that there's so much untapped potential in Tumor Treating Fields, and I feel proud that we are moving to a new arch in providing our therapy to more patients.”

“I think that there's so much untapped potential in Tumor Treating Fields, and I feel proud that we are moving to a new arch in providing our therapy to more patients.”

        — Matt Thaeder,
            Associate Director
            of Business
            Development