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Posted Time:2026-05-26 15:00
May 26, 2026 – Jiangxi Kvvit Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Kvvit”), a subsidiary of QF Pharmaceutical Group, announced that it has entered into an exclusive license and collaboration agreement with German pharmaceutical company Merz Therapeutics GmbH for Inbrija® (generic name: levodopa inhalation powder) and its proprietary inhalation device. Kvvit has obtained exclusive development and commercialization rights for the product in Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao for the intermittent management of OFF episodes in adult patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Under the agreement, Merz will supply Inbrija® and retain responsibility for global product quality and key regulatory activities. Kvvit will lead development, regulatory activities and commercialization in the licensed territory under a jointly agreed China Development Plan. Merz will act as Overseas Holder of the Drug Registration Certificate and Kvvit will serve as Domestic Responsible Person, funding local clinical development and regulatory submissions.Inbrija® is currently not approved in China, Hong Kong and Macao, and any potential approval will depend on successful clinical development and regulatory review in the Licensed Territory.
Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide after Alzheimer’s disease,1 a persistent affliction for countless patients and families. The unpredictable “on-off phenomenon,”2 in particular, often plunges patients into sudden difficulty. This phenomenon refers to fluctuations in drug effect that occur in patients after long-term use of levodopa medications, and is a major motor complication of levodopa therapy. It manifests as rapid and unpredictable swings between sudden relief and worsening of the symptoms. During the “on” period, limb rigidity disappears and the patient can move freely. During the “off” period, the patient suddenly experiences generalized rigidity and akinesia, as if “frozen” in place. It is called the “on-off phenomenon” precisely because of its abrupt and unpredictable shifts, much like turning a power switch on and off, which is a vivid clinical analogy.
As the world population is aging, addressing this clinical challenge has become more urgent than ever. China has the world’s largest population of Parkinson’s disease patients and faces enormous unmet clinical needs. According to the China Parkinson’s Disease Report 2025, more than 5 million people are living with Parkinson's disease in China, with cases increasing by nearly 100,000 annually, and the disease is becoming more common in young people.3
“We are pleased to partner with Kvvit to potentially bring INBRIJA® to people living with Parkinson’s disease in Greater China,” said Andrea von der Lippe, President, Region International Markets. “Kvvit’s local development and commercial capabilities, combined with Merz’s experience with Inbrija®, create a strong foundation to expand access to an additional treatment option for patients experiencing OFF episodes.”
Mr. Yang Lizhen, VP of Jiangxi Kvvit Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. said: “Kvvit is always committed to providing outstanding services for human health. Based in China and with a global perspective, it hopes to offer patients more valuable and innovative treatment plans for neurological diseases. Based on this cooperation opportunity with Merz for the development, registration and subsequent commercialization of Inbrija®, we will closely cooperate with medical professionals to facilitate its rational application in clinical practice.”
Under the agreement, Merz Therapeutics will receive an upfront payment, in addition to development and commercial milestone payments, as well as tiered supply and royalty arrangements linked to commercial performance in the territory.
About Inbrija® (levodopa inhalation powder)
Inbrija® is an U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2018) and European Medicines Agency (2019) approved, inhaled prescription levodopa medication indicated for the intermittent treatment of episodic motor fluctuations (OFF episodes) in adult patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) treated with a levodopa/dopa-decarboxylase inhibitor4. As INBRIJA® is delivered directly to the lung, absorption of the medicine is not affected by meals or other PD-associated conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract that can impact oral medications.4
About Merz Therapeutics
Merz Therapeutics GmbH is dedicated to delivering better outcomes for more patients. With science as its foundation and the patient experience as its focus, the company relentlessly pursues innovative treatments and partnerships to address unmet needs in movement disorders, neurodegenerative conditions, liver disease, and other health conditions that severely impact patients’ quality of life.
Merz Therapeutics is headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and is active in more than 80 countries. Merz Therapeutics GmbH is part of the Merz Group, a privately held, family-owned company with a 117-year legacy. With passion and purpose, Merz Therapeutics continues to advance care in specialty neurology in ways that benefit both patients and society.
About Kvvit
Jiangxi Kvvit Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., established in 2021, is a controlled subsidiary of QF Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. It has been recognized as a National High-Tech Enterprise, a Jiangxi Provincial Enterprise Technology Center, and a Potential Gazelle Enterprise of Jiangxi Province. The company has built a global, full-chain innovation and R&D system, focusing on core therapeutic areas such as the central nervous system, anti-infectives, antineoplastic agents, and digestive systems. It has a presence in nearly 30 countries and regions, including the United States, East Asia, ASEAN, the Middle East, North Africa, and South America. Upholding the mission of “continuously providing outstanding healthcare service for the world,” Kvvit is dedicated to becoming a trusted and innovative pharmaceutical enterprise.
1. Su D, et al. Global, regional, and national burden of Parkinson's disease, 1990–2021, and projections to 2050: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021[J]. BMJ, 2025, 388: e080950.
2. Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Group, Neurology Branch, Chinese Medical Association, et al. Chinese guidelines for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (fourth edition)[J]. Chinese Journal of Neurology, 2020, 53(12): 973-986.
3. WANG Gang, XU Gang, XIE Xinyi, et al. China Parkinson‘s disease report, 2025[J]. Journal of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, 2025, 21(2): 63-98.
4. European Medicines Agency. Inbrija (levodopa). https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/inbrija Last accessed: 19 May 2026.
