Denovo Biopharma has acquired the global rights, outside China, to oncology drug endostatin from Chinese drugmaker Wuzhong Pharmaceutical.

Endostatin, which Denovo has renamed DB108, is a recombinant protein drug meant to inhibit tumor growth by blocking the production of new blood vessels. In a phase 3 study, Wuzhong evaluated DB108 for nonsmall-cell lung cancer, where it was said to significantly improve progression-free survival in participants.

San Diego, Calif.-based Denovo said the deal enables its “expansion into the field of protein therapeutics.”