Sanofi is licensing two of its preclinical respiratory compounds to China's ZAI Lab, as per reports. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

The drugs show promise as potential treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

In China, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), chronic respiratory diseases are the second leading cause of death. It is estimated that over 50 percent of Chinese men smoke and the pollution levels are also major contributors.

Ms Samantha Du, Zai Lab's chief executive, said, "ZAI Lab's vision is to develop innovative medicines that can treat patients with serious medical conditions including chronic respiratory diseases. Diseases such as COPD and asthma, with no effective treatments, are becoming leading causes of morbidity and mortality in China. By working with Sanofi, ZAI Lab intends to initiate development to bring effective therapies to patients globally."  The Shanghai-based company has launched over half a dozen drugs globally and has successfully taken five candidates into clinical trials in China.