Zydus Lifesciences Limited has received an upgraded ESG rating from S&P Global, with its Corporate Sustainability Assessment score revised upward from 83/100 to 84/100 for the year 2025. The pharmaceutical company announced this development through a regulatory filing on January 20, 2026.

ESG Rating Enhancement Details

The company had initially informed stakeholders about receiving an ESG score of 83/100 from S&P Global in its earlier communication dated December 26, 2025. The rating agency has now revised this assessment, upgrading the score by one point to 84/100.

Corporate Sustainability Assessment Framework

The S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment evaluates companies across various environmental, social, and governance criteria. The scoring system ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better sustainability performance and practices.

Regulatory Compliance

Zydus Lifesciences Limited disclosed this information under Regulation 30 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015. The announcement was made by Company Secretary and Compliance Officer Dhaval N. Soni, who holds membership number FCS7063.

Company Information

Zydus Lifesciences Limited operates from its registered office at Zydus Corporate Park in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The company is listed on both BSE Limited (Code: 532321) and National Stock Exchange of India Limited (Code: Zyduslife), with CIN number L24230GJ1995PLC025878.

The revision in ESG rating demonstrates the company's commitment to sustainable business practices and its continuous efforts to improve performance across environmental, social, and governance parameters as evaluated by international rating agencies.

Zydus Lifesciences has successfully completed its strategic acquisition of Agenus Inc.'s biologics manufacturing assets and equity stake, marking a significant milestone in the company's expansion into the US biologics manufacturing sector. The comprehensive transaction was finalized on January 15, 2026, following receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including formal clearance from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

Transaction Components and Structure

The completed acquisition encompasses three key components originally announced on June 3, 2025. The deal structure involved multiple subsidiaries and comprehensive agreements across manufacturing, equity, and licensing arrangements.

Strategic Business Implications

The transaction establishes Zydus' advanced manufacturing capabilities in the global biologics CDMO business through the newly formed Zylidac Bio LLC. This US-based subsidiary will provide biologics manufacturing services to biopharmaceutical companies globally, positioning Zydus to serve the evolving landscape of biological product manufacturing that prioritizes secure, domestic, and high-quality supply chains.

Dr. Sharvil P. Patel, Managing Director of Zydus Lifesciences Limited, emphasized the strategic importance: "With this deal, Zylidac Bio LLC will now provide biologics manufacturing sites offering CDMO services to biopharmaceutical companies globally. This supports the evolving landscape of biological product manufacturing in the U.S., which prioritizes secure, domestic, and high-quality supply chains for advanced therapies."

Regulatory Environment and Compliance

The establishment of Zylidac Bio LLC gains particular significance following the BIOSECURE Act, signed into law on December 18, 2025. This legislation restricts US executive agencies from contracting with "Biotechnology Companies of Concern." By establishing a secure, domestic manufacturing footprint in California, Zydus provides a compliant solution for global biopharmaceutical companies seeking to transition their supply chains to US-based partners.

Manufacturing and Development Capabilities

Under the exclusive manufacturing agreement, Zydus will serve as the sole provider for production of drug substance and drug product for Agenus Inc.'s Phase 3 immuno-oncology candidates, Botensilimab (BOT) and Balstilimab (BAL). The company has secured exclusive rights to commercialize these lead immuno-oncology assets in India and Sri Lanka territories.

Partnership Perspectives

Dr. Garo Armen, Chairman and CEO of Agenus, Inc., highlighted the collaborative benefits: "This collaboration unites Agenus' pioneering immunotherapy pipeline and U.S.-based clinical development capabilities with Zydus' global manufacturing, operational scale, and commercial infrastructure. The transaction allows Agenus to monetize manufacturing assets while securing dedicated, high-quality U.S. biologics capacity to support botensilimab and balstilimab."

The move complements Zydus' recently announced strategic partnership with Formycon to commercialize a Keytruda® biosimilar (FYB206) in North America, with Zylidac Bio LLC enabling a localized supply chain for the company's expanding biosimilar and innovative portfolio. Zydus completed its equity investment in Agenus Inc. through its venture capital arm, Zynext Ventures.