AstraZeneca expands its perspectives in cardiometabolic diseases, paying 1.2 billion dollars initiate a partnership on eight programs that include anti-obesity drug candidates with potential advantages over currently available products and clinical-stage drugs held by other biopharmaceutical companies.
The drug candidates joining AstraZeneca’s portfolio come from China-based pharmaceutical group CSPC. The deal announced Friday gives the British pharmaceutical company global rights, outside of Greater China, to CSPC’s portfolio of once-monthly injectable weight management drugs. AstraZeneca said the partnership will begin with the development of four programs using CSPC’s AI-powered peptide discovery platform and the biotech’s proprietary technology that enables once-a-month dosing.
The most advanced program coming from CSPC is SYH2083, a long-acting agonist of GLP-1 and GIP receptors. Those are the same goals achieved by Eli Lilly’s blockbuster anti-obesity drug, Zepbound. Earlier this week, Roche announced positive mid-stage results for its GLP-1/GIP agonist, which is now on track to enter phase 3 testing. Kailera Therapeutics also advances to Phase 3 with a GLP-1/GIP agonist. All three medications are administered through weekly injections.
Under the terms of the agreement, the CPSC will continue development of the four initial programs until the completion of Phase 1 trials. AstraZeneca is responsible for the development and commercialization of any approved products outside of China. While CSPC retains rights to the drugs in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, the deal gives AstraZeneca the right to choose to co-market these products following regulatory approvals.
Beyond the initial $1.2 billion payment, CSPC could receive up to $3.5 billion in regulatory and development milestone payments across the eight obesity and diabetes programs. CSPC is also in line to receive additional commercialization milestone payments plus royalties on sales of approved products.
The deal gives AstraZeneca the option to pursue future metabolic drug candidates using CSPC’s monthly dosing technology. Additionally, AstraZeneca has rights to implement this technology in its internal development programs. Sharon Barr, executive vice president and head of biopharmaceuticals research and development at AstraZeneca, said in a prepared statement that CSPC’s medicines complement the pharmaceutical company’s existing programs. The portfolio includes the oral GLP-1 receptor agonist elecoglipron (previously AZD5004), which AstraZeneca obtained from a 2023 deal with China-based Eccogene. Elecoglipron, a small molecule, is currently in mid-stage clinical development for type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management.
Other metabolic assets in AstraZeneca’s portfolio include AZD6234, a weekly injectable selective amylin receptor agonist currently in Phase 2 development for chronic weight management. AZD9550, a weekly injectable dual GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist, is in mid-stage development for obesity. AstraZeneca’s metabolic diseases portfolio also has several preclinical assets.
“[The collaboration] “It will provide access to CSPC’s proprietary AI-enabled peptide capabilities and platform technology, which have the potential to transform obesity treatment, helping to address adherence and convenience as key barriers to long-term therapeutic success,” Barr said. “This is an important step in creating a portfolio of simple, scalable and sustainable options that can help people with obesity and weight-related complications live better, healthier lives.”
The new agreement builds on an existing relationship between AstraZeneca and CSPC. In 2024, the British pharmaceutical company paid $100 million to license an oral small molecule CSPC to lower cholesterol. Last year, AstraZeneca paid $110 million upfront to collaborate on the discovery and development of new drugs based on CSPC’s AI-powered technology.
The latest agreement between the two companies comes as AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot accompanies UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on a trip to China, the first visit by a British prime minister in eight years. On Thursday, AstraZeneca announced plans to invest $15 billion in manufacturing and R&D infrastructure in China until 2030.
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