13 June 2025
AstraZeneca enters strategic collaboration with
CSPC Pharmaceuticals focused on AI-enabled research
AstraZeneca has entered a strategic research
collaboration with Shijiazhuang City-based CSPC Pharmaceuticals
Group Limited. Working together on high priority targets, the
collaboration aims to advance the discovery and development of
novel oral candidates, with the potential to treat diseases across
multiple indications.
Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca
and CSPC agree to discover and develop pre-clinical candidates for
multiple targets with the potential to treat diseases across
chronic indications, including a pre-clinical small molecule oral
therapy for immunological diseases.
Sharon Barr, Executive Vice President and Head
of BioPharmaceuticals R&D said: "This strategic research
collaboration underscores our commitment to innovation to tackle
chronic diseases which impact over two billion people globally.
Forming strong collaborations allows us to leverage our
complementary scientific expertise to support the rapid discovery
of high-quality novel therapeutic molecules to deliver
the next-generation medicines."
The research will be carried out by CSPC, in
Shijiazhuang City and will utilise their AI-driven, dual-engine
efficient drug discovery platform. This platform uses AI technology
to analyse the binding patterns of target proteins with existing
compound molecules, conduct targeted optimization, with the aim of
selecting highly effective small molecules with excellent
developability.
The collaboration furthers AstraZeneca's
presence in China following the
$2.5bn investment in Beijing announced earlier this year and
strengthens the ongoing collaboration with CSPC.
Financial
considerations
Under the terms of the agreement, CSPC will
receive an upfront payment of $110 million, and
is also eligible to receive up to $1.62 billion in potential
development milestone payments and up to $3.6 billion in sales
milestone payments, plus potential single digit royalties based on
annual net sales of the products.
Under the agreement, AstraZeneca will have
rights to exercise options for exclusive licenses to develop and
commercialise worldwide candidates identified under this
agreement.
Notes
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) is a global,
science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the
discovery, development, and commercialisation of prescription
medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases, and BioPharmaceuticals,
including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory
& Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca's innovative
medicines are sold in more than 125 countries and used by millions
of patients worldwide. Please visit astrazeneca.com and follow
the Company on social media @AstraZeneca
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Matthew Bowden
Company Secretary
AstraZeneca PLC
