AstraZeneca Bets $100M on Chinese Lipid Drug in Cardio Deal

AstraZeneca is fortifying its cardiovascular disease portfolio through a $100 million deal with CSPC Pharmaceutical Group for a lipid-targeting drug. The British pharmaceutical giant has secured rights to YS2302018, a small molecule disruptor of lipoprotein(a) currently in preclinical development. This candidate is designed to inhibit the formation of a lipid that plays a significant role in cholesterol transport within the bloodstream. CSPC Pharmaceutical Group stands to gain up to $1.92 billion in milestone payments and tiered royalties on sales, according to an AstraZeneca press release.

AstraZeneca noted that YS2302018 can be used in conjunction with other drugs in its pipeline, such as AZD0780, a small molecule PCSK9 inhibitor that is in Phase 2 trials for dyslipidemia. Dyslipidemia encompasses a range of conditions marked by abnormal lipid levels.

In recent years, cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases have been key growth areas for AstraZeneca. The company has actively invested in external innovation to expand its offerings. In November, AstraZeneca invested $185 million upfront to license an oral GLP-1 agonist from China’s Eccogene. Earlier in 2023, it acquired CinCor Pharma and its hypertension drug candidate, baxdrostat, for $1.8 billion.

AstraZeneca has increasingly turned to China for new assets, contrary to the trend among some US pharmaceutical companies. At an investor event in May, CEO Pascal Soriot highlighted the rapid pace of innovation in China and reaffirmed AstraZeneca’s commitment to leveraging this innovation. This stance was maintained despite rising tensions between the US and China, which culminated in the passing of the Biosecure Act last month.

During the latest earnings call, Soriot stated that AstraZeneca aims to address cardiovascular diseases comprehensively, rather than solely focusing on weight loss. The company has indicated that combination therapies will be a crucial element of this strategy.

Other notable entities working on advanced cholesterol treatments include Verve Therapeutics, which is developing a base editing therapy for heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Eli Lilly has a small molecule inhibitor of lipoprotein(a) formation, muvalaplin, in Phase 2 development. Additionally, Novartis is advancing pelacarsen, a Phase 3 antisense therapy that targets lipoprotein(a) and was licensed from Ionis Pharmaceuticals.

AstraZeneca’s strategy and recent moves underline its commitment to addressing cardiovascular diseases through innovative and comprehensive approaches, leveraging both internal developments and external collaborations.