AstraZeneca secures rights to CSPC’s lipid-lowering drug in $1.9bn deal

AstraZeneca (AZ) has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement valued at over $1.9 billion to advance CSPC Pharmaceutical Group’s pre-clinical lipid-lowering therapy, bolstering the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker’s cardiovascular treatments. This strategic deal grants AZ access to YS2302018, a promising early-stage small molecule designed to disrupt Lipoprotein (a), potentially offering new benefits for patients dealing with dyslipidaemia. This condition, marked by elevated lipid and lipoprotein levels in the blood, is estimated to cause 2.6 million deaths worldwide annually.

High levels of Lipoprotein (a), along with low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, are significant risk factors for adverse cardiovascular outcomes, including coronary artery disease, stroke, and heart failure. Despite the availability of lipid-lowering therapies, more than 70% of patients do not achieve their LDL-cholesterol targets, highlighting the urgent need for new treatment solutions.

YS2302018 is viewed as a versatile asset in treating various cardiovascular diseases. It has potential applications as a standalone therapy or as part of combination treatments, including with AZ's own oral small molecule PCSK9 inhibitor, AZD0780. This broad applicability underscores the potential impact of YS2302018 in a market with significant unmet medical needs.

Under the terms of this agreement, CSPC will receive an upfront payment of $100 million. Additionally, CSPC is eligible for up to $1.92 billion in further developmental and commercialization milestones, along with tiered royalties based on future sales.

Sharon Barr, Executive Vice President and Head of Biopharmaceuticals Research and Development at AZ, emphasized the significance of this asset for their cardiovascular pipeline. She noted that this therapy could assist patients in managing dyslipidaemia and related cardiometabolic diseases more effectively. Barr highlighted the critical need for novel therapies that can either stand alone or be used in combination to tackle known cardiovascular risk factors, which is a major component of AZ's strategy.

Dongchen Cai, Chairman of the Board at CSPC, also commented on the agreement, stressing the importance of targeting Lipoprotein (a) in addressing dyslipidaemia and other cardiometabolic diseases. Cai expressed optimism that through this collaboration with AZ, and leveraging AZ's global capabilities in clinical development and commercialization, the development of YS2302018 could be accelerated. This advancement could potentially benefit millions of patients worldwide who suffer from these conditions.

In summary, this deal between AstraZeneca and CSPC Pharmaceutical Group represents a significant step forward in the development of innovative cardiovascular therapies. The introduction of YS2302018 into AZ's cardiovascular portfolio demonstrates a concerted effort to address the substantial unmet needs in cardiovascular disease treatment. The collaboration promises to bring new hope to millions of patients globally, offering the potential for more effective management of dyslipidaemia and related cardiometabolic diseases.