AstraZeneca announced on July 2 a new agreement with CSPC Pharmaceutical Group to collaborate on investigational therapies for kidney diseases. The contract includes a $30 million upfront payment from AstraZeneca, along with up to $540 million in development milestones and up to $1.2 billion in sales milestone payments. CSPC will also be eligible for single-digit royalties on net annual sales of any products that reach the market.
The partnership will provide AstraZeneca access to CSPC’s artificial intelligence-powered small interfering RNA (siRNA) drug discovery engine and targeted delivery platform. The companies plan to use these technologies to discover and develop pre-clinical molecules targeting two renal disease indications, though specific conditions were not disclosed in the announcement.
Under the terms of the deal, AstraZeneca has the option to obtain exclusive rights for developing, manufacturing, and marketing these therapies outside China. CSPC retains full control over one of the assets within China.
This marks another collaboration between AstraZeneca and CSPC. In January, AstraZeneca made a $1.2 billion upfront payment for rights related to SYH2082—an early-stage obesity therapy—and three other preclinical assets focused on obesity and weight-related conditions. That agreement also included four new joint programs.
Across all current collaborations with CSPC, AstraZeneca could pay up to $3.5 billion in research and development milestones, plus as much as $13.8 billion in sales-based payments if all targets are met.
