AstraZeneca to Pay Up to $2 Billion for CSPC's AI-Developed Lp(a) Cardiovascular Drug

Oct 7, 2024, 09:00 AM

AstraZeneca has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Hong Kong-listed CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd, agreeing to pay up to $2 billion to enhance its cardiovascular pipeline. The deal includes a $100 million upfront payment and potential milestone payments totaling up to $1.9 billion. The licensed therapy is a preclinical small molecule targeting lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), developed using CSPC Pharma's AI platform. This lipid-lowering drug aims to address cardiovascular diseases by reducing Lp(a) levels. The agreement underscores AstraZeneca's commitment to leveraging innovative technologies from Chinese biotech firms to strengthen its position in the cardiovascular market.