By Fineline Cube 
UK-based pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca (AZ, NASDAQ: AZN) and China’s CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd (HKG: 1093) announced a strategic research collaboration aimed at advancing the discovery and development of novel oral drug candidates for multiple therapeutic indications. The partnership focuses on high-priority targets to address significant unmet medical needs.
Collaboration Details
Under the agreement, AstraZeneca and CSPC will jointly discover and develop preclinical candidates targeting multiple pathways, including a preclinical-stage oral small-molecule therapy for immune disorders. CSPC will utilize its AI-powered dual-engine drug discovery platform to drive the research.
Financial Terms
CSPC will receive an upfront payment of USD 110 million and is eligible for up to USD 1.62 billion in potential development milestone payments and up to USD 3.6 billion in potential sales milestone payments. Additionally, CSPC may receive single-digit royalties based on annual net sales of commercialized products. The deal grants AstraZeneca an option to secure exclusive global rights for the development and commercialization of the drug candidates.-Fineline Info & Tech