AstraZeneca Signs $5.3B AI Drug Discovery Deal with CSPC for Chronic Disease Programs

AstraZeneca has signed a licensing and co-discovery agreement with CSPC Pharmaceutical Group worth up to $5.3 billion, including $110 million in upfront cash. The partnership will focus on discovering new oral drugs targeting multiple chronic disease indications, including at least one immunological condition.

This follows a prior $100 million deal in October 2024, in which AstraZeneca licensed a CSPC cardiovascular candidate. The new agreement reportedly deepens that collaboration, though specific disease areas or targets under the new work were not disclosed.

CSPC will contribute its artificial-intelligence-driven drug discovery platform, which the company describes as a "dual-engine efficient" system. The platform is designed to analyze protein-compound binding patterns and select candidates with the highest likelihood of progressing successfully through clinical trials. The emphasis appears to be on improving target-ligand matching in the preclinical stage, although technical specifications were not provided.

In addition to the $110 million upfront, CSPC may receive up to $1.62 billion in development milestones and $3.6 billion in sales-related milestones. The deal also includes single-digit royalties on net sales if any therapies are commercialized.

AstraZeneca described the deal as a move to further its presence in China, following recent investments including a $2.5 billion plan to build an R&D hub in Beijing. The company’s China operations have been under scrutiny after the 2024 detention of former China head Leon Wang during an investigation into alleged drug import violations.

Topics: Startups & Deals