LONDON: AstraZeneca has entered a strategic research collaboration with China-based CSPC Pharmaceuticals Group Limited to accelerate the discovery of novel oral therapies using artificial intelligence.
The partnership will focus on identifying and developing pre-clinical candidates for chronic diseases, including a small-molecule oral therapy for immunological conditions. The research will leverage CSPC’s AI-powered drug discovery platform, which analyzes protein-compound interactions to optimize potential treatments.
Sharon Barr, AstraZeneca’s executive vice president of BioPharmaceuticals R&D, said the collaboration reflects the company’s commitment to addressing chronic diseases affecting billions worldwide. “By combining our expertise, we aim to rapidly advance high-quality therapeutic candidates,” she said.
Under the agreement, CSPC will receive a $110 million upfront payment and could earn up to $1.62 billion in development milestones and $3.6 billion in sales-based payments, plus royalties. AstraZeneca retains exclusive global licensing rights for any resulting candidates.
The deal expands AstraZeneca’s presence in China after a $2.5 billion investment in Beijing earlier this year. Research will be conducted at CSPC’s facilities in Shijiazhuang.