HQ Team
October 7, 2024: British-Swedish AstraZeneca signed a $1.92 billion licensing agreement with CSPC Pharmaceutical Group to develop, manufacture and commercialize a compound to treat a metabolic disorder.
The small molecule Lipoprotein (a) disruptor has the potential to offer additional benefits for patients with dyslipidemia. This metabolic disorder occurs when abnormal levels of lipids, or fats, accumulate in the blood.
Genetic factors or lifestyle choices can cause the disease. Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including coronary heart disease and stroke.
AstraZeneca stated the molecule will further strengthen the company’s cardiovascular portfolio to help address the major risk factors driving chronic cardiovascular disease.
Lipid-lowering therapy
According to the agreement, AstraZeneca will receive access to CSPC’s pre-clinical candidate small molecule, YS2302018, with the “aim of developing this as a novel lipid-lowering therapy with potential in a range of cardiovascular disease indications alone or in combination.”
AstraZeneca has its oral small molecule PCSK9 inhibitor AZD0780 as a therapy for patients with dyslipidemia. The inhibitor can be tested in combination with the CSPC’s lipid-lowering therapy that the Hong Kong-listed firm is developing, according to the statement.
Lp(a) is a form of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) that plays a key role in the transport of cholesterol in the bloodstream.
Coronary artery disease, stroke
Elevated levels of Lp(a), as well as elevated LDL-cholesterol, are known risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease and stroke.
CSPC will receive $100 million in upfront payments and is also eligible to receive up to $1.92 billion for further development and commercialisation milestones plus tiered royalties.
CSPC is eligible to receive up to US$370 million in potential development milestone payments and up to $1.55 million in potential sales milestone payments, plus tiered royalties based on annual net sales of the products, according to a statement from CSPC.
The compound, a pre-clinical drug candidate, was discovered by the CSPC Group’s AI-driven small molecule drug design platform.
“This asset is an important addition to our cardiovascular pipeline and could help patients to more effectively manage their dyslipidaemia and related cardiometabolic diseases,” said Sharon Barr, Executive Vice President and Head of BioPharmceuticals R&D of AstraZeneca.
‘Unmet need’
“Given the scale of unmet need, with cardiovascular disease being a leading cause of death globally, advancing novel therapies that can be used alone or in combination to effectively address known risk factors and advance patient care is particularly important and a key part of our strategy.”
Elevated Lp(a) and LDL-C levels in plasma are a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease and this is estimated to cause 2.6 million deaths worldwide annually.
Despite current treatment options, the global burden of dyslipidaemia is on the rise.
More than 70% of patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease are still not achieving their LDL-C target, so there remains a vast unmet need among high-risk patients for more varied and effective treatment options, according to the AstraZeneca statement.
Dongchen Cai, Chairman of the Board, CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd, said: “Through this agreement with AstraZeneca and their global capabilities in clinical development and commercialisation, we look forward to accelerating the development of YS2302018.”
