This asset further strengthens the company’s cardiovascular portfolio to help address the major risk factors driving chronic cardiovascular disease.  

Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca will receive access to CSPC’s pre-clinical candidate small molecule, YS2302018, an oral Lp(a) disruptor, 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, including with the oral small molecule PCSK9 inhibitor, AZD0780.

YS2302018 was discovered by CSPC and has been shown to effectively prevent the formation of Lp(a). Lp(a) is a form of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) that plays a key role in the transport of cholesterol in the blood stream. Elevated levels of Lp(a), as well as elevated LDL-cholesterol, are known risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease and stroke.

“This asset is an important addition to our cardiovascular pipeline and could help patients to more effectively manage their dyslipidaemia and related cardiometabolic diseases. 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,” says Sharon Barr, Executive Vice President and Head of BioPharmceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca.

Financial considerations

CSPC will receive an upfront payment of USD 100 million from AstraZeneca. CSPC is also eligible to receive up to USD 1.92 billion for further development and commercialization milestones plus tiered royalties.