AstraZeneca Purchases Novel Small Molecule Lipoprotein (a) Disruptor

AstraZeneca has signed an exclusive license agreement with CSPC Pharmaceutical Group for a preclinical small molecule called YS2302018. The molecule, an oral Lp(a) disruptor, will be developed as a lipid-lowering therapy alone or in combination with AstraZeneca’s oral PCSK9 inhibitor, AZD0780, as the company targets dyslipidaemia - a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases such as coronary artery disease and stroke.

The deal comes as part of an agreement that involves an upfront payment of $100 mn, with up to $1.92 bn in milestone and commercialization payments, plus tiered royalties, and will strengthen AstraZeneca's cardiovascular pipeline by addressing dyslipidaemia - a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases such as coronary artery disease and stroke.

AstraZeneca has entered into an exclusive license agreement with CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd (CSPC) to advance the development of an early stage, novel small molecule Lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) disruptor that has the potential to offer additional benefits for patients with dyslipidaemia. 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.1 Elevated levels of Lp(a), as well as elevated LDL-cholesterol, are known risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease and stroke.2

Sharon Barr, Executive Vice President and Head of BioPharmceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, said: “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.”

Dongchen Cai, Chairman of the Board, CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd, said “Lipoprotein (a) represents a very important target for dyslipidemia and implicated in multiple cardiometabolic diseases. Through this agreement with AstraZeneca and their global capabilities in clinical development and commercialisation, we look forward to accelerating the development of YS2302018, a novel small molecule Lp(a) disruptor to benefit the millions of patients worldwide living with these diseases.”

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