AstraZeneca spends up to $1.9B for new heart disease drug

AstraZeneca is paying up to $1.9 billion to license a new cardiovascular medication from CSPC Pharmaceutical Group. The company will start by sending CSPC an upfront payment of $100 million if certain milestones are reached as the drug is developed and commercialized, however, the final cost of the deal could be as high as $1.92 billion. 

This is an exclusive license agreement. No other pharmaceutical companies would be able to develop, market or sell this medication.

The drug in question is YS2302018, an oral lipoprotein (a) disruptor that may also help treat patients presenting with dyslipidemia. Early data suggest the drug can prevent the formation of lipoprotein (a) enough to reduce a patient’s risk of coronary artery disease, stroke or other forms of cardiovascular disease. 

“This asset is an important addition to our cardiovascular pipeline and could help patients to more effectively manage their dyslipidemia and related cardiometabolic diseases,” Sharon Barr, executive vice president and head of biopharmaceuticals research and development for AstraZeneca, said in a statement. “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.”