Global biopharma leader AstraZeneca has signed a landmark strategic research agreement with CSPC Pharmaceutical Group, one of China’s most innovative drugmakers, to co-develop oral therapies for chronic and immunological diseases. The collaboration marks another step in AstraZeneca’s deepening footprint in China and its push toward AI-enabled drug discovery.
The deal will focus on early-stage discovery and pre-clinical development of small molecule oral therapies, with CSPC’s AI-powered drug platform driving candidate selection. The platform analyses how proteins bind with compounds, enabling faster, more targeted drug optimisation.
“This strategic research collaboration underscores our commitment to innovation to tackle chronic diseases which impact over two billion people globally,” said Sharon Barr, Executive Vice President and Head of BioPharmaceuticals R&D at AstraZeneca.
Forming strong collaborations allows us to leverage our complementary scientific expertise to support the rapid discovery of high-quality novel therapeutic molecules
The research will take place in Shijiazhuang City, at CSPC’s facilities, and will initially focus on high-priority pre-clinical targets with potential to treat multiple chronic conditions.
Deal Breakdown:
- $110 million upfront payment to CSPC
- Up to $1.62 billion in development milestone payments
- Up to $3.6 billion in sales-based milestone payments
- Single-digit royalties on global net sales
- AstraZeneca secures exclusive global licensing options for successful candidates
The agreement builds on AstraZeneca’s recent $2.5 billion investment in Beijing, reinforcing China’s strategic role in the company’s future. CSPC, one of the country’s pharmaceutical leaders, brings a powerful tech-driven research engine to the table—underscoring the growing role of AI in next-gen medicine discovery.
AstraZeneca will hold the rights to exclusively license and commercialise any successful therapies discovered through the partnership, with the potential for global rollout.
