On Friday, AstraZeneca Plc (NASDAQ:AZN) announced that it has strengthened its weight management portfolio through a new strategic collaboration agreement with CSPC Pharmaceuticals Group Limited to advance the development of multiple next-generation therapies for obesity and type 2 diabetes across eight programs.
The collaboration follows AstraZeneca’s massive $15 billion investment in China through 2030 to expand medicines manufacturing and R&D.
The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026.
Financial Considerations
For access to eight programs, as well as the advanced AI molecular design capabilities and their proprietary LiquidGel once-monthly dosing platform technology, CSPC will receive an upfront payment of $1.2 billion from AstraZeneca.
CSPC is also eligible to receive development and regulatory milestones of up to $3.5 billion across all programs.
CSPC will also be eligible for further commercialisation and sales milestones, plus tiered royalties.
CSPC will progress the ongoing development of the four programs through Phase 1 completion, alongside the four new programs.
Following the completion of Phase 1, AstraZeneca will be responsible for further development and commercialisation in all territories outside of China.
CSPC retains all rights for China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau, and following successful approval, AstraZeneca has the right to opt in to co-commercialize these products.
Agreement Details
The companies will initially progress four programs, which utilize CSPC’s advanced AI-driven peptide drug discovery platform and their proprietary LiquidGel once-monthly dosing platform technology.
AstraZeneca will receive exclusive global rights outside of China to CSPC’s once-monthly injectable weight management portfolio, comprising one clinical-ready asset, SYH2082, a long-acting GLP1R/GIPR agonist progressing into Phase 1 and three preclinical programs.
AstraZeneca has optionality to pursue future metabolic programs leveraging CSPC's LiquidGel once-monthly dosing platform technology and holds rights to deploy this across internal development programs, broadening the potential applications of their sustained-release formulation.
The collaboration complements AstraZeneca's existing weight management portfolio, which includes elecoglipron (formerly AZD5004), a small molecule oral GLP1RA; AZD6234, a weekly injectable selective amylin receptor agonist; and AZD9550, a weekly injectable dual GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist, as well as several preclinical assets.
Previous Deals With CSPC
In July 2025, AstraZeneca inked a strategic research collaboration with CSPC worth more than $5 billion to discover and develop preclinical candidates for multiple targets with the potential to treat diseases across chronic indications, including a preclinical small molecule oral therapy for immunological diseases.
In October 2024, AstraZeneca collaborated with CSPC Pharmaceutical 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 dyslipidemia, for around $2 billion.
Price Action: AZN stock is up 0.19% at $92.77 during the premarket session at the last check on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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