REG - AstraZeneca PLC - Agreement with Eccogene for clinical stage GLP-1RA

AstraZenecaAnnouncement

09/11/2023 07:15

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RNS Number : 8656S  AstraZeneca PLC  09 November 2023

09 November 2023

AstraZeneca licenses novel agent for the treatment of cardiometabolic
conditions and obesity

Global rights to Eccogene's next-generation oral glucagon-like peptide 1
receptor agonist, ECC5004 as monotherapy and combination therapies

 

AstraZeneca and Eccogene have entered into an exclusive licence agreement for
ECC5004, an investigational oral once-daily glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor
agonist (GLP-1RA) for the treatment of obesity, type-2 diabetes and other
cardiometabolic conditions.

 

Preliminary results from the Phase I trial have shown a differentiating
clinical profile for ECC5004, with good tolerability and encouraging glucose
and body weight reduction across the dose levels tested compared to placebo.

 

Sharon Barr, Executive Vice President, BioPharmaceuticals R&D at
AstraZeneca, said: "With the number of people living with cardiometabolic
conditions and obesity today already over one billion, there is a need for
continued innovation and next generation therapeutic options. Building on the
promising Phase I clinical data generated by Eccogene, we believe this oral
GLP-1RA molecule could offer alternatives to current injectable therapies both
as a potential monotherapy as well as in combination for cardiometabolic
diseases such as type-2 diabetes, as well as for obesity. ECC5004 further
strengthens our existing pipeline addressing both incretin and non-incretin
pathways, including our GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist  AZD9550  and long-acting
amylin analogue  AZD6234 ."

 

Jingye Zhou, Chief Executive Officer of Eccogene, said: "GLP-1RA represents a
very important class of drugs for multiple cardiometabolic diseases; currently
there is no approved orally available small molecule GLP-1RA. Small molecule
GLP-1RA, such as ECC5004, could potentially offer more dosing convenience and
ease of use compared to existing GLP-1RA therapies. AstraZeneca has impressive
global capabilities in clinical development and commercialisation. This
important collaboration between Eccogene and AstraZeneca will accelerate the
development of ECC5004, a once daily, low dose, orally available small
molecule GLP-1RA to benefit the millions of patients worldwide living with
these diseases."

 

GLP-1RAs are an important treatment option for people living with metabolic
diseases such as diabetes and obesity. They have been shown to be effective at
decreasing haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), promoting weight loss and reducing the
risk of cardiovascular events by mimicking the hormone GLP-1.(1)

 

Financial considerations

Under the terms of the agreement, Eccogene will receive an initial upfront
payment of $185m. In addition, Eccogene will also receive up to an additional
$1.825bn in future clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestones and tiered
royalties on product net sales.

 

Under the agreement AstraZeneca is granted exclusive global rights for the
development and commercialisation of Eccogene's ECC5004 small molecule GLP-1RA
for any indication in all territories except China, where Eccogene has the
right to co-develop and co-commercialise in China alongside AstraZeneca.

Notes

 

ECC5004

ECC5004 is a once daily, low dose, small molecule GLP-1RA which is currently
in a US Phase I clinical trial in healthy participants and patients with
type-2 diabetes. ECC5004 has been demonstrated in preclinical studies to
possess desirable efficacy and safety profiles.

 

AstraZeneca in CVRM
(https://www.astrazeneca.com/our-therapy-areas/cardiovascular-renal-and-metabolism.html)
 

Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), part of BioPharmaceuticals, forms
one of AstraZeneca's main disease areas and is a key growth driver for the
Company. By following the science to understand more clearly the underlying
links between the heart, kidneys, liver and pancreas, AstraZeneca is investing
in a portfolio of medicines for organ protection by slowing or stopping
disease progression, and ultimately paving the way towards regenerative
therapies. The Company's ambition is to improve and save the lives of millions
of people, by better understanding the interconnections between CVRM diseases
and targeting the mechanisms that drive them, so we can detect, diagnose and
treat people earlier and more effectively.

 

AstraZeneca (https://www.astrazeneca.com/)

AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical
company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialisation of
prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases, and BioPharmaceuticals,
including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory &
Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries
and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide.
Please visit astrazeneca.com (http://www.astrazeneca.com/)  and follow the
Company on social media @AstraZeneca
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Contacts

For details on how to contact the Investor Relations Team, please click here
(https://www.astrazeneca.com/investor-relations.html#Contacts) . For Media
contacts, click here (https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/contacts.html)
.

 

References

1.   Drucker, D.J. (2022) GLP-1 physiology informs the pharmacotherapy of
obesity. Molecular Metabolism 57; 101351. doi: 10.1016/j.molmet.2021.101351.

 

Adrian Kemp

Company Secretary

AstraZeneca PLC

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