REG - AstraZeneca PLC - AstraZeneca licenses lipid lowering Lp(a) asset

AstraZenecaAnnouncement

07/10/2024 09:30

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RNS Number : 0834H  AstraZeneca PLC  07 October 2024

7 October 2024

 

AstraZeneca strengthens its cardiovascular pipeline with agreement for a
pre-clinical novel lipid-lowering therapy

 

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."

 

Financial considerations

CSPC will receive an upfront payment of $100 million from AstraZeneca. CSPC is
also eligible to receive up to $1.92 billion for further development and
commercialisation milestones plus tiered royalties.

 

Notes

About dyslipidaemia and cardiovascular disease

Elevated Lp(a) and LDL-c  levels in plasma are a key risk factor for
cardiovascular disease and this is estimated to cause 2.6 million deaths
worldwide annually.(2,3) Despite current treatment options, the global burden
of dyslipidaemia is on the rise.(4) More than 70% of patients with
atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) are still not achieving their
LDL-C target, so there remains a vast unmet need among high-risk patients for
more varied and effective treatment options.(5,6) AstraZeneca is investing in
a pipeline of medicines for addressing risk factors and slowing progression to
chronic cardiovascular disease, including AZD0780, an oral small molecule
PCSK9 inhibitor under investigation for the treatment of dyslipidaemia.(7)

 

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's innovative medicines are
sold in more than 125 countries and used by millions of patients worldwide.
Please visit astrazeneca.com (http://www.astrazeneca.com/)  and follow the
Company on social media @AstraZeneca
(https://gateway.zscalertwo.net/auD?origurl=https:%2f%2fwww.linkedin.com%2fcompany%2fastrazeneca&_ordtok=Mkk3WV5DBDPmQrD4F5MGdGDMZR)

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.   Saeedi R, Frohlich J. Lipoprotein (a), an independent cardiovascular
risk marker. Clin Diabetes Endocrinol. 2016;2:7. Published 2016 Mar 31.
doi:10.1186/s40842-016-0024-x.

2.   Vinci P, Di Girolamo FG, Panizon E, et al. Lipoprotein(a) as a Risk
Factor for Cardiovascular Diseases: Pathophysiology and Treatment
Perspectives. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(18):6721. Published
2023 Sep 6. doi:10.3390/ijerph20186721.

3.    World Health Organization (WHO)  Internet . Raised cholesterol;
[cited 2024 October 02. Available from:
https://www.who.int/data/gho/indicator-metadata-registry/imr-details/3236
(https://www.who.int/data/gho/indicator-metadata-registry/imr-details/3236)
.

4.   Pirillo A, et al. Global epidemiology of dyslipidaemias. Nat Rev
Cardiol. 2021;18(10):689-700.

5.   Cannon CP, et al. Use of Lipid-Lowering Therapies Over 2 Years in
GOULD, a Registry of Patients With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in
the US. JAMA Cardiol. 2021;6(9):1-9.

6.   Krahenbuhl S, et al. Unmet Needs in LDL-C Lowering: When Statins Won't
Do! Drugs. 2016;76(12):1175-90.

7.   Vega RB, et al. AZD0780, the first oral small molecule PCSK9 inhibitor
for the treatment of  hypercholesterolemia: Results from a randomized,
single-blind, placebo-controlled phase 1 trial European Atherosclerosis
Society Congress; May 26-29; Lyon, France 2024.

 

 

Adrian Kemp

Company Secretary

AstraZeneca PLC

 
 
 
 

 

 

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