AstraZeneca ($AZN.L) signed $1.77bn kidney disease drug discovery deal with CSPC

AstraZeneca has signed a collaboration worth up to $1.77 billion with CSPC Pharmaceutical Group to discover and develop experimental medicines for kidney diseases. 

Under the agreement, AstraZeneca will pay CSPC $30 million upfront, with the Chinese drugmaker eligible for up to approximately $1.74 billion in development and sales-related milestone payments. 

The deal gives AstraZeneca the option to secure exclusive global rights to one preclinical small nucleic acid drug candidate and exclusive rights outside China to a second candidate. 

The companies have previously collaborated on therapies targeting obesity and weight-related conditions. AstraZeneca declined to disclose the specific kidney diseases targeted under the new partnership.