FORM 6-K
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
Report
of Foreign Issuer
Pursuant
to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the
month of October 2024
Commission
File Number: 001-11960
AstraZeneca PLC
1
Francis Crick Avenue
Cambridge
Biomedical Campus
Cambridge
CB2 0AA
United
Kingdom
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AstraZeneca PLC
INDEX
TO EXHIBITS
1.
AstraZeneca licenses lipid lowering Lp(a) asset
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
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
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 and
follow the Company on social media @AstraZeneca
Contacts
For details on how to contact the Investor Relations Team, please
click here.
For Media contacts, click here.
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.
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
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date:
07 October 2024
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By: /s/
Adrian Kemp
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Name:
Adrian Kemp
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Title:
Company Secretary
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