AstraZeneca Showcases CIIE Achievements: Leveraging Global Resources to Propel Chinese Innovation Abroad

Shanghai, China, November 10, 2023 – Since the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE), AstraZeneca has facilitated more than 60 signing ceremonies, with the total value of signed transactions exceeding USD 400 million. Leveraging the CIIE platform, AstraZeneca has deepened its strategic presence by further increasing investment in its manufacturing and supply bases in Wuxi, Taizhou, and Qingdao, demonstrating its determination and confidence in deeply cultivating the Chinese market. AstraZeneca has also continuously expanded the boundaries of collaboration, not only driving the expansion of its local innovation ecosystem but also utilizing the CIIE to promote substantive progress in medical innovation exchanges between China and overseas markets.

During the China International Import Expo (CIIE), AstraZeneca and Eccogene, a Chinese biotechnology company, reached an exclusive licensing agreement for ECC5004. Leveraging their respective strengths in drug R&D and market coverage, both parties will actively explore in-depth collaboration in the fields of obesity and type 2 diabetes. This landmark deal represents the largest licensing transaction by value related to AstraZeneca China’s early-stage clinical projects, underscoring AstraZeneca’s capability, confidence, and commitment to empowering Chinese innovation to go global. It also serves as another exemplary case of AstraZeneca supporting the growth and international expansion of local Chinese innovative enterprises.

Under the agreement, AstraZeneca will obtain exclusive rights to develop and commercialize ECC5004, Chengyi Biopharma’s small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, for all indications in all countries and regions outside of China. In China, ECC5004 will be jointly developed and commercialized by Chengyi Biopharma and AstraZeneca. Chengyi Biopharma will receive an upfront payment of $185 million. Additionally, Chengyi Biopharma will be eligible for up to $1.825 billion in clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties on the product’s net sales.

AstraZeneca has long been committed to collaborating with various stakeholders to facilitate the implementation and global expansion of indigenous Chinese innovations. To better support local new drug development, AstraZeneca continuously encourages Chinese innovative pharmaceutical companies to participate in, and even lead, global R&D collaborations. It supports these enterprises in discovering new targets, validating new compounds, identifying novel mechanisms and methodologies, and exploring innovative treatment solutions, thereby jointly promoting the internationalization of locally developed innovative drugs from China to benefit patients worldwide. Currently, AstraZeneca has established multiple global partnerships with several Chinese innovative companies, including Harbour Biomed, Keymed Biosciences, Lixte Pharmaceuticals, and Kelun-Biotech, focusing on innovative R&D in oncology and chronic diseases.

For six consecutive years, AstraZeneca has leveraged the China International Import Expo (CIIE) as an international platform for exchange and cooperation to actively fulfill its bridging role as a multinational corporation. By fostering collaboration across ecosystems, research and development, and investment, the company is helping Chinese innovative enterprises and their achievements expand into global markets, thereby injecting vitality into the globalization of China’s healthcare industry.

Since the beginning of this year, AstraZeneca has facilitated international exchanges for a total of 29 companies in Brazil and the Middle East, supporting local innovative enterprises in building an international healthcare innovation ecosystem. At this year’s China International Import Expo (CIIE), AstraZeneca Brazil entered into collaborations with Peking University Weixin Biotechnology Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Luye Pharma Group, and Brazil’s Herbarium Laboratory, to jointly promote the registration and commercialization of Xuezhikang Capsules in Brazil. Previously, AstraZeneca and Luye Pharma Group established a strategic partnership in 2019, securing exclusive promotion rights for Xuezhikang Capsules in mainland China, which served as a starting point for accelerating the global expansion of the product. Additionally, through this CIIE, AstraZeneca signed strategic cooperation agreements with domestic companies such as Kangtai Biological Products and Amoy Diagnostics, assisting them in expanding their global commercial footprint. Looking ahead, AstraZeneca will launch further international exchange initiatives with countries in Latin America, Indonesia, and beyond, jointly promoting the global reach of Chinese innovations.

AstraZeneca continues to promote the global expansion of Chinese innovative enterprises through its industrial funds. Over the past six years, AstraZeneca has consistently deepened its regional headquarters strategy through successive China International Import Expos (CIIE), strengthened the synergy between its regional innovation hubs and funds, facilitated the settlement of more high-quality domestic and foreign “Specialized, Refined, Differential, and Innovative” enterprises, and supported the international launch of innovative products. In 2019, AstraZeneca announced the establishment of the AstraZeneca CICC Medical Industry Fund in partnership with CICC Capital. The fund currently manages over USD 400 million, with a target raise of USD 1 billion. It has made investments in companies including Cytotherapy Biologics, Kelan Pharmaceutical, Abbisko Therapeutics, and Yunjian Medicine, helping them secure global R&D collaborations and advance the development of innovative therapies in key disease areas such as cancer and metabolic disorders. During this year’s CIIE, AstraZeneca launched the supporting “Guangzhou Bio-Island Life Science Innovation Park Venture Capital Fund” for the Guangzhou Bio-Island International Life Science Innovation Park, and announced an equity investment in Beijing Deepnexus through the Wuxi International Life Science Innovation Park Fund. This investment will support Deepnexus in implementing a city-wide model for diabetes diagnosis and treatment in Wuxi, with future assistance planned for the international launch of its products.

Furthermore, promoting the comprehensive integration of China’s R&D innovation with the global R&D innovation network has been a strategic direction that AstraZeneca has continuously advanced through the China International Import Expo (CIIE) each year. At this year’s CIIE, leveraging the gateway advantages of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, AstraZeneca announced plans to establish the “AstraZenaca Global R&D Hong Kong Sub-Center.” Since AstraZeneca announced the establishment of its Global R&D China Center at the CIIE in 2019, China’s position within AstraZeneca’s global R&D network has become increasingly significant. AstraZeneca currently has more than 180 projects in its R&D pipeline in China, with a 100% synchronization rate for key projects alongside global development.

Lei Wang, Executive Vice President of AstraZeneca and President of International Business and China, stated: “As a localized multinational pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca is committed to promoting the long-term development of China’s healthcare industry by continuously deepening cooperation with local Chinese enterprises. Leveraging the platform of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), we aim to build a bridge between China and the world in the healthcare sector, bring locally innovated Chinese drugs to global markets, and help domestic innovative companies establish broader collaborative networks. This will facilitate their integration into the global market and deliver greater value to patients in China and around the world.”

Disclaimer: This material is intended solely for use at the 2023 China International Import Expo (CIIE) and not for any promotional purposes. Some products and indications mentioned herein have not yet been approved; AstraZeneca does not recommend the use of any unapproved medicines.

AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) is a global biopharmaceutical company driven by science, dedicated to the research, development, manufacturing, and marketing of prescription medicines. It focuses on oncology, rare diseases, and biopharmaceuticals in areas including cardiovascular, renal, and metabolism; respiratory; and immunology. Headquartered in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in more than 100 countries worldwide, with its innovative medicines benefiting millions of patients globally. For more information, please visitwww.astrazeneca.com

Since entering the Chinese market in 1993, AstraZeneca has focused on therapeutic areas with the most urgent needs of Chinese patients, including oncology, cardiovascular, renal, metabolic, respiratory, gastrointestinal, rare diseases, vaccines and antibodies, and autoimmune disorders, bringing 40 innovative medicines to China. AstraZeneca’s China headquarters and Global R&D Center in China are located in Shanghai, while global production and supply bases have been established in Wuxi, Taizhou, and Qingdao, supplying high-quality medicines to nearly 70 markets worldwide. In recent years, the company has set up regional headquarters in Beijing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Chengdu, and Qingdao. Furthermore, AstraZeneca collaborates with partners to build a diversified international innovation healthcare ecosystem through its “three pillars” of innovation—the China Center of Innovation for Healthy Aging (CCiC), the International Life Science Innovation Park (iCampus), and the AstraZeneca-CICC Healthcare Industry Fund—jointly promoting substantial growth in the regional economy and the broader healthcare industry. Today, China has developed into AstraZeneca’s second-largest market globally.