Domestic Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Accelerate Global Expansion: CSPC Pharmaceuticals Secures $1.77B Collaboration with AstraZeneca

　　【Pharmaceutical Network | Industry Trends] Small nucleic acid drugs, also known as oligonucleotide drugs, are a class of short-chain nucleic acids composed of nucleotides. They regulate gene expression by binding to disease-causing RNA through base complementarity, thereby achieving therapeutic effects. Currently, small nucleic acid drugs have emerged as another major frontier for Chinese innovative drugs in global markets.
 

It is reported that on July 2, CSPC announced that it had entered into a collaboration, option, and license agreement with AstraZeneca to establish a strategic R&D partnership and leverage the Group’s proprietary siRNA drug discovery platform and extrahepatic targeted delivery platform to develop novel small nucleic acid candidate drugs.
 

Under the agreement, AstraZeneca will pay a $30 million upfront payment, $540 million in R&D milestones, $1.2 billion in sales milestones, and single-digit tiered royalties on sales, bringing the total potential deal value to $1.77 billion. CSPC and AstraZeneca will jointly discover and develop preclinical candidate (PCC) drugs targeting two specific pathways with the potential to treat multiple indications of kidney diseases.
 

For each PCC project, AstraZeneca shall have the option to acquire exclusive rights for development, manufacturing, and commercialization either globally or outside China (as applicable). CSPC shall retain the rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize one of the PCCs in China.
 

CSPC Innovation stated that this transaction will help accelerate the global development and commercialization of its innovative drug pipeline, holding significant importance for deepening the Company’s global footprint and expediting the translation of innovative achievements. The transaction will continue to optimize the Company’s cash flow structure, accelerate the recoupment of upfront R&D investments, and provide stable financial support for the ongoing R&D of its future innovative drug pipeline. This aligns closely with the Company’s long-term strategic goal of accelerating the establishment of an innovative biopharmaceutical platform and is expected to have a positive impact on its medium-to-long-term operational performance and sustainable, high-quality development.
 

It is reported that CSPC’s pipeline and R&D platform have consecutively completed multiple collaborations with AstraZeneca, including a small-molecule LPA inhibitor (total collaboration value: $2.02 billion), ultra-long-acting weight-loss drugs such as GLP-1/GIP dual agonists (maximum total collaboration value: up to $18.5 billion), and AI-driven drug discovery R&D collaboration (total collaboration value: $5.33 billion).
 

However, previous collaborations between the two parties were primarily concentrated in the fields of small molecules and peptides, whereas the current partnership between CSPC and AstraZeneca extends into the siRNA domain. Analysts point out that in recent years, the oligonucleotide drug sector has seen sustained growth in momentum. From the surge in performance among global pharmaceutical leaders to the intensive overseas licensing deals by Chinese pharmaceutical companies, and from the treatment of single-gene disorders to penetration into chronic disease markets such as hypercholesterolemia, obesity, and hypertension, oligonucleotide drugs have gradually assumed a significant position in the global wave of innovative medicines. Data shows that the global market size for oligonucleotide drugs is projected to surge from $5.2 billion in 2024 to $20.6 billion in 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.6%.
 

According to statistical data, since the beginning of 2026, several Chinese pharmaceutical companies have successfully expanded their small nucleic acid drug portfolios into international markets. In addition to CSPC mentioned above, Shi'an Biotech and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) reached a collaboration agreement worth a total of $1.005 billion for SA030 in May this year. SA030 is a long-acting small interfering RNA (siRNA) oligonucleotide currently under development for the treatment of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. In February, Ribo Life Science and Madrigal entered into a global licensing agreement for six preclinical siRNA projects targeting MASH, with a potential upfront payment of $60 million and cumulative milestone payments totaling $4.4 billion, highlighting the global value of its small nucleic acid technology platform. Also in February, Shengyin Biotechnology and Roche reached a $1.5 billion collaboration agreement for the development of RNAi therapies.
 

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