Global pharma giant AstraZeneca is ramping up its weight management portfolio through a major strategic collaboration with CSPC Pharmaceuticals, aiming to advance eight next-generation therapies targeting obesity and type 2 diabetes.
The partnership will initially focus on four programmes, leveraging CSPC’s AI-driven peptide drug discovery platform and proprietary LiquidGel once-monthly dosing technology.
Under the agreement, AstraZeneca gains exclusive global rights—outside China—to CSPC’s once-monthly injectable weight management portfolio, including one clinical-ready asset, SYH2082, a long-acting GLP1R/GIPR agonist entering Phase I, plus three preclinical programmes designed to deliver extended therapeutic benefits for people with obesity and weight-related conditions.
“This strategic collaboration advances our weight management portfolio by delivering novel assets which complement our existing programmes,” said Sharon Barr, Executive Vice President and Head of BioPharmaceuticals R&D at AstraZeneca.
“It will provide access to CSPC’s proprietary AI-enabled peptide capabilities and platform technology, which have the potential to transform the treatment of obesity, helping to address adherence and convenience as key barriers to long-term therapeutic success. This is an important step in creating a portfolio of simple, scalable and sustainable options that can help people with obesity, and weight-related complications live better, healthier lives.”
Dongchen Cai, Chairman of the Board, CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd, added: “We are very excited to further expand and strengthen our strategic partnership with AstraZeneca into the area of weight management. Obesity and related comorbidities represent a significant health challenge but also an opportunity.
"We hope this win-win collaboration will deliver the next generation of treatments that build upon the emerging science, using our technology platforms and AstraZeneca’s complementary capabilities and reach, to realise global health benefits for people in need of improved weight management.”
AstraZeneca also has the option to pursue future metabolic programmes using CSPC’s LiquidGel once-monthly dosing platform, potentially improving treatment adherence and patient preference.
The deal complements AstraZeneca’s existing weight management portfolio, which includes elecoglipron (formerly AZD5004), a small molecule oral GLP1RA; AZD6234, a weekly injectable selective amylin receptor agonist; AZD9550, a weekly dual GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist; and several preclinical assets.
CSPC will receive an upfront $1.2 billion from AstraZeneca for access to eight programmes, AI molecular design capabilities, and the LiquidGel platform. CSPC is also eligible for up to $3.5 billion in development and regulatory milestones, plus additional commercialisation milestones and tiered royalties. The transaction is expected to close in Q2 2026, pending regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.
Under the deal, CSPC will advance the four programmes through Phase I alongside the four new initiatives. After Phase I, AstraZeneca will handle global development and commercialization outside China, while CSPC retains rights in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. AstraZeneca may co-commercialise in these markets following approval. The agreement builds on existing collaborations between the two companies.
