AstraZeneca Pays $200M Upfront for Ex-China Rights to Late-Phase COPD Drug Challenger

AstraZeneca has agreed to pay Sino Biopharmaceutical $200 million upfront for rights outside China to a late-stage drug candidate that would compete with Merck & Co.’s chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatment Ohtuvayre. The overall deal could be worth up to $2.1 billion, according to the deal terms.

The drug is in late-phase development as a potential challenger to Ohtuvayre (ensifentrine), a non-steroidal, inhaled therapy that Merck acquired through its purchase of Verona Pharma in 2024. Ohtuvayre was approved in the U.S. in June 2024 for maintenance treatment of COPD, a progressive lung disease that affects millions worldwide. The new candidate provides AstraZeneca with a late-stage asset in the large and competitive COPD market.

COPD is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, and the market has seen a wave of innovation in recent years with new mechanisms of action beyond standard bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids. The entry of a new challenger signals continued interest in expanding treatment options for patients who remain symptomatic on existing therapies. For Sino Biopharmaceutical, the deal provides a significant upfront payment and potential milestones while retaining rights in China, a major market for respiratory disease.

Source: original report