Biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca plc (STO:AZN) (LON:AZN) (Nasdaq:AZN) said on Friday that it has entered into a strategic collaboration with CSPC Pharmaceuticals to advance eight programmes targeting obesity and type 2 diabetes, enhancing its weight management portfolio.

The agreement initially focuses on four programmes that utilise CSPC's AI-driven peptide drug discovery platform and proprietary once-monthly LiquidGel dosing technology. AstraZeneca will receive exclusive global rights outside China to a once-monthly injectable weight management portfolio that includes clinical-ready asset SYH2082, a long-acting GLP1R/GIPR agonist entering Phase I, and three preclinical candidates with differing mechanisms.

CSPC will lead development through Phase I for all eight programmes, after which AstraZeneca will assume responsibility for development and commercialisation outside China, while CSPC retains rights in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, with AstraZeneca holding opt-in co-commercialisation rights following approval.

This collaboration complements AstraZeneca's existing pipeline, which includes elecoglipron, AZD6234 and AZD9550, alongside additional preclinical assets.

CSPC will receive an upfront payment of USD1.2bn and is eligible for up to USD3.5bn in development and regulatory milestones, as well as commercial milestones and tiered royalties.

Subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory clearances, the transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026.