a8748s
FORM 6-K
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
Report
of Foreign Issuer
Pursuant
to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the
month of November 2023
Commission
File Number: 001-11960
AstraZeneca PLC
1
Francis Crick Avenue
Cambridge
Biomedical Campus
Cambridge
CB2 0AA
United
Kingdom
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form
20-F X Form 40-F __
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ______
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information
to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes __
No X
If
“Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number
assigned to the Registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
82-_____________
AstraZeneca PLC
INDEX
TO EXHIBITS
1.
Agreement with Eccogene for clinical stage GLP-1RA
09 November
2023
AstraZeneca licenses novel agent for the treatment of
cardiometabolic conditions and obesity
Global rights to Eccogene's next-generation oral glucagon-like
peptide 1 receptor agonist, ECC5004 as monotherapy and combination
therapies
AstraZeneca and Eccogene have entered into an exclusive licence
agreement for ECC5004,
an investigational oral once-daily
glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) for the treatment of
obesity, type-2 diabetes and other cardiometabolic
conditions.
Preliminary results from the Phase I trial have shown a
differentiating clinical profile for ECC5004, with good
tolerability and encouraging glucose and body weight reduction
across the dose levels tested compared to placebo.
Sharon Barr, Executive Vice President, BioPharmaceuticals R&D
at AstraZeneca, said: "With the number of people living with
cardiometabolic conditions and obesity today already over one
billion, there is a need for continued innovation and next
generation therapeutic options. Building on the promising Phase I
clinical data generated by Eccogene, we believe this oral GLP-1RA
molecule could offer alternatives to current injectable therapies
both as a potential monotherapy as well as in combination for
cardiometabolic diseases such as type-2 diabetes, as well as for
obesity. ECC5004 further strengthens our existing pipeline
addressing both incretin and non-incretin pathways, including our
GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist [AZD9550] and long-acting amylin
analogue [AZD6234]."
Jingye Zhou, Chief Executive Officer of Eccogene, said: "GLP-1RA
represents a very important class of drugs for multiple
cardiometabolic diseases; currently there is no approved orally
available small molecule GLP-1RA. Small molecule GLP-1RA, such as
ECC5004, could potentially offer more dosing convenience and ease
of use compared to existing GLP-1RA therapies. AstraZeneca has
impressive global capabilities in clinical development and
commercialisation. This important collaboration between Eccogene
and AstraZeneca will accelerate the development of ECC5004, a once
daily, low dose, orally available small molecule GLP-1RA to benefit
the millions of patients worldwide living with these
diseases."
GLP-1RAs are an important treatment option for people living
with metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. They have
been shown to be effective at decreasing haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c),
promoting weight loss and reducing the risk of cardiovascular
events by mimicking the hormone GLP-1.1
Financial considerations
Under the terms of the agreement, Eccogene will receive an initial
upfront payment of $185m. In addition, Eccogene will also receive
up to an additional $1.825bn in future clinical, regulatory, and
commercial milestones and tiered royalties on product net
sales.
Under the agreement AstraZeneca is granted exclusive global rights
for the development and commercialisation of Eccogene's ECC5004
small molecule GLP-1RA for any indication in all territories except
China, where Eccogene has the right to co-develop and
co-commercialise in China alongside AstraZeneca.
Notes
ECC5004
ECC5004 is a once daily, low dose, small molecule GLP-1RA which is
currently in a US Phase I clinical trial in healthy participants
and patients with type-2 diabetes. ECC5004 has been demonstrated in
preclinical studies to possess desirable efficacy and safety
profiles.
AstraZeneca
in CVRM
Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), part of
BioPharmaceuticals, forms one of AstraZeneca's main disease areas
and is a key growth driver for the Company. By following the
science to understand more clearly the underlying links between the
heart, kidneys, liver and pancreas, AstraZeneca is investing in a
portfolio of medicines for organ protection by slowing or stopping
disease progression, and ultimately paving the way towards
regenerative therapies. The Company's ambition is to improve and
save the lives of millions of people, by better understanding the
interconnections between CVRM diseases and targeting the mechanisms
that drive them, so we can detect, diagnose and treat people
earlier and more effectively.
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) is a global, science-led
biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery,
development, and commercialisation of prescription medicines in
Oncology, Rare Diseases, and BioPharmaceuticals, including
Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory &
Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over
100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of
patients worldwide. Please visit astrazeneca.com and
follow the Company on social media @AstraZeneca
Contacts
For details on how to contact the Investor Relations Team, please
click here.
For Media contacts, click here.
References
1. Drucker, D.J. (2022) GLP-1
physiology informs the pharmacotherapy of
obesity. Molecular
Metabolism 57; 101351.
doi: 10.1016/j.molmet.2021.101351.
Adrian Kemp
Company Secretary
AstraZeneca PLC
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: 9
November 2023
|
By: /s/
Adrian Kemp
|
|
Name:
Adrian Kemp
|
|
Title:
Company Secretary
|