AstraZeneca Inks $1.8 Billion Acquisition for CinCor Pharma

AstraZeneca announced a definitive agreement to acquire CinCor Pharma, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel treatments for hypertension and chronic kidney disease, on Jan. 9, 2023. The deal, worth up to $1.8 billion, grants AstraZeneca global rights to baxdrostat (CIN-107), a novel aldosterone synthase inhibitor (ASI) currently in development as a treatment to lower blood pressure in treatment-resistant hypertension. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2023.

According to a company press release, CIN-107 is highly selective for aldosterone synthase and spares the cortisol pathway in humans. AstraZeneca will also acquire the rights to farxiga (dapagliflozin), another treatment designed to prevent and delay cardiorenal disease.

“Acquiring CinCor supports our commitment to cardiorenal disease and further strengthens our pipeline with [CIN-107],” said Mene Pangalos, executive vice president, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, in the press release. “Excess levels of aldosterone are associated with hypertension and several cardiorenal diseases, including chronic kidney disease and coronary artery disease and being able to effectively reduce this would offer a much-needed treatment option for these patients.”

“We are excited about the proposed acquisition of CinCor Pharma by AstraZeneca as we believe it offers the prospect of accelerating the development timeline and expanding the breadth of benefits patients with cardiorenal diseases might obtain from baxdrostat, if approved,” said Marc de Garidel, CEO, CinCor, in the press release. “CinCor is committed to ensuring a smooth transition of the development responsibilities to AstraZeneca once the acquisition is consummated.”

Source: AstraZeneca