C4X Discovery Holdings plc, a pioneering drug discovery company, has signed an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with AstraZeneca worth up to $402 million, for its NRF2 Activator programme. AstraZeneca will develop and commercialise an oral therapy for the treatment of inflammatory and respiratory diseases with a lead focus on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Under the terms of the agreement, C4XD will receive pre-clinical milestone payments worth up to $16 million ahead of the first clinical trial, including $2 million upfront. In addition, C4XD is eligible to receive a further potential $385.8 million in clinical development and commercial milestones and tiered mid-single digit royalties upon commercialisation.
Sir Mene Pangalos, executive vice president, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca said:
