AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global pharmaceutical company that partners with Chinese biotech firms on drug development. In March 2025, it entered a strategic partnership with Syneron Bio (元思生肽), a developer of oral macrocyclic peptide drugs, to co-develop first-in-class therapies for chronic diseases including rare diseases, autoimmune and metabolic conditions . Under that deal, AstraZeneca paid $75 million in upfront and near-term milestone payments, with total potential milestone payments reaching $3.4 billion, plus tiered royalties on global sales; it also took an equity stake in Syneron Bio and gained access to its Synova™ drug discovery platform . AstraZeneca had previously backed Syneron Bio as an existing shareholder and continued its support through the company's $150 million Series B round closed in March 2026 . The company has also collaborated on other initiatives in China, including a 2023 partnership with WeDoctor (微医) for COVID-19 antibody treatment appointments in Hong Kong .