CSPC Pharmaceutical Group saw its shares surge 5.43% after announcing an exclusive licensing agreement with AstraZeneca for a promising lipid-lowering therapy. The deal grants CSPC the rights to AstraZeneca's YS2302018 asset, with the Chinese pharmaceutical company receiving an upfront payment of $100 million.

Under the terms of the agreement, CSPC is also eligible to receive up to $370 million in potential development milestone payments and a staggering $1.55 billion in potential sales milestone payments. This significant deal highlights AstraZeneca's commitment to partnering with innovative companies and leveraging their expertise in specific therapeutic areas.

The licensing agreement is expected to provide CSPC with a valuable addition to its pipeline and strengthen its position in the rapidly growing cardiovascular market. For AstraZeneca, the deal allows the company to focus on its core therapeutic areas while capitalizing on CSPC's capabilities in developing and commercializing the asset in China and other potential markets.