AstraZeneca and Ionis Pharmaceuticals, a Carlsbad, California-based pharmaceutical company, have formed an agreement in which AstraZeneca will license Ionis’ IONIS-AZ5-2.5Rx, an antisense drug.

IONIS-AZ5-2.5Rx was discovered by Ionis, and it is designed to inhibit an undisclosed target to treat a genetically associated form of kidney disease. AstraZeneca will be responsible for developing and commercializing IONIS-AZ5-2.5Rx.

Ionis will receive a $30-million upfront payment from AstraZeneca for IONIS-AZ5-2.5Rx and may also receive up to $300 million in additional development and regulatory milestone payments and tiered, low double-digit royalties from sales of this potential new medicine.

Source: Ionis Pharmaceuticals