AstraZeneca Purchases CinCor Pharma Inc. in $1.8 Billion Acquisition

This week, AstraZeneca announced its acquisition of Massachusetts-based CinCor Pharma as part of a transaction worth $1.8 billion. CinCor will support AstraZeneca’s mission to accelerate cardiorenal treatments with its pipeline of clinical-stage medicines for uncontrolled hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

The two companies reached a definitive agreement on Monday wherein AstraZeneca will pay a 121% premium for all outstanding CinCor shares. In the press release, Marc de Garidel, CEO CinCor, said, “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.”

Baxdrostat is a selective aldosterone synthase inhibitor shown to lower aldosterone levels without affecting cortisol. As of 2022, CinCor has completed several Phase 1 clinical trials of the drug showing no serious adverse events in patients with varying degrees of renal function. In their BrigHtn Phase 2 clinical trial, the company also demonstrated a statistically significant lowering of systolic blood pressure in patients with resistant hypertension.

“Acquiring CinCor supports our commitment to cardiorenal disease and further strengthens our pipeline with baxdrostat,” commented Mene Pangalos, Executive Vice President of BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca. “Excess levels of aldosterone are associated with hypertension and several cardiorenal diseases, including CKD and coronary artery disease, and being able to reduce this effectively would offer a much-needed treatment option for these patients.”

According to Reuters, AstraZeneca executives expect to combine baxdrostat and farxiga to extend the farxiga franchise and produce an effective treatment for patients with multiple chronic diseases.

AstraZeneca’s farxiga was initially approved to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes, later receiving a second approval for patients facing kidney function decline and CKD. In 2021, AstraZeneca won a case surrounding the validity of farxiga’s patent ensuring exclusivity until 2025. The acquisition of CinCor may extend that patent if AstraZeneca can combine the two drugs.

Chronic kidney disease is a common co-diagnosis of diabetes, and approximately 1 in 3 people with diabetes also have CKD. In total, it’s estimated that more than 30 million American adults have CKD, including many undiagnosed individuals. The high blood sugar and elevated blood pressure associated with diabetes damage the nephrons inside the kidneys over time, leading to disease and deterioration.

Many people with CKD are unaware that they have the condition until it progresses, inducing severe symptoms like chest pain, nausea, weight loss, and shortness of breath. The high rate of diabetes and CKD also offers pharmaceutical companies a great target to offer essential therapies and medications that could extend healthy lifespans.