$18.5 billion China obesity-drug deal puts AZN stock in focus for Monday
LONDON, Jan 31, 2026, 19:07 GMT — Market closed
AstraZeneca PLC (AZN.L) shares climbed on Friday after the drugmaker struck a deal to license obesity and weight management drug candidates from CSPC Pharmaceutical Group, in a pact valued at up to $18.5 billion. CSPC revealed AstraZeneca would pay $1.2 billion upfront, with an additional $17.3 billion contingent on meeting milestones. Tony Ren of Macquarie Capital described the move as a “buy the rumour, sell the news” play, after CSPC’s shares dropped nearly 12% in Hong Kong. (Reuters)
The deal pushes AstraZeneca further into the weight-loss sector, one of the few pharma areas where investors focus on growth potential instead of looming patent expirations. The…
