AstraZeneca will purchase AbelZeta Pharma’s 50% share of development and commercialization rights in China for an autologous, Glypican 3 (GPC3)-targeting chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy. With the acquisition, C-CAR031 now falls wholly under AstraZeneca’s domain for global development, marketing, and commercialization.

Previously, an agreement announced in December 2023 gave AstraZeneca those same rights to C-CAR031 outside of China.

How AstraZeneca Developed the CAR-T Therapy

AstraZeneca developed C-CAR031 using its dominant negative transforming growth factor-beta receptor II armoring platform. At this time, C-CAR031 is being investigated to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and other solid tumors.

In adults, HCC is the most common form of primary liver cancer (about 75% of all primary liver cancers). Globally, liver cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer death. It is also the sixth-most commonly diagnosed cancer.

In China, the need for HCC treatment advancements is pronounced. Incidences have grown to approximately 344,500 cases as of 2024. Currently, most patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage—or their disease progresses to advanced-stage HCC when the prognosis is poor. The five-year survival rate is just 7%.

What AbelZeta Will Receive

AbelZeta, which focuses on discovery and development of proprietary cell-based therapeutics, is entitled to up to $630 million from AstraZeneca for the deal, including an upfront payment. Other development, regulatory and sales milestone payments may be made for the GPC3 program in China and worldwide.

“This transaction reflects our commitment to leverage our platform technology to develop novel cell therapies in solid tumors of high unmet medical need, including HCC, and provides the opportunity to maximize C-CAR031’s global reach,” said Tony (Bizuo) Liu, AbelZeta Chairman and CEO.