- AstraZeneca Plc (NASDAQ:AZN) struck a deal with a startup for a self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) therapeutics platform developed at Imperial College London.
- Under the deal, VaxEquity could receive up to $195 million in milestones payments, in addition to royalties on approved drugs.
- VaxEquity was founded in 2020 by Imperial vaccinologist Robin Shattock and Morningside Group.
- "This collaboration with VaxEquity adds a promising new platform to our drug discovery toolbox," said Mene Pangalos, EVP, BioPharmaceuticals R&D at AstraZeneca.
- AstraZeneca, under the deal, has the option to collaborate on 26 drug targets and invest in VaxEquity to further the development of the saRNA platform.
- "We believe self-amplifying RNA, once optimized, will allow us to target novel pathways not amenable to traditional drug discovery across our therapy areas of interest," Pangalos added.
- Price Action: AZN stock is up 1.28% at $59.49 during the premarket session on the last check Thursday.
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