AstraZeneca expanded its China collaboration with CSPC Pharmaceutical through a kidney drug discovery pact worth up to $1.7 billion. AstraZeneca will pay CSPC a $30 million upfront fee to jointly discover and develop two kidney disease drug candidates. The agreement adds to AstraZeneca’s existing engagement with CSPC, emphasizing a continued strategy of pairing internal development with partner-led discovery in therapeutic areas where kidney disease remains a high unmet-need category. AstraZeneca’s statement points to shared research and development workstreams from hit identification through candidate development. The structure underscores how major pharma is maintaining momentum in kidney pipelines by re-engaging proven Chinese partners for new assets rather than relying solely on internal discovery.