HONG KONG, July 8, 2026
Sino Biopharmaceutical Limited has announced that its subsidiary, Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. (CTTQ), has entered into an exclusive global licensing agreement with AstraZeneca for the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of its investigational PDE3/4 inhibitor TQC3721 outside China. The strategic collaboration marks one of the most significant licensing transactions in the respiratory medicine sector this year and further strengthens Sino Biopharmaceutical’s global innovation strategy. Under the agreement, AstraZeneca will receive exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize TQC3721 outside China while also securing exclusive global rights for certain future development programs. In return, Sino Biopharmaceutical is eligible to receive an upfront payment of US$200 million, along with potential development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments totaling up to US$1.9 billion, in addition to tiered double-digit royalties based on annual global product sales. The agreement remains subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions.
Strategic Partnership Accelerates Global Respiratory Drug Development
The collaboration combines AstraZeneca’s global leadership in respiratory medicine with Sino Biopharmaceutical’s innovative drug discovery capabilities, creating a powerful partnership aimed at accelerating worldwide clinical development of TQC3721. The investigational therapy is a highly differentiated inhaled dual phosphodiesterase (PDE3/4) inhibitor designed to deliver both bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory effects through balanced inhibition of PDE3 and PDE4 enzymes. This dual mechanism has the potential to improve lung function, reduce disease exacerbations, and address multiple aspects of chronic respiratory diseases.
The licensing agreement represents Sino Biopharmaceutical’s second major out-licensing transaction with a multinational pharmaceutical company in 2026, following an earlier strategic partnership with Sanofi, highlighting the company’s growing reputation as a global innovation partner. Company leadership noted that the agreement validates its internal research and development capabilities while supporting its long-term strategy of expanding international collaborations with leading pharmaceutical organizations.
TQC3721 Shows Promise in Chronic Respiratory Diseases
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TQC3721 is currently being developed in China using both nebulized and dry powder inhaler (DPI) formulations, enabling treatment flexibility across different patient populations and disease severities. In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the nebulized formulation has already generated encouraging Phase IIb clinical data, demonstrating the potential to become a best-in-class inhaled therapy. The nebulized formulation is currently advancing through a Phase III clinical trial in China, while the dry powder inhaler formulation continues evaluation in an ongoing Phase II clinical study. If successfully approved, TQC3721 could become China’s first domestically developed inhaled dual PDE3/4 inhibitor, representing a major advancement in respiratory therapeutics.
The collaboration significantly expands AstraZeneca’s respiratory pipeline while providing Sino Biopharmaceutical with substantial financial resources to accelerate future innovation across its research portfolio. As respiratory diseases such as COPD continue to impose a growing global healthcare burden, the partnership aims to accelerate worldwide access to an innovative inhaled therapy that could improve treatment outcomes for patients suffering from chronic respiratory disorders. The agreement also reinforces the increasing importance of strategic licensing collaborations in advancing next-generation medicines from regional innovation into global clinical development and commercialization.
Source: Sino Biopharmaceutical, AstraZeneca press release
