Consolidation of global control On January 19, 2026, AstraZeneca officially reached an agreement to acquire AbelZeta Pharma’s 50% stake in the development and commercialization rights for C-CAR031 within the Chinese market. As AstraZeneca previously held the rights for this therapy in the rest of the world, this acquisition grants the company absolute and sole control over the research, manufacturing, and distribution of the treatment on a global scale.
Transaction value and financial commitments Under the terms of the deal, AbelZeta is eligible to receive up to $630 million. The payment structure includes an upfront fee, followed by milestone payments linked to research progress, regulatory approvals, and sales performance both in China and internationally.
Potential in treating solid tumors C-CAR031 is an autologous CAR-T cell therapy targeting Glypican 3 (GPC3), engineered using AstraZeneca’s proprietary “armored” platform technology designed to overcome immunosuppressive signals in solid tumors.
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Medical objective: The therapy is currently under investigation for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and other solid tumors.
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Clinical efficacy: Data reported in 2024 from trials in China showed an objective response rate of 56.5% across all dose levels, rising to 75% for patients receiving the highest dose.
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Clinical urgency: Liver cancer ranks as the third-leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. In China, the incidence is rising, with over 344,000 cases recorded in 2024. Most patients face a poor prognosis, with a current five-year survival rate of only 7%.