AstraZeneca finalized its acquisition of CinCor Pharma, Inc., a U.S.-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel treatments for resistant and uncontrolled hypertension as well as chronic kidney disease. The acquisition was completed through a tender offer to purchase all outstanding shares of CinCor for approximately $1.3 billion upfront.

Under the terms of the agreement, CinCor shareholders also received a non-tradable contingent value right, payable upon a specified regulatory submission of a baxdrostat product. Combined, the upfront and contingent value payments represent, if achieved, a transaction value of approximately $1.8 billion.

The acquisition strengthens AstraZeneca’s cardiorenal pipeline by adding baxdrostat (CIN-107), an aldosterone synthase inhibitor (ASI) for blood pressure lowering in treatment-resistant hypertension, to its cardiorenal portfolio.

According to AstraZeneca, Baxdrostat represents a potentially leading next-generation ASI as it is highly selective for aldosterone synthase and spares the cortisol pathway in humans.

The opportunity also brings the potential for combination with Farxiga and complements AstraZeneca’s strategy to provide added benefit across cardiorenal diseases, where there is a high unmet medical need.

As part of the transaction, AstraZeneca acquired the cash and marketable securities on CinCor’s balance sheet, which totaled approximately $500 million as of the closing, excluding transaction-related expenses.