AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

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Marc Dunoyer: Yeah, so, happy to — Simon, thank you for the question. I’m happy to talk a little bit about in gene therapy. So basically, the agreement with Pfizer concerns about a dozen preclinical construct and assets and also a large number of capsid that have been developed over the years, and that can be probably further refined to get the best possible capsid for both CNS or cardiotropic assets. So it’s a combination of a dozen projects we could start clinical probably from next year over the next one, two or three years, plus other technologies, including capsid, which could be further refined, but we need to work on those to get the ultimate topic for the right issue – on the right issue.

Pascal Soriot: Thank you, Marc. And I think — I think, I look forward to the day when we can actually show you the progress we are making in the election portfolio in the pipeline. It’s very exciting, but it’s also true for the cardiovascular aspirator immunology portfolio. And at some point, hopefully, in the future, we can spend more time on those products because many of those are exciting. Also making progress in VM, even though it’s much more at an early stage. But with that Mene, you want to cover the question that Simon had, right.

Mene Pangalos: It’s a great question. And the answer is we have an interest, both in terms of building our immunology capability and autoimmune disease and specifically in diseases like IBD. And I’ll give you two examples. And again, this — I’m sure it’s something that Sharon will be talking about over the coming year. The first program is the anti-CCR9 antibody that’s in Phase I, which has demonstrated really dramatic lowering of T-regulatory cells in the gut. And it looks like a very interesting mechanism and antibody, and we’re looking to see how we can accelerate that. And you may also have read about a deal we did with a small company called Quell in the Treg space, and I talked about it today in my presentation. They have a real interesting way of locking Treg cells to maintain their anti-inflammatory state. And one of the indications that we were pursuing with them is IBD.

Pascal Soriot: Thank you, Mene. We have a few more questions, so we’ll maybe extend by five minutes. But if you don’t mind, if you could ask one question each. Seamus Fernandez, go ahead.

Seamus Fernandez: Yes. Thanks. So, just a quick question on the change in leadership and Mene’s retirement, it’s interesting to see that Sharon is coming from Alexion. Is this a directional move away from sort of more primary care type opportunities? I know this is something Pascal you have talked about before, but there’s a lot of interest in opportunities to treat metabolic disease. Just interested if there’s — this is a strategic shift away from diabetes and metabolic disease, perhaps obesity opportunities or if we’re going to see AstraZeneca continue its efforts along those lines or perhaps even accelerate those efforts through business development going forward? Thanks.

Pascal Soriot: That’s a good question. Actually, what it is, is very simply the appointment of a very talented scientist and a very — an exceptional leader. It’s not reflecting a change in strategy, certainly not reflecting that we want to consolidate rare disease and the biopharm business because Sharon he is being replaced in our role as Head of Research and Product Development at Alexion, and it’s also not reflecting a move away from — or this engagement from primary care. I mean I’m sure you’ve noticed that looking at ourselves, but also our portfolio, you’ve noticed that certainly over the last few years, naturally, our portfolios move to more specialty care, but primary care remains important. And that’s why a few minute we’re saying we look forward to the day when we can talk about what we have in NI, but also in cardiovascular medicines, we have quite a few projects. And Mene, maybe you want also to comment there on the portfolio we have, in fact.

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