The company has entered a global lisence agreement with Synairgen Plc, an AIM-listed UK company specialising in respiratory diseases.

The agreement regards SNG001, a novel, inhaled interferon beta (IFN-beta) in clinical development for treating respiratory tract viral infections in patients with severe asthma. AstraZeneca will pay Synairgen a $7.25 million up-front fee and potential development, regulatory and commercial milestones of up to $225 million. Furthermore, AstraZeneca will pay tiered royalties ranging from single-digit up to mid-teens on commercial sales. AstraZeneca will be responsible for future development costs.

In early 2015, a Phase IIa study in patients with severe asthma will start, building on available clinical data from an initial Phase lla trial in a broad asthma population.