AstraZeneca set to acquire EsoBiotec for $1 Bn
In a bold move to revolutionise cancer treatment, AstraZeneca is set to acquire Belgian biotech firm EsoBiotec for up to $1 billion. The deal, announced on March 17, 2025, is a strategic leap in AstraZeneca’s mission to redefine cell therapy, enabling groundbreaking treatments that could drastically cut treatment times from weeks to mere minutes.
According to AstraZeneca’s official press statement, this acquisition follows AstraZeneca’s aggressive expansion into advanced oncology, including last year’s $1.2 billion purchase of Gracell Biotechnologies and a $300 million investment in cell therapy R&D. With this latest move, AstraZeneca cements itself as a frontrunner in next-generation cancer treatment, potentially changing the landscape of oncology care forever.
Traditional cell therapy involves extracting a patient’s immune cells, modifying them in a lab, and reintroducing them to fight cancer—a process that can take weeks and is often a race against time for critically ill patients. EsoBiotec’s revolutionary technology eliminates this bottleneck by genetically modifying immune cells inside the body in just minutes, offering a faster, more efficient, and potentially life-saving alternative.
“We are still in the early clinical stages, but the potential of this technology is game-changing,” said Susan Galbraith, AstraZeneca’s Executive VP of Oncology R&D. “Our immediate focus is on scaling up discovery efforts and unlocking its full potential.”
AstraZeneca’s relentless pursuit of cutting-edge cancer treatments doesn’t stop with EsoBiotec. The company has also secured global rights to Alteogen’s ALT-B4 enzyme, a breakthrough that could significantly enhance subcutaneous cancer treatments. This strategic licensing agreement allows AstraZeneca to develop more effective and convenient drug delivery systems, further strengthening its position as an industry leader.
The EsoBiotec deal involves an upfront payment of $425 million, with up to $575 million in milestone-based payouts, bringing the total value to $1 billion. Once finalized in Q2 2025, EsoBiotec will operate as a wholly-owned AstraZeneca subsidiary in Belgium.
This move marks a significant step toward personalized, rapid-response cancer treatments, accelerating AstraZeneca’s vision of leveraging AI, cell therapy, and antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) to redefine cancer care.
With AstraZeneca shares already up nearly 15 per cent year-to-date, investors are taking notice. And if these groundbreaking therapies deliver on their promise, this could be just the beginning of a new era in oncology—one where time is no longer the enemy of cancer patients.
(Source: Reuters)
