AstraZeneca snaps up Belgian cancer treatment business EsoBiotec in £770m deal

By DAILY MAIL CITY & FINANCE REPORTER

Updated: 22:00 GMT, 17 March 2025

AstraZeneca is buying a Belgian cancer treatment business in a multi-million pound deal.

The FTSE 100 pharma giant will buy EsoBiotec for up to £770million comprised of an initial £327million payment and another £443million in the future if it hits pre-agreed milestones. 

EsoBiotec focuses on a type of CAR-T cell therapy, which modifies the body’s white blood cells to recognise and attack cancer tumours.

‘We believe [EsoBiotec’s technology] has the potential to transform cell therapy,’ said AstraZeneca’s head of cancer research Susan Galbraith.

The drugs giant also said that EU regulators had approved its Imfinzi drug as a treatment for a type of lung cancer.

Cancer fight: Astra will buy EsoBiotec for up to £770m comprised of an initial £327m payment and another £443m in the future if it hits agreed milestone

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AstraZeneca snaps up Belgian cancer treatment business EsoBiotec in £770m deal

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