0923 GMT - AstraZeneca is moving to complement its lung-cancer franchise through a licensing deal of up to $1.5 billion for a drug from China's Dizal Pharmaceutical, analysts at J.P. Morgan say in a research note. The deal makes strategic sense for the U.K. drugmaker given that it brings in a new product that complements its existing Tagrisso franchise in lung cancer, the analysts say. Under the deal, AstraZeneca is acquiring worldwide rights to develop and commercialize Dizal's Zegfrovy, which is approved in the U.S. and China for the treatment of a type of advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Zegfrovy is under review by the FDA for approval as an initial treatment and would compete directly with Johnson & Johnson's Rybrevant as an oral, chemotherapy-free treatment option, the analysts add. AstraZeneca shares fall 1.1%.(adria.calatayud@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 14, 2026 05:24 ET (09:24 GMT)

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