AstraZeneca has formed a joint venture (JV) with Chinese CRO WuXi AppTec to accelerate the development and commercialisation of MEDI5117, an antibody therapeutic targeting interleukin-6 that is being developed for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, in China. AstraZeneca’s global biologics arm MedImmune will provide technical and development expertise, while WuXi AppTec will provide local regulatory, manufacturing, preclinical and clinical trial support. AstraZeneca will have the option to acquire full commercialisation rights to the drug candidate.