AZD9496 is primarily investigated for its potential in cancer treatment, particularly in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. It functions as a selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD), aiming to block estrogen receptor activity and degrade the receptor, thereby inhibiting the growth of cancer cells that depend on estrogen for proliferation. This makes it a promising candidate for patients who have developed resistance to traditional hormone therapies. Research is ongoing to evaluate its efficacy and safety in clinical trials, with the goal of providing a new therapeutic option for advanced or metastatic breast cancer.