China-based Sanegene Bio has announced a global research collaboration with Eli Lilly focusing on RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics for metabolic diseases, utilising its proprietary LEAD ligand and enhancer-assisted delivery platform enabling tissue-selective delivery to extrahepatic tissues. The agreement includes an upfront payment and equity investment, with potential development regulatory and commercial milestones reaching USD 1.2 billion plus tiered royalties on future sales. Sanegene will lead candidate identification and optimisation while Lilly assumes responsibility for investigational new drug application (IND) studies, clinical development and commercialisation activities.

The LEAD platform utilises novel targeting ligands and enhancement groups to achieve efficient, specific delivery of RNAi therapeutics beyond liver tissue, with potential for a twice-yearly subcutaneous dosing regimen in metabolic disorders. Sanegene founder and CEO Weimin Wang highlighted the validation of differentiated technology through this partnership with metabolic disease leader Lilly, targeting durable disease-modifying therapies for diabetes, obesity and dyslipidaemia.

PharmCube's NextBiopharm® database reveals that Sanegene's agreement comes only one day apart from a similar deal with compatriot Huadong Medicine. Click here to request a free trial for NextBiopharm®.