Recently , GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and SiranBio (hereinafter referred to as "SiranBio") reached a global exclusive licensing agreement for the investigational small interfering RNA (siRNA) oligonucleotide SA030.

GSK will pay Shian Biotech an upfront payment and up to US$1.005 billion in development, registration and commercialization milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties based on global net sales (excluding mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan).

SA030 is currently in Phase I clinical trials and targets activin receptor-like kinase 7 (ALK7) for the treatment of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Its design target avoids the weight loss market and targets the most difficult-to-treat abdominal visceral fat.

According to International Pharmaceutical Business News, this is the second time in nearly six months that GSK has acquired siRNA assets from a Chinese biotechnology company.

In the previous transaction, GSK acquired two siRNA drug candidates for respiratory, immune and inflammation (RI&I) fields from Frontier Biotechnologies for an upfront payment of approximately $40 million and a total consideration of approximately $1 billion.

GSK did not join the arms race in GLP-1 weight loss drugs led by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, but instead bet on the "downstream sequelae" of obesity, namely the cardiometabolic risks associated with chronic inflammatory diseases of the liver, lungs, and kidneys.

According to the agreement, Shian Bio will lead the clinical development of SA030 until the completion of Phase I clinical trials. Afterwards, GSK will assume all development, registration, and commercialization responsibilities outside of mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. GSK's initial payment is US$55 million, with milestone payments potentially reaching up to US$1 billion. In their public statement, Shian Bio and GSK did not provide a specific breakdown of the initial payment and milestone payments, only disclosing a total amount of US$1.005 billion and a tiered royalty mechanism. Shian Bio retains its rights in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Shian Bio will be solely responsible for the clinical development, registration, and launch of SA030 in Greater China; GSK will only cover overseas markets.

https://www.nbd.com.cn/articles/2026-05-06/4381236.html