Innovent Biologics and Sanegene Bio Announce Strategic Collaboration to Co-Develop SGB-3908, a Novel siRNA Therapeutic Targeting Hypertension

Rockville, USA and Suzhou, ChinaDecember 27, 2023PR Newswire -- Innovent Bio (HKEX stock code: 01801), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the research, development, production, and commercialization of innovative drugs in the fields of oncology, autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders, and ophthalmology, has partnered with SANEGENEBIO.USASANEGENEBIO (referred to as "SanaGeneBio"), announced a strategic collaboration agreement to jointly develop the small nucleic acid (siRNA) candidate drug SGB-3908 targeting Angiotensinogen (AGT) for the treatment of hypertension. In addition, Innovent Bio has obtained the exclusive option for the future development, manufacturing, and commercialization of this drug.

SGB-3908, currently in the IND application preparation stage, is an siRNA drug independently developed by SANEGENEBIO with proprietary intellectual property rights. It was developed based on the company’s proprietary small nucleic acid drug development platform, LEAD™ (Ligand and Enhancer Assisted Delivery). According to the cooperation agreement, both parties will jointly advance the development of SGB-3908 to a certain stage. Meanwhile, Innovent Bio will obtain exclusive options and can pay the exercise fee in the future to acquire exclusive rights for the development, production, and commercialization of SGB-3908 within different regions globally. After Innovent Bio exercises the option, SANEGENEBIO will be entitled to receive subsequent R&D milestone payments, sales milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties based on net sales post-commercialization.

Through this collaboration, both parties will leverage their respective strengths, combining SANEGENEBIO's cutting-edge technological capabilities in the RNA field with Innovent Bio's extensive experience in new drug clinical development and strong commercialization capabilities. Together, they will accelerate the development of innovative siRNA therapies, aiming to benefit more patients with hypertension as soon as possible.

Dr. Yongjun Liu, President of Innovent Bio"We are delighted to strategically collaborate with SANEGENEBIO on siRNA drugs for the treatment of hypertension. Innovent Bio has been strategically laying out the next generation of innovative therapies in the metabolic and cardiovascular (CVM) field for several years, gradually entering the harvest period of high-value pipelines, XINBILO."^®(PCSK9 monoclonal antibody) has been approved for marketing to treat hyperlipidemia. Masitide (GLP-1R/GCGR) for the treatment of diabetes and obesity will soon submit its first NDA. IBI311 (IGF-1R monoclonal antibody) for thyroid eye disease has entered Phase III clinical trials, and IBI128 (XOI inhibitor) for hyperuricemia is already in Phase III clinical trials overseas. The collaboration with SANEGENEBIO will further expand Innovent Bio's strategic layout in the CVM field, creating a more comprehensive product portfolio and long-term competitive advantage. SGB-3908 has entered the IND application preparation stage, and we look forward to collaborating with SANEGENEBIO on the clinical trials of this drug to bring innovative treatment options to a wide range of patients with hypertension.

Founder andDr. Weimin Wang, CEO"SGB-3908 adopts the company's proprietary LEAD™ platform technology. Through modular design involving delivery ligands, delivery enhancers, and site-specific, sequence-related chemical modifications, the platform can precisely target and knock down the mRNA and protein expression levels of pathogenic genes while maintaining excellent drug activity and prolonged efficacy. SANEGENEBIO is delighted to have the opportunity to collaborate with Innovent Bio, which possesses deep expertise in pharmaceutical development and extensive experience in clinical drug development and commercialization. By combining Innovent Bio’s capabilities with SANEGENEBIO’s advanced small nucleic acid drug development technology, the collaboration will fully unlock the application potential of RNAi technology, accelerate the clinical development and commercialization of the companies' pipelines, and address unmet clinical needs in the hypertension market."

AGT is the most upstream precursor of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). Its role in blood pressure (BP) regulation has been confirmed, and inhibiting AGT has recognized antihypertensive effects. SGB-3908 can inhibit the synthesis of AGT in the liver, potentially leading to a sustained reduction in AGT protein, further reducing angiotensin (Ang) II, ultimately resulting in vasodilation and decreased blood pressure.

Hypertension is a common chronic disease, with over 1 billion people worldwide currently affected. Hypertension not only increases the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases but can also lead to complications such as kidney damage and vision loss. With the aging population and the prevalence of risk factors like obesity, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diets, the global prevalence of hypertension continues to rise. Although there are effective antihypertensive treatments available in clinical practice, antihypertensive medications need to be taken daily. Since hypertension often lacks noticeable symptoms, patients may forget to take their medication, leading to poor adherence—a major challenge in the current treatment of hypertension. As a result, less than 20% of hypertensive patients achieve long-term effective control.^[i]. For the treatment bottleneck of hypertension, siRNA drugs can directly reduce the expression of AGT, offering differentiated advantages such as long-lasting effects, good safety, and high patient compliance, which are expected to bring better treatment options and long-term benefits to patients.

About Innovent Bio

"Start with trust, achieve through action." Developing high-quality biologics that are affordable for the general public is the mission and goal of Innovent Bio. Founded in 2011, Innovent Bio is committed to the research, production, and sales of innovative drugs in major disease areas such as oncology, autoimmune disorders, metabolism, and ophthalmology, ensuring our work benefits more lives. The company has received approval for 10 products to be marketed, including Sintilimab Injection (Tyvyt).^®），Bevacizumab Injection (Da You Tong^®），Adalimumab Injection (SULIXIN)^®), Rituximab Injection (Dabohua^®), Pemigatinib Tablets (Dabotan^®), Olverembatinib Tablets (Nelike^®), Ramucirumab Injection (Ciranze^®), Selpercatinib Capsules (Rui Tuo^®），Idecabtagene Vicleucel Injection (Focuxin)^®）and Toripalimab Injection (Sintilimab)^®). Currently, there are 2 varieties under NMPA review, 5 new drug molecules have entered Phase III or pivotal clinical trials, and another 19 new drug candidates have entered clinical trials.

Innovent Bio has reached 30 strategic partnerships with international collaborators such as Eli Lilly, Roche, Sanofi, Adimab, Incyte, and MD Anderson Cancer Center. While continuously innovating in drug development and pursuing its own growth, Innovent Bio adheres to the development philosophy of economic construction centered on the people. Over the years, it has maintained a scientific and benevolent mindset, upheld the principle of "patient-centeredness," cared for patients and their families, and actively fulfilled social responsibilities. The company has initiated and participated in numerous public welfare drug assistance programs, enabling more and more patients to benefit from advances in life sciences by gaining access to affordable, high-quality biologics. As of October 2023, Innovent Bio's patient assistance program has benefited over 170,000 ordinary patients, with a total value of drug donations reaching 3.4 billion RMB. Innovent Bio hopes to work together with everyone to enhance the development level of China’s biopharmaceutical industry, meeting the public's need for accessible medicines and fulfilling the people's aspirations for health and well-being.

For more details, please visit the company website:www.innoventbio.comOr company LinkedIn accountwww.linkedin.com/company/innovent-biologics/。

About SANEGENEBIO

SANEGENEBIO was founded in early 2021 as a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing novel small nucleic acid drugs based on RNA interference (RNAi) technology, with research and development centers in both China and the United States. The founding team is a renowned group of experts in the field of nucleic acid drugs, possessing years of experience in nucleic acid drug development and cutting-edge technical expertise in the industry. Over the past two years, the company has established a globally leading platform for nucleic acid drug chemical modification and intrahepatic and extrahepatic delivery technologies with independent intellectual property rights, enabling more efficient knockdown of disease-causing genes. SANEGENEBIO has rapidly advanced the research and development of a series of small nucleic acid products, covering areas such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, immune-related diseases, and neurological conditions. SANEGENEBIO is committed to scientific innovation, creating novel RNAi therapeutics to address unmet global medical needs and benefit patients and their families. For more information, please visit the SANEGENEBIO official website.www.sanegenebio.com 

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References

^[i] Global report on hypertension: the race against a silent killer, WHO 2023, https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240081062