Sihuan Pharm and U.S.-based AbaloneBio sign agreement to co-develop next-generation weight-loss and muscle-building therapy

On October 30, Sihuan Pharmaceutical (Stock Code: 00460.HK) announced that the group has officially entered into a collaboration agreement with U.S. biotechnology company AbaloneBio. According to the agreement, the two parties will collaborate globally to jointly advance the development of a new generation of innovative drugs for obesity treatment.

The core objective of this R&D program is to achieve safe and effective increases in energy expenditure while maintaining or even enhancing muscle mass by targeting metabolism-related G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). This approach aims to overcome the limitations of current weight-loss therapies, address the significant unmet clinical needs in the global obesity treatment field, and drive the optimization and upgrading of therapeutic solutions in this area.

GPCRs belong to a vast and dynamic family of membrane proteins, whose activity regulation demands extremely precise control over structural changes. Consequently, the development of agonist antibodies targeting such receptors has long been recognized as a significant technical challenge within the pharmaceutical industry. Leveraging its proprietary functional antibody screening platform, AbaloneBio specializes in tackling the modulation challenges of difficult-to-drug membrane proteins, particularly GPCRs. The company possesses the capability to perform large-scale measurements of antibody functional activity data and utilizes artificial intelligence technology for the discovery and design of agonist antibodies, demonstrating a clear technological roadmap and distinct core competencies.

This collaboration will strictly adhere to the principle of "complementary strengths and synergistic advancement." AbaloneBio will contribute its core technology and platform support in the field of GPCR antibody discovery, while Sihuan Pharm will invest its R&D expertise in metabolic diseases, comprehensive industrial chain resources, and the established business infrastructure it has built in the Greater China region. This joint effort aims to efficiently advance the R&D project, mitigate development risks, and ensure the standardization and feasibility of the project from research through subsequent development phases.

The collaboration between Sihuan Pharm and AbaloneBio is built upon an existing foundation: Sihuan Pharm completed a strategic investment in AbaloneBio earlier this year. The signing of this collaboration agreement marks the extension of their partnership from the capital level to the operational execution level. It will further solidify Sihuan Pharm's innovative presence in the weight-loss field and accelerate the development of next-generation weight-loss and muscle-building therapies by leveraging AbaloneBio's technical expertise, thereby providing support for Sihuan Pharm's long-term strategic development.

Furthermore, this collaboration represents a significant step in Sihuan Pharm's strategy to deepen its involvement in the GPCR target space. Prior to this, Sihuan had participated in an investment in UK-based DJS Antibodies, a company focused on developing GPCR-targeting antibodies based on its proprietary technology platform. The technological value and R&D capabilities of DJS Antibodies have gained industry recognition, evidenced by its acquisition by AbbVie for $255 million in cash in 2022. This prior investment experience also provides valuable reference for Sihuan's ongoing strategic focus on the GPCR field.