China Biopharmaceutical Completes $1.7B Acquisition of siRNA Innovator Hejiya Bio to Accelerate Global Chronic Disease Pipeline

Jan 14, 2026 08:24 CST Updated 08:24

Sino Biopharm

Pharmaceutical R&D Developer

Hygieia

Small Interfering RNA (siRNA) Drug Developer

January 13, 2026, Sino Biopharm (1177.HK) Issue an announcement,Will beSino Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. to Acquire Hygieia Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., an Innovative siRNA Drug Company in China, for RMB 1.2 BillionThrough this acquisition, Sino Biopharm has gained a leading independent technology platform in the siRNA field, a diversified product pipeline, and a professional R&D team, further enriching the group's pipeline layout in the major chronic disease field.

Hygieia, as an innovative pioneer in the small nucleic acid field, has successfully built a differentiated delivery technology platform covering multi-tissue targeting.In key treatments such as weight loss and metabolism, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular, and nervous systemIn the field, a rich and high-potential innovative pipeline has been established. Through this strategic acquisition, the Group will comprehensively strengthen its core competitiveness in the small nucleic acid track, explore new territories in the global trillion-dollar chronic disease treatment market, and continue to bring benefits to patients worldwide. Meanwhile, this acquisition will deeply synergize with the Group’s mature experience in clinical development and commercial expansion, injecting strong momentum into the Group’s high-quality sustainable growth and creating long-term stable value for shareholders.

Leading the Next-Generation Technology Platform, Small Nucleic Acids Emerge as the "Industry Dark Horse"

Founded in 2018, Hygieia is a pioneering biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of innovative siRNA drugs. Led by Cui Kunyuan, the R&D team has over 20 years of professional experience in small nucleic acid drug development, securing more than 50 core patents and establishing an integrated innovative drug development system from target discovery to clinical proof of concept (POC). With six liver-targeted and non-liver-targeted delivery platforms, Hygieia's delivery efficiency and product potential significantly outpace industry standards, earning it recognition as a "dark horse" in China’s small nucleic acid field.

·MVIP Liver-Targeting Platform: The world's first and currently only siRNA delivery technology platform validated by clinical data, capable of achieving "once-a-year dosing" with long-acting administration. It has demonstrated superior delivery efficiency and effectiveness compared to existing similar platforms in both in vitro and in vivo models. This is the first siRNA delivery technology platform in China to receive global patent authorization, and its high efficiency, safety, and long-acting properties have been verified across multiple clinical pipelines.

·DDP Dual-Target Delivery Platform: Can synchronously deliver dual-target siRNA, achieving a "1+1>2" synergistic therapeutic effect. In the future, by integrating with different tissue-targeting platforms, it can be used to develop treatments for complex or refractory diseases mediated by multiple targets and mechanisms, demonstrating significant technological disruption.

·NSDP Neurotargeting Platform: Proactively layout in the field of neurological diseases delivery, fill unmet clinical needs in CNS (Central Nervous System) and PNS (Peripheral Nervous System), products will enter clinical stage starting from 2026, aiding in pipeline expansion to broader disease areas.

These core platforms have a potential value of tens of billions of dollars and will drive more products into the clinical stage by 2026-2027. Currently, Hygieia has four products in the clinical stage, over 20 projects in the preclinical stage, and has completed two out-licensing deals. Its R&D pipeline covers three major chronic disease areas—weight management and metabolism, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular, and the nervous system—all with First-in-class and Best-in-class potential.

World's First! Once-a-Year "Cholesterol-Lowering" Drug Accelerates Commercialization

Chronic diseases have become the primary threat to global public health, but existing therapies generally have systemic shortcomings such as limited efficacy, safety risks, and low patient compliance, leading to significant unmet clinical needs. With its ability to directly target "undruggable" sites and its long-acting advantages, small nucleic acid technology has the potential to address the pain points of traditional chronic disease treatment models, greatly improving the convenience and compliance of patient medication and enhancing overall clinical benefits.

In the field of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, nearly 20% of the global population exhibits elevated Lp(a) levels. As an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic thrombotic cardiovascular disease, the elevation of Lp(a) is primarily determined by genetic factors.^[1,2], not only significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular events, but is also closely related to stroke and aortic valve stenosis.^[3,4]Currently, no drugs for treating high Lp(a) levels have been approved for marketing globally.

Hygieia Based on MVIP Delivery PlatformKylo-11, independently developed by Hygieia Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., is the world's first drug to achieve "one injection per year" long-acting reduction of Lp(a).A single subcutaneous injection can achieve a 95% reduction in Lp(a), with an expected efficacy lasting over one year, and the dosage is much lower than similar products.With higher safety and medication convenience, as well as Best-in-class potential.

Kylo-11 is conducting a China-US international multi-center Phase II clinical trial, with the first patient dosing completed in October 2025. It is the fastest-progressing small nucleic acid product for treating high Lp(a) levels in China.

R&D Pipeline Synergy and Complementarity Create a New Growth Pole in the Chronic Disease Market

Sino Biopharm has already made extensive layouts in the fields of respiratory, liver disease/metabolism, and autoimmune diseases. Through this acquisition, it not only completes the construction of the next-generation innovative pipeline in the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular field at one stroke but also further enhances its layout in the weight-loss metabolism sector, broadening the group's therapeutic scope in the large chronic disease area.

In addition to Kylo-11, Hygieia's projects that have entered the clinical stage also include: APOC3 siRNA (Kylo-12) for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) and familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS), and the world's first THR-β small molecule agonist with differential liver targeting achieved through GalNAc conjugation (Kylo-0603), among others.

Sino Biopharm's Acquisition of Hygieia,This is not only the first major acquisition in China's small nucleic acid field initiated by a large pharmaceutical company but also a deepening of the group's strategic layout for global innovative assets following the acquisition of Limin Pharmaceuticals.。

On the one hand, relying on the strong clinical development and commercialization capabilities of its subsidiary Zhengda Tianqing, Sino Biopharm will inject new momentum into the development of Hygieia's small nucleic acid drug pipeline, promoting the rapid realization of its clinical and commercial value. On the other hand, Hygieia's leading technology in the small nucleic acid field will also form a powerful synergistic complement with the existing R&D pipelines of Zhengda Tianqing and Limin Pharmaceuticals, helping the group develop more innovative therapies and accelerate the realization of its international development potential.