Tides Express | SynerK's siRNA Drug SNK-2726 Receives IND Approval in China and Administers First Dose in Phase I Clinical Trial

SNK-2726 targets angiotensinogen (AGT) and precisely silences the expression of AGT mRNA in the liver, blocking the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) at the genetic level.RAAS) activation, achieving long-term blood pressure control, is expected to provide a better treatment option for patients with hypertension.Huadong Medicine Has Reached a Strategic Cooperation with Synerk, jointly advancing the development of SNK-2726 to a certain stage,At the same time, Huadong Medicine will obtain an exclusive option and can pay the exercise fee in the future to acquire the exclusive rights for the development, registration, production, and commercialization of SNK-2726 in Greater China.This collaboration can integrate the advantages of both platforms, accelerate the clinical translation process of SNK-2726, and provide a breakthrough solution for the field of hypertension treatment.

The preclinical data of SNK-2726 showed that, during several months of observation, a single subcutaneous injection of the drug significantly reduced serum AGT in non-human primates and transgenic mouse models without any observed hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, or electrolyte imbalance. In hypertensive animal models, SNK-2726 effectively reduced AGT levels in the blood after a single subcutaneous injection and demonstrated favorable blood pressure-lowering effects.

The Phase I clinical trial launched this time adopts a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design.Subjects with Mildly Elevated Blood Pressure and Healthy SubjectsThe focus is on evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics (PD) characteristics of the drug.

About Hypertension

Hypertension is a clinical syndrome characterized primarily by elevated systemic arterial blood pressure (systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg), often accompanied by functional or organic damage to vital organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys. Clinically, hypertension is mainly divided into two major categories: primary and secondary. Primary hypertension accounts for approximately 90% - 95% of all hypertension patients, and its exact cause has not been fully elucidated; it is considered the result of interactions between genetic and environmental factors. From a genetic perspective, if one parent has hypertension, the probability of the offspring developing the condition is about 28%; if both parents are affected, the probability rises to 46%. Among environmental factors, a long-term high-salt diet increases sodium ions in the body, leading to water and sodium retention, increased blood volume, and elevated blood pressure; excessive alcohol consumption damages vascular endothelial cells, affecting normal vasodilation and causing blood pressure to rise; prolonged mental stress, anxiety, or excessive pressure triggers the secretion of hormones such as adrenaline and noradrenaline, causing vasoconstriction and raising blood pressure; lack of exercise and obesity lead to fat accumulation in the body, with fat cells secreting substances that affect blood pressure regulation, while obesity also increases the burden on the heart and blood vessels, resulting in abnormal blood pressure. Secondary hypertension has clear causes, such as kidney diseases (e.g., glomerulonephritis, renal artery stenosis) affecting the kidney's regulation of water and sodium, disrupting blood pressure balance in the body; endocrine disorders (e.g., primary aldosteronism, pheochromocytoma) secreting excessive hormones that influence blood pressure; cardiovascular lesions (e.g., aortic coarctation) altering the normal structure of blood vessels and hemodynamics, thereby increasing blood pressure. In these patients, blood pressure may return to normal after the underlying cause is addressed.

AboutsiRNA

siRNATargeted therapy is an emerging treatment following small molecules and antibodies.LeadField,RNAA notable advantage of targeted therapy is that the identification of candidate drugs only requires confirmation.Target regions in RNA associated with disease processes can be modulated by designing corresponding small nucleic acids for any target gene. Therefore, RNA therapy has tremendous application potential in traditionally undruggable diseases or targets, bringing a revolutionary breakthrough to the development of targeted drugs.

RNA-Targeted Therapy is based on targeting messenger RNA, which modulates protein expression by regulating messenger RNA to achieve the purpose of treating diseases. Common RNA-targeted therapeutic technologies include antisense oligonucleotides (antisense oligonucleotide)And small interfering RNA (small interference RNA), in addition, there are microRNAs(microRNA), Small Exciting RNA (small activating RNA) and RNA editing (RNA editing), RNA-targeting technology typically utilizes some naturally occurring cellular machinery in the human body, such as RNaseHAnd RISC to regulate RNA expression, relatively safe. RNA-targeted therapy targets messenger RNA through specific base pairing, offering good specificity with fewer off-target effects.

AboutSynerk

Synerk is a biopharmaceutical company with leading technology, dedicated to the research and development of novel small nucleic acid drugs and clinical studies. Synerk Pharmaceutical Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. was established in 2021, with a global research and development center set up in the Suzhou Biomedical Industry Park, and an independent research and development center also established in Beijing.