Major RNA Therapeutics Collaborations (2024–Present): Pipeline Highlights and Strategic Deal Overview

May 06, 2025 12:10 CST Updated 12:10

Ribo Life Science

Small Nucleic Acid Drug Developer

Argo

RNAi Drug Developer

QurAlis

Developer of New Therapies for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Huadong Medicine

Large Comprehensive Pharmaceutical Product Developer

Disclaimer: Due to limited proficiency, errors are inevitable, and some information may not be the most up-to-date. Comments pointing out any issues are welcome. This article is only an introduction to pharmaceuticals related to healthcare and is not a recommendation of treatment plans (if involved). This article does not constitute any investment advice.

RNA Drugs Become a Hotspot in the Biomedical Field with Unique Mechanisms and Broad Therapeutic Prospects

1. Ribo Life Science and Boehringer Ingelheim

In 2024, the two parties announced a collaboration to develop innovative small nucleic acid therapies for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH/MASH) utilizing Ribo Life Science's ribo-galstar™ technology platform. Ribo Life Science will receive an upfront payment and is eligible for milestone payments and tiered royalties upon the success of clinical studies, drug registration, and market sales, with the total amount exceeding 2 billion US dollars.

2. Argo Biopharma and Novartis

In 2024, Argo Biopharma reached an agreement with Novartis to collaborate on the development of small nucleic acid therapies for cardiovascular diseases based on Argo's RNAi technology platform. Novartis paid an upfront fee of $185 million, and Argo Biopharma is expected to achieve a total transaction value of up to $4.165 billion through option and milestone payments, as well as sales royalties after commercialization.

3. QurAlis and Eli Lilly

In 2024, QurAlis Corporation announced an exclusive licensing agreement with Eli Lilly, granting Lilly global development and commercial rights to QRL-204, an antisense oligonucleotide designed to restore UNC13A function in neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS. QurAlis received a $45 million upfront payment, equity investment, and potential future milestone payments of up to $577 million.

4. Arrowhead and Sarepta Therapeutics

In 2024, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals and Sarepta Therapeutics announced a global collaboration agreement involving multiple projects targeting rare genetic diseases of the muscle, central nervous system, and lungs. Arrowhead will receive $825 million, including cash and equity investments, with the agreement also encompassing approximately $10 billion in potential future milestone payments.

5. Huadong Medicine and Shenergy Kang Medicine

In 2024, the two parties reached a strategic cooperation agreement to jointly develop the small nucleic acid candidate drug SNK-2726 for the treatment of hypertension. Huadong Medicine has the exclusive option for the development and commercialization of this drug in Greater China.

6. Geneseed Biotech and Boji Medicine

On March 25, 2025, Guangzhou Geneseed Biotech Co., Ltd. and Boji Medicine Co., Ltd. signed a strategic cooperation agreement. The two parties will deeply collaborate in the field of nucleic acid drugs, integrating the innovative capabilities and resource advantages of gene synthesis technology and drug evaluation platforms to accelerate the innovation and breakthroughs of circular RNA drugs from early-stage research to clinical translation.

7. Nanjing Triastek and BioNTech

In 2025, Nanjing Triastek Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. reached a research collaboration and platform technology licensing agreement with BioNTech. Both parties will develop oral RNA drugs based on 3D printing pharmaceutical technology. Triastek will receive an upfront payment of $10 million and is eligible to obtain milestone payments for product development, registration, and commercialization potentially exceeding $1.2 billion in total, as well as future potential tiered sales royalties.

8. Eli Lilly and Creyon Bio

On April 29, Santiago — Creyon Bio announced a global licensing and multi-target research collaboration with Eli Lilly, focusing on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel RNA-targeting oligonucleotide (oligo) drugs for the treatment of various diseases. As part of the collaboration, Creyon will leverage its industry-first artificial intelligence-driven Oligo Engineering engine to design and optimize new drug candidates for targets nominated by Eli Lilly on time scales previously unattainable in nucleic acid drug development.

References: Publicly available information