TIDES Weekly Digest | Global Peptide and Oligonucleotide Therapeutics News (March 14–20)
Rona Therapeutics
Nucleic Acid Drug Developer
March 202514DayRona Therapeutics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. ("Rona Therapeutics"), a clinical-stage platform company that continues to lead in the field of nucleic acid drug research and development, officially announced the successful completion of its Pre-B round of financing, with an amount reaching 25 million US dollars. This round of financing was led by Guanghua Wutong, with participation from new and existing shareholders including Lilly Asia Ventures, Jiangyuan Investment, and Boyuan Capital, fully demonstrating their continued recognition of Rona Therapeutics' innovation in the field of nucleic acid drugs.Confidence.
This round of financing will help Rona Therapeutics advance its unique delivery and chemical modification platform technologies, further expand its siRNA clinical pipeline layout in the fields of cardiometabolic diseases, weight loss, and others, and comprehensively enhance its large-scale production capabilities. The successful completion of this round of financing is attributed to...Rona Therapeutics Achieves Breakthrough Progress in Multiple Key Milestones, Including Rapid Advancement of Clinical Pipelines and Significant Outcomes in Preclinical Studies. These Advances Not Only Validate the Technical Superiority of the Company’s Innovative Platform but Also Fully Demonstrate Its Enormous Clinical Potential in the Field of Treating Major Diseases.
About Rona Therapeutics
Rona Therapeutics is a global leading nucleic acid innovative drug platform company, focusing on the treatment of metabolic diseases, weight loss, and other fields. Rona Therapeutics is always committed to developing best-in-class and first-in-class siRNA drugs with differentiation and innovation to address unmet clinical needs and improve treatment outcomes for cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and metabolic disorder-associated nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
On March 14, 2025, the Drug Clinical Trial Registration and Information Disclosure Platform showed that Innovent initiated a multi-center, randomized, open-label Phase III clinical study (GLORY-3) in Chinese overweight or obese subjects with metabolically associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) to compare the efficacy and safety of mazdutide versus semaglutide.
The main objectives of this study are: 1) to verify whether the efficacy of Mastudopeptide in reducing liver fat content (Liver Fat Content, LFC) in subjects is superior to that of Semaglutide; 2) to verify whether the weight loss efficacy of Mastudopeptide in subjects is superior to that of Semaglutide.The primary endpoint was the percentage change in liver fat content from baseline to week 48 as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging-proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF), and the percentage change in body weight from baseline.
About Innovent Biologics
"Start with trust, achieve through action." Developing high-quality biologics that are affordable for the general public is Innovent Biologics' mission and goal. Founded in 2011, Innovent Biologics is dedicated to the research, production, and commercialization of innovative drugs in major disease areas such as oncology, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune conditions, and ophthalmology.
March 202514DayNovartis' Class 1 radiopharmaceuticals, [177Lu]oxodotreotide injection and gallium [68Ga]oxodotreotide injection kit, have received tacit approval from the Center for Drug Evaluation of the National Medical Products Administration for clinical trial applications. The company is permitted to conduct clinical research on "newly diagnosed extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC)" and "the use of positron emission tomography (PET) to determine patients' SSTR-positive expression status for patient screening purposes."
Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer (ES-SCLC) is a type of lung cancer that has spread to both lungs and/or other parts of the body, particularly diagnosed as extensive-stage when the cancer can no longer be controlled by local treatments alone, such as surgery. Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive cancer with rapid growth and significant metastatic potential.
About Novartis
Novartis is committed to reimagining medicine to improve people's quality of life and extend human lifespan. By leveraging our technological leadership in research and development, along with innovative accessibility initiatives, we deliver high-value medicines that alleviate the greatest disease burdens on society.
Recently，Suzhou Ribo Life Science Co., Ltd. (Ribo Life Science) and its subsidiary Ribocure Pharmaceuticals AB (Ribocure) are pleased to announce that the first two milestones of their strategic collaboration have been successfully achieved, marking a significant advancement for Ribo Life Science in the field of AI-assisted siRNA drug development.
About RiboBio and its subsidiary Ribocure
RiboBio is an innovative R&D company dedicated to developing RNA interference (RNAi) drugs and is a major pioneer and leader in China's small nucleic acid technology and small nucleic acid pharmaceuticals industry. RiboBio aligns itself with the cutting-edge innovation of international small nucleic acid technology, committing to the iterative R&D of small nucleic acid chemical modification and drug delivery technologies, and has established independent and controllable..., a fully integrated small nucleic acid drug R&D platform supporting all stages of research from early development to industrialization.
About Pheiron
Pheiron is a native AI-driven biotech company focused on phenotypic disease trait analysis and genetic evidence research. Its PheironGPS platform integrates the largest and most comprehensively characterized human database to generate in-depth insights into disease biology.
Recently,Altimmune (NASDAQ: ALT) announced the development progress of its leading candidate drug pemvidutide (ALT-801), with two Phase 2 trials expected to commence in the second and third quarters of this year. The drug is currently under investigation for its therapeutic effects on obesity and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) associated with metabolic dysfunction.
About Pemvidutide
Pemvidutide is a novel, peptide-based GLP-1/glucagon dual receptor agonist under development for the treatment of obesity and NASH. Activation of GLP-1 and glucagon receptors is believed to mimic the complementary effects of diet and exercise on weight loss, where GLP-1 suppresses appetite and glucagon increases energy expenditure. Glucagon is also thought to have a direct impact on hepatic fat metabolism, leading to a rapid reduction in liver fat levels. Pemvidutide incorporates the EuPort™ domain, a patented technology that extends the serum half-life for weekly dosing while potentially slowing the rate at which Pemvidutide enters the bloodstream, thereby enhancing its tolerability.
About Altimmune
Altimmune is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative next-generation therapies for the treatment of obesity and liver diseases.
March 202517Day，Viazen Biotechnology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. ("Viazen") announced that the Phase 3 clinical trial (CTR20231418/NCT05902598) conducted by Viazen for Chinese patients with Familial Chylomicronemia Syndrome (FCS) has achieved positive topline data, successfully meeting the primary efficacy endpoint and all key secondary endpoints.
About VSA001
VSA001 (Plozasiran), previously also known as ARO-APOC3, is a first-in-class RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutic agent designed to reduce the production of apolipoprotein C-III (APOC3). APOC3 is a component of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRLs) and a key regulator of triglyceride metabolism. APOC3 increases triglyceride levels in the blood by inhibiting the breakdown of TRLs by lipoprotein lipase and the uptake of TRL remnants by liver receptors. VSA001 reduces triglycerides and normalizes lipid levels by lowering APOC3 levels.
AboutViaGen
ViaGen is a small nucleic acid drug therapy company based in China with a global outlook.
March 202517Day，Johnson & Johnson registered a Phase III clinical trial, ICONIC-PsA 1, on Clinicaltrials.gov for JNJ-2113 (Icotrokinra), an oral cyclic peptide inhibitor of IL-23R, to treat psoriatic arthritis.
Phase IIIThe clinical trial plans to enroll 540 patients with psoriatic arthritis and is expected to be preliminarily completed by 2026.
About JNJ-2113
JNJ-2113 is a first-in-class oral peptide IL-23R antagonist that binds to the IL-23 receptor with high affinity. It can be absorbed through oral administration, selectively blocking IL-23 signaling and the production of downstream inflammatory cytokines. The IL-23/IL-23R signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, including psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
About Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson was founded in 1886 and is one of the most comprehensive healthcare product enterprises with a wide range of business distributions globally, covering medical technology and innovative pharmaceuticals. Its headquarters is located in New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.
March 202518Day，Tonghua Dongbao Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "the Company") has completed the Phase I clinical trial in China after receiving the approval notice for the clinical trial of insulin degludec and liraglutide injection from the National Medical Products Administration. The results indicate that the insulin degludec and liraglutide injection produced by the Company demonstrates good safety and tolerability, with pharmacokinetic characteristics showing biosimilarity to the reference drug, Xultophy®. Subsequently, the Company initiated the Phase III clinical trial in China and recently succeeded in administering the first dose to a subject.
About Degludec Insulin Liraglutide Injection
The original manufacturer of Insulin Degludec and Liraglutide Injection is Novo Nordisk from Denmark. It is the world's first approved combination of a basal insulin analog (Insulin Degludec) and a GLP-1 analog.(A compound preparation composed of liraglutide) combines the dual-component advantages of two drugs, with complementary mechanisms and multi-target actions on various pathophysiological mechanisms of type 2 diabetes, regulating glucose homeostasis.
About Tonghua Dongbao
Tonghua Dongbao Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (referred to as "Tonghua Dongbao", stock code: 600867.SH) was established in 1985 and listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 1994. It is a renowned pharmaceutical company in China that integrates drug research and development, production, and sales.
March 202519Day，ClinicalTrials, a global clinical trial registry website, shows that Huadong Medicine has initiated the first Phase III clinical trial of HDM1002, a small molecule GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist. This is the third China-produced small molecule GLP-1R agonist to enter the Phase III clinical stage.
This study is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial (n=780).), aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HDM1002 (200mg or 400mg, once daily) in Chinese overweight or obese populations. The primary endpoints of the study are the percentage change in body weight from baseline at Week 44 and the proportion of participants achieving at least a 5% reduction in body weight.
HDM1002 is an innovative small molecule drug independently developed by Huadong Medicine with global intellectual property rights. It is an orally active, potent, and highly selective small molecule full agonist of GLP-1R. Preclinical studies have shown that HDM1002 can effectively activate GLP-1R, induce the production of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and has a potent effect in improving glucose tolerance., hypoglycemic and weight-loss effects while demonstrating good safety.
About Huadong Medicine
Huadong Medicine Co., Ltd. was established in 1993 and listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in December 1999. After more than 20 years of development, it has become a large comprehensive pharmaceutical listed company integrating pharmaceutical research and development, production, and distribution.
March 202520Day，San Diego and Shanghai — Rona Therapeutics announced that the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has approved its Investigational New Drug (IND) application to initiate the first-in-human Phase I clinical trial of SRSD216. SRSD216 is an innovative small interfering nucleotide (siRNA) therapy designed to treat hyperlipoproteinemia(a).
About SRSD216 Injection
SRSD216 Injection is a novel double-stranded small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA). It specifically modulates the LPA gene, reducing hepatic Apo(a) production and lowering circulating Lp(a) levels. Preclinical in vivo studies have shown that a single dose reduced Lp(a) levels by nearly 100%, with effects lasting over six months, and no significant safety events were observed.
AboutJingyin Pharmaceuticals
Sirius Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to the mission of human health and well-being. It focuses on the global development of next-generation nucleic acid innovative therapies in the field of cardiometabolic diseases, striving to become a leader in revolutionizing the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. The company's products currently in the clinical development stage include SRSD107 for the treatment of thromboembolic diseases and SRSD101 for the treatment of dyslipidemia.