Roche’s China shopping spree continues with $1B Rona obesity pact
Roche has licensed worldwide rights to Rona Therapeutics’ experimental ALK7-targeting RNA interference therapy for obesity and metabolic diseases, offering up to $100 million (about €89 million) in upfront and near-term payments, plus up to $1.06 billion (about €0.95 billion) in milestone payments.
Why it matters: The Swiss drugmaker is expanding its search for treatments that reduce fat while preserving lean mass. The agreement also puts Roche alongside Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals and GSK in pursuing ALK7, a target that could complement GLP-1 drugs.
The deal: Rona will receive up to $100 million (about €89 million) in combined upfront and near-term milestone payments. Another $1.06 billion (about €0.95 billion) depends on development, regulatory and commercial milestones, with tiered royalties on global sales.
How it works: ALK7 is a receptor found mainly in fat cells that helps regulate fat storage and breakdown. Rona’s therapy uses RNA interference to reduce its production, with a delivery platform designed to reach tissues outside the liver.
- According to Rona, silencing ALK7 could reduce visceral fat around internal organs and fat accumulated elsewhere while preserving lean mass. Acting directly on fat cells could allow the therapy to work alone or alongside appetite-regulating incretin drugs.
Backstory: The deal follows Roche’s Sept. 28 decision to stop developing emugrobart, its muscle-preserving antibody. An interim Phase 2 analysis suggested the combination with GLP-1/GIP drugs was unlikely to achieve its predefined weight-loss objectives.
- Roche is pursuing another approach through Hanmi Pharmaceutical’s urocortin-2 analog HM17321. Its subsidiary Genentech licensed the Phase 1 candidate in August for $190 million (about €170 million) upfront, seeking fat reduction alongside improvements in muscle mass and function.
The competition: ALK7 already has an early clinical signal. Arrowhead reported a placebo-adjusted 14.1% reduction in visceral fat eight weeks after one ARO-ALK7 dose, although the highest-dose group included just four participants.
- GSK licensed SiranBio’s Phase 1 ALK7-targeting RNAi candidate SA030 in May, with rights outside mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
- The broader fat-targeting RNAi field is attracting investment, too. Lilly-backed Moonwalk Biosciences raised $70 million in September to advance MW101 toward human trials in late 2027. Its molecular target remains undisclosed.
The China connection: Roche has been on a shopping spree this year in China. Earlier partners include MediLink, DualityBio, Simcere Zaiming, Defand Therapeutics and SanegeneBio. Outside of China, the Swiss pharma also entered partnerships with Dualitas, Hanmi and Nurix this year.
