GSK Licenses SiranBio siRNA Candidate SA030 For Cardiometabolic Disease Pipeline

China-based Suzhou Siran Biotechnology (SiranBio) has entered a worldwide exclusive licensing agreement with GSK for SA030, a small interfering RNA (siRNA) oligonucleotide candidate targeting activin receptor-like kinase 7 (ALK7) for metabolic and vascular disease. The agreement covers global rights excluding mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.¹

Under the agreement, GSK will provide an upfront payment and potential milestone payments totaling up to $1.005 billion, along with tiered royalties on product net sales in licensed territories. SiranBio will continue clinical development through completion of phase 1 studies, after which GSK will assume responsibility for further development, regulatory filings, and commercialization outside the excluded regions.

SA030 is being developed as a long-acting siRNA therapy with adipocyte-directed delivery designed to target abdominal fat and cardiometabolic disease. The candidate recently entered phase 1 clinical trials.

How does ALK7 targeting address cardiometabolic disease risk?

According to the companies, SA030 targets ALK7, a therapeutic mechanism associated with reducing visceral adipose tissue while preserving lean mass. Excess visceral adipose tissue has been increasingly linked to cardiometabolic risk and inflammation in chronic diseases affecting the liver, lung, and kidney.²

Cardiometabolic disease is reported to be the leading cause of death in approximately 50% of patients with chronic kidney and liver diseases.³ The companies stated that reducing abdominal fat may improve insulin sensitivity, lipid profiles, and inflammation driven by adipose tissue.

Preclinical studies of SA030 demonstrated a long-acting profile and low-frequency dosing potential. The candidate is also being evaluated as a complementary approach to glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, potentially supporting future combination treatment strategies.

“Cardiometabolic disease is the leading cause of death in most patients with chronic inflammatory conditions affecting the liver, lung and kidney,” said Kaivan Khavandi, MD, PhD, senior vice president, Research and Development head of Respiratory, Immunology and Inflammation, and head of Translational and Development Sciences at GSK, in a company press release.¹ “This risk is driven by multiple factors, so novel complementary approaches are urgently needed.”

What role could siRNA therapies play in metabolic and inflammatory disease?

GSK stated that the agreement aligns with its broader strategy to expand its oligonucleotide therapeutics pipeline, including siRNA and antisense oligonucleotide technologies.¹ These modalities may enable targeting of disease pathways not readily addressed through traditional small molecules or biologic therapies.

The companies noted that SA030’s adipocyte-directed delivery approach is intended to address underlying inflammation associated with cardiometabolic risk.¹ The program is positioned as part of a broader effort to target inflammation, fibrosis, and vascular drivers of chronic disease progression.

“SA030 builds on our emerging pipeline targeting inflammation, fibrosis, and vascular drivers of disease, and may help improve outcomes for patients,” Dr. Khavandi added in the release.¹

How does the agreement expand SiranBio’s siRNA development platform?

SiranBio focuses on the development of siRNA therapeutics and extrahepatic delivery technologies, and its platform supports the full process of siRNA drug discovery.

“GSK’s resources and clinical development capabilities have the potential to accelerate the transformation of our … pipeline into therapeutics, benefitting more people in the reduction of fat and related chronic diseases,” said Zhiwei Yang, PhD, founder and CEO, SiranBio, in the release.¹

SA1211, another program in SiranBio’s pipeline, is a dual-targeting siRNA candidate in clinical trials. The company has multiple licensing and collaboration agreements with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in China and internationally for its pipeline of nucleic acid drugs targeting antiviral, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases.

References

1. Suzhou Siran Biotechnology. SiranBio and GSK enter license agreement for oligonucleotide candidate targeting metabolic and vascular risk across lung, liver and kidney disease. Published May 6, 2026. Accessed May 7, 2026. https://www.siranbio.com/en/news/html/?38.html
2. Lee JJ, Pedley A, Hoffmann U, Massaro JM, Levy D, Long MT. Visceral and intrahepatic fat are associated with cardiometabolic risk factors above other ectopic fat depots: The Framingham Heart Study. Am. J. Med. 2018;131(6):684-692.e12. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2018.02.002
3. Cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes mortality burden of cardiometabolic risk factors from 1980 to 2010: a comparative risk assessment. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2014;2(8):634-647. doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(14)70102-0