China’s RNAi therapeutics are in growing demand

China’s expertise in antibody engineering is well-established, but early signs suggest the region may soon become highly competitive in RNAi. While an uptick in deals and financings for RNAi companies is the canary in the coal mine, a host of unpartnered assets and a spate of academic translational research indicates there’s a strong substrate for more innovation to emerge.

Deal activity for RNA-silencing programs out of China has picked up over the past two years, especially in the cardiovascular and metabolic arenas. Since the start of 2024, at least four companies have announced deals for RNA silencing programs developed in China, each with the potential to bring in over $1 billion in total deal value...