Roche Licenses Rona Therapeutics Obesity Drug for $1.16 Billion

Roche Holding entered into a licensing agreement with Shanghai-based Rona Therapeutics to acquire worldwide rights to an experimental therapy for obesity and metabolic diseases. The deal is valued at up to $1.16 billion, consisting of $100 million in upfront and near-term payments and $1.06 billion in contingent payments based on development, regulatory, and commercial milestones, alongside future royalties.

The licensed drug candidate utilizes RNA interference (RNAi) to target the ALK7 protein in fat tissue. Rona Therapeutics claims this mechanism selectively reduces visceral fat while preserving lean mass.

This acquisition aligns with a broader strategy by the Swiss pharmaceutical company to establish itself as a top-three player in the obesity market. The move follows previous agreements with Carmot Therapeutics and Zealand Pharma as Roche seeks to compete with industry leaders Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. Boris L. Zaitra, head of corporate business development at Roche, stated the deal complements the company's metabolic disease pipeline.