Suzhou Ribo Life Science and its subsidiary Ribocure Pharmaceuticals AB have entered into an exclusive global licensing agreement with Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, for six pre-clinical small interfering RNA (siRNA) programmes targeting Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH).

Under the agreement, Madrigal receives exclusive worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and commercialise multiple siRNA assets developed using Ribo’s liver-targeting GalSTAR platform. The collaboration also includes an option for both parties to expand into additional siRNA programmes, including bi-specific siRNAs designed to simultaneously target two disease-related genes, leveraging Ribo’s GalSTAR delivery and siRNA chemical modification technologies.

Ribo will receive an upfront payment of USD 60 million, with total potential payments reaching up to USD 4.4 billion upon achievement of development, regulatory and commercial milestones, along with tiered royalties on net sales.

The partnership aims to broaden therapeutic options for MASH, a progressive liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, liver cancer and premature mortality. MASH is a leading cause of liver transplantation globally and is associated with a significantly increased risk of liver-related and cardiovascular mortality, particularly in patients with moderate to advanced fibrosis.