Roche signs $1.2 bn obesity partnership with China's Rona Therapeutics, paying up to $100 m upfront

Roche announced its seventh China deal this year, partnering with RNA‑interference specialist Rona Therapeutics to target obesity.

The collaboration licenses an ALK7 inhibition asset and includes up to $100 million in upfront and near‑term milestone payments.

Rona’s RNAi platform underpins the licensed program, adding a novel mechanism to Roche’s obesity pipeline in the Chinese market.

The overall deal could be worth about $1.2 billion, underscoring the growing commercial interest in obesity treatments.