Roche signs $1 billion deal with China’s Rona Therapeutics for RNAi obesity drug

Roche announced a new agreement with Chinese biotech Rona Therapeutics to acquire an experimental RNA interference therapy targeting the protein ALK7 for obesity.

Under the terms, Roche will pay $100 million upfront for full ownership, with the total potential payout exceeding $1 billion if the drug meets predefined development, regulatory and commercial milestones. Rona will also receive sales royalties.

This partnership marks Roche’s fifth deal with a China-based company since late August and its tenth since early 2025, the most among its peers, highlighting an aggressive push into the obesity market where rivals such as Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk already dominate.

The RNAi candidate will join five other obesity programs in Roche’s pipeline, three of which were added through the 2023 acquisition of Carmot Therapeutics.