Eli Lilly Signs Up to $2.6 Billion Deal with South Korean Biotech for RNA Medicine Delivery

Eli Lilly entered a major research and development pact with SanegeneBio, a South Korean biotech, with the deal valued up to $1.2 billion in biobucks, targeting cardiometabolic RNAi medicines1.

SanegeneBio's Ligand and Enhancer Assisted Delivery (LEAD) platform is at the core of the agreement, designed for highly tissue-selective RNA-based therapeutics for metabolic illnesses, allowing infrequent dosing (as little as twice per year)1.

Sanegene will identify optimized LEAD-based RNAi molecules for an undisclosed number of metabolic targets; Lilly will take over programs for further development and possible commercialization1.

The partnership further strengthens Lilly’s metabolic portfolio, which includes blockbusters like Zepbound and next-generation weight loss drugs such as orforglipron and retatrutide1.

ABL Bio, another South Korean biotech, stated its expectation to become profitable in 2025 if the upfront Lilly payment is received, and plans to expand applications of its Grabody-B platform into muscle and obesity indications3.

Lilly has recently increased its investment in RNA therapeutics, including additional deals with other biotech companies (e.g., Creyon Bio for AI-designed oligonucleotide therapies and Rznomics for ribozyme-based hearing loss therapies)1.

Sanegene CEO highlighted the strategic validation this partnership represents for their platform and the novelty of possible metabolic disorder therapies enabled by the collaboration1.

Sources:

1. https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/lilly-pens-12b-pact-sanegene-better-target-metabolic-rna-meds

3. https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-science/2025/11/17/KCMH6S3UJ5CQTCQSXRVSNNLLU4/