Aditum Bio bets $1B on siRNA breakthrough in heart disease

Aditum Bio and Mabwell Bioscience launched Kalexo Bio to develop a new siRNA therapy, 2MW7141, targeting cholesterol and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The candidate showed strong preclinical results, suppressing target genes with minimal off-target risks.

Why it matters: This deal could reshape lipid management and offer a new treatment standard for cardiovascular disease, one of the world’s leading causes of death.

Backstory: VC firm Aditum, co-founded by former Novartis CEO Joe Jimenez, has a track record of creating biotech startups around promising Chinese biotech assets. This is exemplified by Aditum’s previous $579M partnership with Leads Biolabs to launch Oblenio Bio for autoimmune diseases.

Zoom in: Aditum paid Mabwell $12M upfront for rights to 2MW7141. The Chinese company also received equity in Kalexo and is eligible to receive $1B in potential milestones and royalties. Kalexo Bio will handle clinical development, fully funded by Aditum.

Big picture: siRNA therapies like Novartis’ Leqvio are gaining traction for long-lasting cholesterol reduction. Aditum believes 2MW7141 could surpass current options with stronger, more sustained efficacy and fewer side effects.