SanegeneBio, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing innovative RNAi therapeutics, today announced a global research and licensing collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company ("Lilly"). The companies will collaborate to advance RNAi candidates for metabolic diseases, based on SanegeneBio's proprietary tissue selective delivery technology, LEAD™ (Ligand and Enhancer Assisted Delivery).

SanegeneBio will be responsible for discovery and identification of the optimized LEAD™-based RNAi molecule for each program, while Lilly will be responsible for the subsequent IND-enabling studies, clinical development and commercialization.

SanegeneBio's LEAD™ platform has the potential to generate breakthrough therapies for metabolic diseases that could be administered subcutaneously as infrequently as twice per year.

"Partnering with Lilly represents a strong validation of our innovative and differentiated LEAD™ platform for tissue-selective delivery of RNAi medicines" said Weimin Wang, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of SanegeneBio. "We look forward to working closely with Lilly, a global leader in innovation for metabolic diseases, to unlock novel approaches for the treatment of metabolic disorders and to advance durable, disease-modifying therapies for patients worldwide."

Under the terms of the agreement, SanegeneBio will receive an upfront payment and equity investment and will be eligible to receive near-term milestone payments. SanegeneBio will also be eligible to receive up to $1.2 billion in discovery, development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties on future product sales.