Sirnaomics Forms Joint Venture with Gore Range Capital to Propel RNAi Therapeutics into Aesthetic Medicine

01 August 2024 | Thursday | News


Newly Established Sagesse Bio to Accelerate Development of Innovative Body Contouring Solutions with Expert Leadership and Strategic Collaboration
Image Source : Public Domain

Image Source : Public Domain

Sirnaomics Ltd. (the "Company", Stock Code: 2257.HK, together with its subsidiaries, the "Group" or "Sirnaomics"), a leading biopharmaceutical company engaging in discovery and development of advanced RNAi therapeutics, today announced a partnership with Gore Range Capital LLC ("Gore Range Capital") (Dallas, TX, USA) for establishment of a joint venture, Sagesse Bio, Inc., to advance its novel RNAi therapeutic products into aesthetic medicine.

Sagesse Bio, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Sagesse Bio"), combines the strength of Sirnaomics' leadership in RNAi-based technology and product development for focal fat reduction and Gore Range Capital's world leading expertise in skin health industry and financial resources, to accelerate clinical development of the company's innovative products for addressing a fast-growing aesthetic medicine market. Sagesse Bio will rapidly advance Sirnaomics lead compound that is IND-enabled and currently in Phase II clinical trials for other indications. Initial indications of interest include body contouring and fat reduction. The founders, board of directors, and newly established executive management team of Sagesse Bio are comprised of a group of well-accomplished senior executives from skin health industry, world-renowned clinicians in dermatology and aesthetic medicine, and leading experts in RNAi medicine. The strategic goal of Sagesse Bio is to become a world-leading aesthetic medicine company with innovative technologies and aesthetic products.

Frederick Beddingfield, MD, PhD, serving as Chairperson of the board of directors of Sagesse Bio, is an internationally renowned dermatologist and expert in biopharma and the aesthetics industry, who has led the development of global leading brands such as BOTOX®, JUVEDERM®, LATISSE® and KYBELLA®. He served as Chief Medical Officer of Allergan Medical and Kythera, and as CEO of Sienna Bio and Kira Pharmaceuticals, and currently serves on the board of directors of Cytrellis Biosystems. Dr. Beddingfield stated: "I could not be more excited to help lead and build Sagesse Bio. We have an amazing team with the right experience and a unique opportunity based on the finding of adipocytolysis with good tolerability in human clinical studies, to rapidly advance our IND-approved lead product."

Mr. Humberto Antunes, co-founder of Sagesse Bio, partner of Gore Range Capital, former Chairman and CEO of Galderma/Nestlé Skin Health, an internationally renowned executive in skin health industry, comments: "The strategic goal of Sagesse Bio is to deliver innovative and life changing therapies to patients with an initial emphasis on focal fat destruction."

"We are thrilled to build this historic partnership: RNAi therapeutic candidate is moving into medical aesthetic product development for body contouring," commented Dr. Patrick Lu, founder, Chairman of the board, executive director, President and CEO of Sirnaomics. "The joint expertise and resources from both Sirnaomics and Gore Range Capital are setting up a strong foundation for a tremendous growth potential of Sagesse Bio with its accelerated product development speed."

The board of directors of the Company has approved, and the board of directors and the stockholders of Sagesse Bio have approved, a series of agreements in relation to the partnership (the "Agreements"). The Company and Sagesse Bio have signed the Agreements, which shall become effective only upon being approved by the shareholders of the Company at an upcoming general meeting. Under the partnership arrangement, Sagesse Bio will initiate a clinical evaluation immediately for its leading product candidate, SGY-101, with scientific and technical support from Sirnaomics, receiving assignment and licensing of certain relevant intellectual property rights for the licensed product. In return, Sirnaomics will receive milestone payments of up to US$33 million and a majority equity position of Sagesse Bio with value of approximately US$36 million upon successful equity or debt financing in the future at a minimum pre-financing valuation of Sagesse Bio at US$60 million. Gore Range Capital is responsible for initial funding and building the executive management team and advisory board. In addition, with its well-built domain expertise and extensive networks in the skin health industry, Gore Range Capital is able to provide a hands-on approach for Sagesse Bio's fundraising and business development challenges.

Sirnaomics, a leading biopharmaceutical company engaging in discovery and development of advanced RNAi therapeutics, today announced a partnership with Gore Range Capital LLC ("Gore Range Capital") (Dallas, TX, USA) for establishment of a joint venture, Sagesse Bio, Inc., to advance its novel RNAi therapeutic products into aesthetic medicine.

Sagesse Bio, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Sagesse Bio"), combines the strength of Sirnaomics' leadership in RNAi-based technology and product development for focal fat reduction and Gore Range Capital's world leading expertise in skin health industry and financial resources, to accelerate clinical development of the company's innovative products for addressing a fast-growing aesthetic medicine market. Sagesse Bio will rapidly advance Sirnaomics lead compound that is IND-enabled and currently in Phase II clinical trials for other indications. Initial indications of interest include body contouring and fat reduction. The founders, board of directors, and newly established executive management team of Sagesse Bio are comprised of a group of well-accomplished senior executives from skin health industry, world-renowned clinicians in dermatology and aesthetic medicine, and leading experts in RNAi medicine. The strategic goal of Sagesse Bio is to become a world-leading aesthetic medicine company with innovative technologies and aesthetic products.

Frederick Beddingfield, MD, PhD, serving as Chairperson of the board of directors of Sagesse Bio, is an internationally renowned dermatologist and expert in biopharma and the aesthetics industry, who has led the development of global leading brands such as BOTOX®, JUVEDERM®, LATISSE® and KYBELLA®. He served as Chief Medical Officer of Allergan Medical and Kythera, and as CEO of Sienna Bio and Kira Pharmaceuticals, and currently serves on the board of directors of Cytrellis Biosystems. Dr. Beddingfield stated: "I could not be more excited to help lead and build Sagesse Bio. We have an amazing team with the right experience and a unique opportunity based on the finding of adipocytolysis with good tolerability in human clinical studies, to rapidly advance our IND-approved lead product."

Mr. Humberto Antunes, co-founder of Sagesse Bio, partner of Gore Range Capital, former Chairman and CEO of Galderma/Nestlé Skin Health, an internationally renowned executive in skin health industry, comments: "The strategic goal of Sagesse Bio is to deliver innovative and life changing therapies to patients with an initial emphasis on focal fat destruction."

"We are thrilled to build this historic partnership: RNAi therapeutic candidate is moving into medical aesthetic product development for body contouring," commented Dr. Patrick Lu, founder, Chairman of the board, executive director, President and CEO of Sirnaomics. "The joint expertise and resources from both Sirnaomics and Gore Range Capital are setting up a strong foundation for a tremendous growth potential of Sagesse Bio with its accelerated product development speed."

The board of directors of the Company has approved, and the board of directors and the stockholders of Sagesse Bio have approved, a series of agreements in relation to the partnership (the "Agreements"). The Company and Sagesse Bio have signed the Agreements, which shall become effective only upon being approved by the shareholders of the Company at an upcoming general meeting. Under the partnership arrangement, Sagesse Bio will initiate a clinical evaluation immediately for its leading product candidate, SGY-101, with scientific and technical support from Sirnaomics, receiving assignment and licensing of certain relevant intellectual property rights for the licensed product. In return, Sirnaomics will receive milestone payments of up to US$33 million and a majority equity position of Sagesse Bio with value of approximately US$36 million upon successful equity or debt financing in the future at a minimum pre-financing valuation of Sagesse Bio at US$60 million. Gore Range Capital is responsible for initial funding and building the executive management team and advisory board. In addition, with its well-built domain expertise and extensive networks in the skin health industry, Gore Range Capital is able to provide a hands-on approach for Sagesse Bio's fundraising and business development challenges.

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