AbbVie Secures $335M Deal with ADARx for Next-Gen siRNA Therapeutics

AbbVie has entered into a significant collaboration with ADARx Pharmaceuticals, marking a major step forward in the development of small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapeutics. The deal, announced on May 14, 2025, involves an upfront payment of $335 million from AbbVie to ADARx, with the potential for additional billions in option-related fees, milestone payments, and royalties.

Strategic Partnership Aims to Advance siRNA Technology

The collaboration and license option agreement spans multiple disease areas, including neuroscience, immunology, and oncology. This partnership combines ADARx's expertise in siRNA technology and RNA discovery with AbbVie's established capabilities in antibody engineering, antibody-drug conjugates, and tissue delivery approaches.

Dr. Jonathon Sedgwick, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Discovery Research at AbbVie, emphasized the promise of siRNA as a genetic medicine approach for silencing disease-causing genes. However, he also acknowledged the existing challenges in targeting and delivering siRNA effectively, highlighting the collaborative effort needed to overcome these obstacles.

ADARx's Technology and Pipeline

ADARx's siRNA therapies offer the potential for long-lasting effects without genome alterations, addressing concerns associated with long-term safety in genetic treatments. The company's pipeline includes clinical and preclinical siRNA-based candidates targeting various organs and conditions:

• Liver-targeted therapies
• Central nervous system treatments
• Body fat-focused candidates
• Potential indications include geographic atrophy, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, obesity, and neurodegeneration

Notably, ADX-324, ADARx's most advanced candidate, is poised to enter phase 3 trials for hereditary angioedema, a rare genetic disorder causing swelling episodes.

Financial Implications and Future Prospects

This deal represents a significant financial boost for ADARx, following its $200 million Series C financing round in 2023, which attracted investors such as Blackrock, T. Rowe Price Associates, and Venrock. The collaboration with AbbVie not only provides substantial upfront capital but also opens doors to "several billion dollars" in potential future payments.

Dr. Zhen Li, CEO and co-founder of ADARx, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, citing AbbVie's robust R&D infrastructure and global commercial reach as key factors in the decision. Both companies anticipate that their combined efforts will unlock significant clinical and commercial potential across multiple disease areas, potentially revolutionizing treatment approaches in the pharmaceutical industry.