Roche Joins ALK7 Obesity Race with $1.16B Deal for Chinese Biotech Rona
Roche has entered the emerging ALK7 obesity drug market by licensing a candidate from Chinese biotech Rona Therapeutics for up to $1.16 billion. The deal includes $100 million in upfront and near-term payments, plus tiered royalties, as Roche intensifies its strategy to become a top-three obesity player. This move follows a wave of similar deals by Alnylam, Arrowhead, GSK, and Novo, all targeting ALK7 to improve weight loss durability and preserve lean mass.