Frontier Bio partners with GSK to license two siRNA pipeline products, achieving over $1 billion in revenue.

On February 23, 2026, Frontier Biologics (Nanjing) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Frontier Biologics”) announced that it has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with global biopharmaceutical leader GlaxoSmithKline (hereinafter referred to as “GSK”). The agreement grants GSK exclusive rights worldwide for the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of two high-potential small nucleic acid (siRNA) pipeline products. This collaboration not only demonstrates international recognition of Frontier Biologics’ technological strength but also marks another breakthrough in China’s accelerated global expansion of innovative drugs.

It is reported that among the two siRNA pipeline products, one has entered the Investigational New Drug (IND) application stage, and the other is a preclinical candidate. According to the division of responsibilities, Frontier Biologics will handle early development of both products; GSK will leverage its extensive global clinical development, regulatory submission, and commercialization capabilities to undertake subsequent global advancement, enabling complementary advantages and efficient collaboration.

Financially, this partnership will bring substantial and sustainable returns to Frontier Biologics. The company will receive a $40 million upfront payment and a $13 million milestone payment in the near term. Additionally, it will earn up to $950 million in total milestone payments based on successful development, regulatory approval, and commercialization of the two projects. The company will also enjoy tiered royalties on global net sales of both products, providing solid funding for core pipeline R&D and platform upgrades.

Dr. Xie Dong, Chairman and CEO of Frontier Biologics, stated, “We are thrilled to partner with GSK, a global biopharmaceutical leader. This reflects industry recognition of our increasing R&D capabilities. We will deepen international cooperation, accelerate pipeline value realization, and explore commercialization opportunities to lay a solid foundation for Frontier Biologics.”

Kaivan Khavandi, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Respiratory, Immunology, and Inflammation R&D at GSK, responded simultaneously, “This agreement further strengthens our immunology pipeline by adding two novel oligonucleotide (small nucleic acid) therapies with potential global first-in-class value, bringing important opportunities to improve outcomes for patients with various kidney diseases. These assets align well with our strategic focus on platform technologies and inflammation-driven diseases. We look forward to working with Frontier Biologics to advance their development.”

As a disruptive sector in the global pharmaceutical industry, small nucleic acid drugs are rapidly emerging. With precise gene silencing, long-lasting high efficacy, and versatile platform characteristics, they are breaking through traditional drug development bottlenecks. They have expanded from rare diseases to chronic conditions such as cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, offering broad market prospects. The collaboration between Frontier Biologics and GSK not only leverages the resources of an international giant to accelerate pipeline globalization but also signifies that China’s domestic small nucleic acid R&D technology has gained recognition from top global pharmaceutical companies, injecting new momentum into China’s innovative drug export. (Qi Hening)