On January 13, 2026, Santhemed made an announcement stating that its self - developed small interfering RNA (siRNA) drug, SGB - 7342, had successfully completed the first - subject dosing in a Phase 1 clinical trial. This trial is being conducted at the First Hospital of Jilin University in China and is aimed at treating obesity.

This clinical study is a randomized, double - blind, placebo - controlled, single - ascending - dose trial. Its primary objective is to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of SGB - 7342 in overweight and obese patients. In Western medical research contexts, such well - structured trial designs are standard for accurately evaluating new drugs.

Previously, on December 16, 2025, the drug had obtained implied approval for clinical trials from the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of China's National Medical Products Administration. In the global pharmaceutical regulatory landscape, getting such approval is a crucial step before a drug can enter clinical testing phases.

SGB - 7342 leverages Santhemed's next - generation GalNAc conjugation technology. Through RNAi (RNA interference) technology, it precisely silences the expression of INHBE mRNA in the liver, leading to a reduction in the levels of its encoded protein, Activin E. In the context of human physiology, this mechanism promotes the breakdown of fat while avoiding the induction of muscle breakdown. Ultimately, it helps improve metabolic abnormalities and insulin resistance, which are significant health concerns in modern society.

Preclinical trial data indicates that the drug demonstrates good safety and tolerability in animal models. In the drug development process, positive results from preclinical trials in animals are an important precursor to moving on to human clinical trials.