By Fineline Cube 
China-based Youcare Pharma (SHA: 688658) announced that its subsidiary Youcare InnoTech and partner Hangzhou Tianlong have received clearance from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) to commence a Phase I study of YKYY029, an siRNA injection targeting hypertension. This marks a significant step in the development of novel therapeutic options for hypertensive patients.
YKYY029 Mechanism and Innovation
YKYY029 is designed to target the AGT gene using an in-house-designed sequence and a proprietary GalNAc liver-targeted delivery system. By silencing AGT mRNA, the drug halts angiotensinogen production, thereby reducing the entire RAAS (renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system) cascade at its source. This innovative approach aims to address hypertension through a novel genetic pathway.
Preclinical Success
Preclinical data demonstrating significant blood-pressure reductions and a favorable safety profile were recently published in Molecular Therapy Nucleic Acids. These promising results underscore the potential of YKYY029 to become an effective treatment option for hypertension.-Fineline Info & Tech