Leaderna Therapeutics Completes Series A+ Financing to Advance Small Nucleic Acid Drug Pipeline
Chengdu-based Leaderna Therapeutics has completed a Series A+ financing round backed exclusively by Grand View Capital, adding fresh capital to accelerate clinical development of its small nucleic acid drug pipeline and further develop its extrahepatic delivery technologies.
CHENGDU, China, August 31, 2026 — Chinese oligonucleotide drug developer Leaderna Therapeutics (成都先衍生物技术有限公司) has announced the completion of a Series A+ financing round, continuing a busy year of fundraising and clinical development for the Chengdu-based biotechnology company.
The latest round was invested exclusively by Grand View Capital (高特佳) through its Xiamen Ruilu Fund (厦门瑞鹭基金). The financial size of the transaction was not disclosed.
According to the financing announcement, proceeds will be used primarily to advance clinical development of Leaderna’s small nucleic acid drug pipeline, including potentially first-in-class programs, accelerate optimization of key technologies such as extrahepatic delivery, and expand its preclinical pipeline. (finance.eastmoney.com)
The financing comes as Leaderna transitions from a platform-focused biotech into a clinical-stage company with multiple programs addressing major chronic diseases including hypertension, obesity and hyperlipidemia.
A Chengdu-Based Small Nucleic Acid Drug Developer
Founded in 2022, Leaderna Therapeutics is headquartered at the Chengdu Tianfu International Bio-Town in Sichuan Province. The company was incubated by and remains affiliated with Shanghai-listed drug-discovery company HitGen (SSE: 688222). Public corporate records list Leaderna’s establishment date as July 13, 2022. (pharnexcloud.com)
Leaderna specializes in the discovery and development of oligonucleotide therapeutics, particularly RNA interference-based drugs for chronic diseases.
Its research strategy focuses on developing long-acting medicines that could potentially offer less frequent dosing than conventional chronic therapies while expanding RNA medicines into tissues and biological targets that have historically been difficult to reach.
The company has established technology capabilities spanning novel oligonucleotide modification, extrahepatic delivery and single-molecule dual-target regulation. (paper.cnstock.com)
Its proprietary technology portfolio has also been described as comprising three principal platforms:
- NEATL — nucleic-acid enhancement and novel delivery technology;
- LOCATED — lipid-conjugated extrahepatic delivery technology; and
- DIRECT — single-molecule dual-target interference technology. (preqin.com)
These platforms underpin a growing pipeline focused largely on cardiometabolic and other chronic diseases.
LDR2402 Leads Pipeline With Phase 2 Hypertension Program
Leaderna’s most advanced wholly developed clinical candidate is LDR2402, a small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapeutic targeting angiotensinogen (AGT) for the treatment of primary hypertension.
AGT is a central upstream component of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, which plays a major role in blood-pressure regulation.
By suppressing hepatic production of AGT through RNA interference, LDR2402 is designed to provide prolonged blood-pressure control following subcutaneous administration.
The candidate entered clinical development after receiving clearance from China’s Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) in 2024. Leaderna has suggested that its pharmacological profile could potentially support dosing as infrequently as once every three to six months, which could represent an important improvement in treatment adherence if confirmed clinically. (vcbeathealth.com)
LDR2402 has since advanced into Phase 2 clinical development. HitGen disclosed earlier in 2026 that the program had entered Phase 2 and dosed its first participant, while subsequent company updates confirmed that the study continues to progress as planned. (dataclouds.cninfo.com.cn)
Long-acting RNAi therapies have attracted growing interest in hypertension because inconsistent adherence to daily oral antihypertensive medicines remains a major obstacle to effective long-term blood-pressure control.
If successful, an siRNA capable of maintaining therapeutic activity for several months could introduce a fundamentally different treatment paradigm for hypertension.
LDR2515 Targets Obesity Through INHBE
Leaderna is also developing LDR2515, an siRNA candidate targeting inhibin beta E (INHBE) for obesity.
INHBE has emerged as an increasingly competitive metabolic target because human genetics suggest that reduced INHBE activity may be associated with lower fat mass, improved lipid profiles and potentially favorable metabolic outcomes.
Unlike incretin therapies that primarily suppress appetite, INHBE-targeted drugs are being investigated for their potential ability to alter fat metabolism and body composition.
Leaderna’s LDR2515 received CDE clearance to begin clinical development in early 2026 and has subsequently entered a Phase 1 clinical trial. (dataclouds.cninfo.com.cn)
The program places Leaderna in an increasingly competitive field that includes several international and Chinese developers pursuing INHBE-targeted RNA therapeutics for obesity and metabolic disease.
LDR1259 Adds a New Hyperlipidemia Program
Leaderna reached another clinical milestone shortly before announcing the Series A+ financing.
On August 24, 2026, the company disclosed that the CDE had granted implied clinical-trial approval for LDR1259 injection, an investigational siRNA therapy for hyperlipidemia.
The clearance allows Leaderna to move another internally developed small nucleic acid candidate into human clinical testing. (vcbeathealth.com)
Hyperlipidemia represents a natural extension of Leaderna’s cardiometabolic strategy, complementing its hypertension and obesity programs and potentially allowing the company to build a broader RNA-based franchise targeting major cardiovascular risk factors.
Lipisense Partnership Adds ANGPTL4 Program
Leaderna also has a clinical-stage partnership with Swedish biotechnology company Lipigon Pharmaceuticals covering Lipisense, an oligonucleotide therapeutic targeting ANGPTL4.
The two companies entered a development and licensing agreement in 2023 giving Leaderna rights to develop and commercialize Lipisense in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau.
Under the agreement, Lipigon retained rights outside Greater China and became eligible for upfront and milestone payments plus royalties totaling as much as US$91 million. (attachment.news.eu.nasdaq.com)
The collaboration broadened Leaderna’s lipid-metabolism portfolio while providing the young company with an additional clinical-stage asset.
Leaderna’s Emerging Clinical Pipeline
| Candidate | Target | Indication | Development Status* |
|---|---|---|---|
| LDR2402 | AGT | Primary hypertension | Phase 2 |
| LDR2515 | INHBE | Obesity | Phase 1 |
| LDR1259 | Undisclosed publicly in announcement | Hyperlipidemia | IND cleared / entering clinical development |
| Lipisense | ANGPTL4 | Dyslipidemia / hypertriglyceridemia | Clinical stage |
| Additional programs | Multiple | Cardiometabolic / chronic diseases | Preclinical |
*Status based on publicly available information as of August 31, 2026. (news.10jqka.com.cn, synapse.zhihuiya.com)
Financing Builds on RMB 150 Million Round Earlier in 2026
The new Series A+ round follows substantial financing activity at Leaderna earlier this year.
In March 2026, the company completed a financing of approximately RMB 150 million, with investors including Tao Capital, Qishen Venture Capital, Jiale Capital, Chengdu Science and Technology Venture Capital Group, Xiamen Hi-Tech Venture Capital and HitGen, among others. (stock.stockstar.com)
HitGen had previously disclosed plans to invest RMB 24 million in Leaderna based on a pre-money valuation of RMB 450 million. The transaction was subsequently completed, with HitGen reporting in May that the capital contribution had been paid and the related corporate-registration changes completed. (paper.cnstock.com)
Leaderna had also raised nearly RMB 100 million in 2024, in a round led by Hygeia Capital and joined by CASSTAR, Chengdu Bio-Town Jingchuang and other investors. Those funds were likewise directed toward advancing the company’s oligonucleotide pipeline and expanding its R&D capabilities. (huaxuejia.cn)
The latest investment by Grand View Capital therefore adds another institutional healthcare investor as Leaderna moves deeper into clinical development.
From Platform Development to Clinical Execution
Leaderna’s Series A+ financing comes amid accelerating interest in RNAi and other oligonucleotide therapeutics in China, particularly as developers attempt to move the modality beyond rare diseases and liver-restricted targets into large chronic-disease markets.
Leaderna’s strategy is notable for concentrating on some of the world’s largest cardiometabolic markets.
Rather than competing only in established lipid-lowering applications, the company is simultaneously pursuing long-acting hypertension therapy through AGT silencing, obesity treatment through INHBE inhibition, additional lipid-lowering approaches and extrahepatic RNA delivery.
Its most important near-term value driver remains LDR2402.
Demonstrating that AGT silencing can safely provide sustained blood-pressure reduction with quarterly or potentially twice-yearly dosing would provide important clinical validation not only for the candidate but also for Leaderna’s broader approach to chronic disease.
At the same time, LDR2515 and LDR1259 are beginning to give the company a broader clinical pipeline rather than reliance on a single lead program.
The Series A+ proceeds should now help Leaderna accelerate that transition. Key milestones to watch include Phase 2 progress for LDR2402, initial clinical data from LDR2515, the clinical launch of LDR1259, and further validation of Leaderna’s extrahepatic delivery technology.
With three internally developed programs reaching or entering clinical development and new funding secured, Leaderna is emerging as another Chinese company to watch in the increasingly competitive global race to develop long-acting RNA medicines for common chronic diseases.
References
- Eastmoney / Jiemian News — Leaderna completes Series A+ financing, August 31, 2026
- Fineline Cube — Leaderna Therapeutics closes Series A+ led by Grand View Capital
- VCBeat — Leaderna financing record
- Shanghai Securities News — HitGen investment and Leaderna financing details
- Shanghai Securities News — Completion of HitGen’s investment in Leaderna
- VCBeat — LDR2402 clinical development for hypertension
- VCBeat — LDR1259 receives CDE implied approval
- Lipigon Pharmaceuticals — Development and licensing agreement with Leaderna for Lipisense
- HitGen — Leaderna pipeline and technology update
- Leaderna Therapeutics — Company website
