中国南通,2025年12月12日 —— 作为小激活RNA(saRNA)治疗领域的开拓者,中美瑞康(Ractigen Therapeutics)今日宣布,其自主研发的saRNA候选药物RAG-18在中国医学科学院北京协和医院开展的研究者发起临床试验(IIT)中已成功完成首例患者给药。这一里程碑事件标志着杜氏肌营养不良症(DMD)治疗领域可能迎来变革性的突破。作为一款有望改变疾病进程的颠覆性疗法,RAG-18利用独特的saRNA机制,将为所有DMD患者提供一种革命性的通用治疗方案,彻底重塑该疾病的治疗格局。
本次 IIT 研究由北京协和医院神经科副主任、神经肌肉病领域知名专家戴毅教授牵头主持。研究核心目标在于系统评估 RAG-18 在 DMD 患者中的安全性与药代动力学特征,同时深入探索该药物改善患者肌肉功能的临床潜力。戴毅教授在谈及此项研究时表示:“RAG-18 采用前沿的 RNA 激活(RNAa) 技术路线,为 DMD 治疗提供了全新的作用机制。我们对启动这项临床试验充满期待,希望潜在积极的临床数据能为患者开辟创新治疗路径,提升他们的生活质量,为无数受 DMD 困扰的家庭带来希望。”
(北京协和医院戴毅教授团队)
中美瑞康创始人/CEO李龙承博士表示:“RAG-18 IIT研究的启动,是该候选药物研发进程中的关键节点,充分彰显了其在突破DMD治疗瓶颈方面的独特价值。值得关注的是,RAG-18有望覆盖所有类型基因突变导致的DMD,这不仅验证了RNA激活技术在临床转化中的革命性潜力,更为以往缺乏有效治疗手段的多种疾病领域提供了全新的解决思路。”
关于RAG-18
RAG-18是一款首创作用机制的双链saRNA药物,通过RNA激活机制特异性靶向激活肌肉细胞中UTRN基因表达。由UTRN基因编码的肌营养不良蛋白(Utrophin)在结构和功能上与抗肌萎缩蛋白(Dystrophin)相似,它的上调可以功能性替代DMD肌肉细胞中缺失的抗肌萎缩蛋白,从而治疗所有突变类型的DMD和BMD患者。
临床前研究表明,采用中美瑞康自主开发的小核酸递送系统LiCO™,RAG-18能够显著激活骨骼肌的UTRN表达,减轻DMD模型小鼠的肌肉损伤和改善肌肉功能,显示出在治疗DMD患者方面的潜力。此前在2024年,该药物已成功获得美国食品药品监督管理局(FDA)授予的孤儿药资格(ODD)与罕见儿科疾病资格(RPDD),这两项资格的获批,既是国际权威监管机构对RAG-18治疗DMD临床价值的高度认可,也将为其后续在美开展临床试验、加速上市进程提供政策支持。
关于DMD
杜氏肌营养不良症(DMD)是一种严重的X染色体隐性遗传病,由编码抗肌蛋白的DMD基因突变引起。这种疾病主要影响男性儿童,患者通常在3至5岁时首次显示出肌肉炎症、纤维化和运动能力下降等症状。如果不进行治疗,多数患者将在20岁之前失去独立行走能力,并可能在30岁之前因心肌和膈肌(呼吸肌)衰竭而死亡。DMD的全球发病率约为每3600至6000名新生男婴中有一例,中国的患者数量约为70,000人。目前针对DMD的治疗方法包括反义寡核苷酸(ASO)介导的外显子跳跃、基因治疗和基因编辑,但这些疗法的效果非常有限,因此在DMD药物开发方面仍存在巨大的临床需求。
关于RNA激活
RNA激活是中美瑞康创始人李龙承博士及其团队在国际上开创,并已经过临床验证的平台技术。该技术利用靶向基因启动子区域的双链RNA来激活基因表达,以恢复治疗性蛋白的水平。RNA激活技术是制药领域十分稀缺的平台技术,在药物开发上具有广阔的应用前景,包括遗传性疾病、慢性疾病、代谢性疾病、心脑血管疾病、肿瘤等。
中美瑞康
Ractigen Therapeutics
中美瑞康(Ractigen Therapeutics)是一家临床阶段的生物制药公司,致力于开发突破性小核酸药物与疾病治疗方法。中美瑞康是全球少数同时掌握有肝内与肝外递送的小核酸药企之一,开发出了具有独立自主知识产权的SCAD™、LiCO™及GLORY™等多个具有国际领先水平的小核酸药物递送平台技术。基于RNA激活技术和自主开发的Smart-TTC saRNA药物开发平台,公司建立了具有高度差异化的小核酸药物管线,适应症涵盖神经退行性疾病、神经肌肉疾病、肿瘤、代谢与血液系统疾病等,为诸多疾病领域中无法成药的靶点、无法治愈的疾病提供创新型治疗方案。详情请访问官网www.ractigen.com。
Ractigen Therapeutics Doses First Patient in IIT Study of RAG-18, a Potential Game-Changing saRNA Therapeutic for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
NANTONG, China, December 12, 2025 – Ractigen Therapeutics, a pioneering developer of small activating RNA (saRNA) therapeutics, today announced the successful dosing of the first patient in its investigator-initiated trial (IIT) of RAG-18 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in Beijing. This milestone marks a transformative moment in the fight against Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), positioning RAG-18 as a potential game-changer for the field. By utilizing a novel saRNA mechanism to upregulate UTRN expression, RAG-18 represents a revolutionary therapeutic approach that aims to overcome the limitations of current treatments and could provide a universal solution benefiting all patients affected by this devastating condition.
The IIT is led by Professor Dai Yi, a distinguished expert in neuromuscular disorders and the Deputy Director of the Neurology Department at PUMCH. The study aims to assess RAG-18's safety and pharmacokinetic profile while exploring its potential to improve muscle function in DMD patients. Professor Dai stated, “We are excited to begin this clinical trial with RAG-18, a cutting-edge therapeutic approach for treating DMD. We anticipate positive clinical results that could open up new, innovative treatment options for patients and significantly improve their quality of life.”
Dr. Long-Cheng Li, the Founder and CEO of Ractigen Therapeutics, shared his enthusiasm about the trial, stating, “Starting this study is a crucial step forward for RAG-18, emphasizing its unique role in overcoming the challenges of DMD. This treatment has the potential to address all genetic mutations related to DMD, illustrating RNA activation (RNAa) technology as a revolutionary method in clinical practice and offering hope for previously untreatable conditions.”
About RAG-18 RAG-18 is a first of its kind saRNA candidate designed to specifically target and activate UTRN gene expression in muscle cells via RNAa mechanism. The utrophin protein encoded by the UTRN gene is structurally and functionally similar to dystrophin, and its upregulation could potentially serve as a functional replacement for the missing dystrophin in DMD muscle cells, providing treatment for all DMD patients regardless of the specific mutation location.
Preclinical data indicate that RAG-18, delivered utilizing Ractigen’s proprietary LiCO™ (lipid-conjugated oligonucleotide) technology, has effectively upregulated UTRN expression, mitigated muscle damage and improved muscle function, demonstrating significant potential in treating DMD patients. RAG-18 received Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) and Rare Pediatric Disease Designation (RPDD) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2024, underscoring its promise as a therapeutic option for patients with DMD.
About DMD Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) are severe genetic disorders caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, leading to the absence or insufficiency of functional dystrophin protein. This protein is essential for muscle fiber stability. Without it, muscle cells are easily damaged and cannot repair themselves, resulting in progressive muscle weakness and degeneration. The dystrophin gene, the largest in the human body, contains 79 exons. Current disease-modifying therapeutic approaches for DMD include antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) mediated exon skipping, gene therapy, and gene editing, with exon skipping being the most common strategy. However, these treatments have significant limitations, highlighting the critical need for innovative therapies that target the root cause of DMD to provide more effective and long-lasting benefits for patients.
About RNAa RNA activation is a clinically validated platform technology developed by Dr. Long-Cheng Li and his team. It utilizes saRNAs to target gene regulatory domains, activating gene expression and restoring therapeutic protein levels. This innovative technology holds vast potential for developing therapeutic drugs across various diseases, particularly where traditional methods fall short.
About Ractigen Therapeutics Ractigen Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company innovating next-generation RNA therapeutics, with a primary focus on small activating RNAs (saRNAs) developed through its clinically validated RNA activation (RNAa) technology. Leveraging proprietary delivery platforms such as SCAD™, LiCO™, and GLORY™, Ractigen is advancing a robust pipeline addressing unmet medical needs in oncology, neurological diseases, and genetic disorders. Its versatile technologies also enable the rapid development of RNA-based solutions, including siRNAs, where applicable, to target life-threatening, fast-progressing conditions such as those in the CNS. Committed to scientific excellence and patient-centered innovation, Ractigen strives to transform healthcare through the power of RNA therapeutics. For more information, visit www.ractigen.com.