21 Sep 2023
Sirnaomics Group Moves into Hong Kong Science Park to Jointly Write a New Chapter for Biomedicine Development in Hong Kong
Key Takeaways
- The strategic partnership between the Sirnaomics Group and HKSTP leverages the Group’s leading position in RNAi therapeutics and Hong Kong’s inherent strengths to bridge connections with the mainland market and facilitate the Company’s global expansion, and to inject fresh momentum into Hong Kong’s innovation and technology development.
- Sirnaomics previously received funding from HKSTP’s Clinical Translational Catalyst programme for the clinical trial of STP122G, an anticoagulant therapeutic. This support enables the translation of cutting-edge research into practical medical advancements, benefiting patients with substantial unmet needs in anticoagulant disorders.
- The presence of the Sirnaomics Group and its two US subsidiaries, RNAimmune and EDIRNA, at the Hong Kong Science Park underscores Hong Kong’s unwavering commitment to innovation, technological advancement, and healthcare development excellence.
Photo 1: Ms Lillian Cheong, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR, said, “I am delighted to witness the landing of Sirnaomics Group together with its two US-based subsidiaries, RNAimmune and EDIRNA, in Hong Kong. This serves as a testament to Hong Kong’s attractiveness and competitiveness to overseas high potential life and health technology companies. The Sirnaomics Group has started their initial clinical trials in HK that would address highly unmet medically needs in Asia. Hong Kong has a vibrant biotech ecosystem which is conducive to the growth of life and health tech-related companies and currently, we are Asia’s largest and the world’s second largest fundraising hub for biotech companies. With Hong Kong’s edge including strong research capabilities and originality and the Government’s strong commitment to I&T development, Hong Kong is a place where you can leverage the significant advantage in I&T development, and I would like to invite you all to share this good I&T story with you friends and business partners.”
Photo 2: Mr Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP, said, “The presence of the Sirnaomics Group and its two US subsidiaries, RNAimmune and EDIRNA, at the Hong Kong Science Park underscores Hong Kong’s unwavering commitment to innovation, technological advancement, and healthcare development excellence. Hong Kong's strategic location, world-class infrastructure, and dynamic business environment make it the ideal innovation and technology hub for visionary companies to thrive and make a significant global impact. With a vision to improve human health through leading-edge RNA technologies and scientific excellence, Sirnaomics is revolutionising disease treatment. Committed to establishing Hong Kong as Asia's premier RNA medicine harbour, Sirnaomics is actively engaging in comprehensive collaborations with local academic and industry partners. This will undoubtedly catalyse the development of RNA therapeutics in Hong Kong.”
Photo 3: Dr Grace Lau, Head of ITR of HKSTP, said, “I am pleased to witness the progressive establishment of the R&D centres and offices of these three companies in Science Park since the start of this year. This move will undoubtedly bolster Hong Kong’s RNA therapeutics and precision medicine development. As RNA therapy technologies continue to advance, we hope Sirnaomics Group will strengthen its collaborations with Hong Kong’s academics, industry and regulators to facilitate the translation of research into safe and effective treatments. This will ensure that more patients can benefit from these innovative therapies.”
Photo 4: Dr Patrick Lu, Founder, Executive Director, and CEO of Sirnaomics, said, “Augmenting our presence in new drug development across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area fortifies the Group’s development strategy in the Asia Pacific region. Hong Kong Science Park is a hub of outstanding talent and thriving academic innovation that provides unique geographical advantages for integrating resources from across the Greater Bay Area and internationally. As a global leader in RNA therapeutics, we are delighted to join the Hong Kong Science Park and establish a strategic hub with our subsidiaries. This will contribute to the accelerated development and enhanced international influence of nucleic acid drugs, vaccines, and industrialisation in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.”
Photo 5: Dr Dong Shen, M.D., President and CEO of RNAimmune, said, “The move into Hong Kong Science Park marks a milestone in RNAimmune’s global strategic expansion because the region has placed significant emphasis on innovation and technology development in recent years. As a pioneering company in mRNA vaccine and drug R&D, RNAimmune will become part of Hong Kong’s blueprint for biopharma globalisation, aiming to address the substantial unmet needs in treating infectious diseases, cancer and rare diseases.”
Photo 6: Mr Christopher W. Kennedy, President and CEO of EDIRNA, said, “We are tremendously grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Hong Kong Science Park to fulfil our mission to empower innovation and technology advancement in Hong Kong. We also aim to address unmet medical needs in diseases prevalent in the Asia Pacific and develop novel RNA editing therapies specifically aimed at treating genetic diseases, cancers, and other clinical needs with insufficient treatment options.”