东方证券:小核酸实现长效减脂保肌 有望再塑减重市场
智通财经网·2026-01-15 04:05

Core Insights - Small nucleic acid drugs are emerging as potential leaders in the weight loss sector, shifting from merely "suppressing appetite" to "precisely regulating fat metabolism" [1][2] - The global weight loss market still has unmet needs despite the rapid uptake of GLP-1 drugs, which face issues such as rebound weight gain and gastrointestinal intolerance [2] - Domestic companies are quickly establishing small nucleic acid weight loss pipelines, focusing on targets, delivery platforms, and indications to unlock potential value in health weight loss and fatty liver disease [1][2] Group 1: INHBE Insights - INHBE, which encodes activin E, interacts with the ALK7 receptor in adipose tissue to inhibit fat breakdown, presenting a differentiated clinical value with strong drug development certainty [3] - Early clinical data for INHBE siRNA shows safety and efficacy in long-term fat loss while preserving muscle mass, with combined therapy yielding doubled weight loss and tripled visceral fat reduction compared to GLP-1 [3] - The GalNAc delivery system used for INHBE siRNA has proven clinical development certainty due to existing successful drugs like inclisiran [3] Group 2: ALK7 Insights - ALK7 siRNA requires a targeted delivery system to adipose tissue, with early clinical data indicating significant mRNA knockdown efficiency and sustained effects [4] - ARO-ALK7 demonstrated superior reduction in visceral fat compared to INHBE, with a 14.1% reduction observed at the 8-week mark after a single 200 mg dose [4] - The breakthrough in fat-targeted delivery systems is crucial for the competitive landscape of small nucleic acid drugs [4] Group 3: Investment Recommendations - Relevant investment targets include companies such as Heng Rui Medicine, Innovent Biologics, and others involved in small nucleic acid drugs [5] - The potential for small nucleic acid drugs in the weight loss market is significant, with various companies positioned to capitalize on this emerging trend [5]