Sirius has joined the race to develop China’s first homegrown RNAi therapy and is backing its assets’ potential in chronic cardiovascular disorders, including possible once-yearly dosing, the venture’s CEO tells Scrip in an interview.

Sintbilo (tafolecimab) is the first among four late-stage domestically developed PCSK9 Inhibitors to win the nod from China’s drug regulator. Despite lack of public reimbursement coverage, the drug could potentially unseat same-class rivals from Amgen and Sanofi/Regeneron.