CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. — February 11, 2026 — Leads & Copy —
Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDGL) has announced an exclusive global license agreement with Suzhou Ribo Life Science Co. Ltd. (Ribo) and its subsidiary Ribocure Pharmaceuticals AB (Ribocure) for six preclinical small interfering RNA (siRNA) programs. The agreement signifies Madrigal’s advancement in the metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) treatment landscape, expanding its pipeline to include more than 10 programs at various stages of development, anchored by Rezdiffra® (resmetirom) as a foundational treatment.
The company will develop next-generation siRNA therapies designed to silence genes implicated in MASH.
Madrigal’s Chief Executive Officer Bill Sibold stated that combination approaches and treatments tailored to genetic drivers of disease will be required to meet future patient needs in MASH. He added that Madrigal is uniquely positioned to shape the future treatment landscape in this rapidly expanding market. Sibold noted the company has grown from a single-product company launching the first medication for MASH to having a foundational therapy in Rezdiffra, a fully enrolled F4c outcomes study, and an industry-leading MASH pipeline with more than 10 programs targeting different drivers of the disease.
David Soergel, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Madrigal, said that the company’s R&D strategy is focused on developing innovative compounds targeting validated mechanisms of disease, so they can deliver better outcomes for more patients with MASH. Soergel noted that siRNAs are highly liver targeted, and there are several genes implicated in MASH that could be addressed with an mRNA-knockdown approach. He believes that the precision of siRNA gene silencing, combined with Rezdiffra, has the potential to create the next generation of MASH treatment: genetically targeted therapies for patients with unmet needs.
In addition to the Phase 3 study of Rezdiffra in compensated MASH cirrhosis (F4c), Madrigal’s MASH pipeline includes:
MGL-2086, an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist entering first-in-human studies in the second quarter of 2026.
Ervogastat, a Phase 2 oral DGAT-2 inhibitor. The Company plans to conduct a drug-to-drug interaction study with Rezdiffra and consult with the FDA on the design of a Phase 2 combination trial this year.
Six innovative siRNA programs, providing the potential for a genetically targeted treatment approach.
Additional exploratory assets in various stages of development.
siRNAs offer a precision approach to gene silencing in MASH by selectively reducing the production of disease-driving proteins. When linked to a GalNAc ligand, siRNA molecules are delivered directly into hepatocytes, where they silence genes that have been identified as key risk factors for MASH by breaking down targeted mRNA. By pairing this precise gene-silencing approach with Rezdiffra, the company aims to explore whether reducing drivers of disease at the genetic level can complement Rezdiffra’s therapeutic effects. IND-enabling activities in initial candidates will begin in 2026.
Under the agreement, Ribo has granted Madrigal an exclusive global license to develop, manufacture and commercialize six siRNA compounds. Ribo will receive an upfront payment of US $60 million, and cumulative payments across the programs could reach US $4.4 billion if certain milestones are achieved, as well as royalties on net sales.
MASH, formerly known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is a serious liver disease that can progress to cirrhosis, liver failure, liver cancer, need for liver transplantation and premature mortality. MASH is the leading cause of liver transplantation in women and the second leading cause of all liver transplantation in the U.S., and the fastest-growing indication for liver transplantation in Europe.
Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDGL) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on delivering therapeutics for MASH. Madrigal’s medication, Rezdiffra (resmetirom), is a once-daily, oral, liver-directed THR-β agonist designed to target key underlying causes of MASH. Rezdiffra is the first and only medication approved by both the FDA and European Commission for the treatment of MASH with moderate to advanced fibrosis (F2 to F3). An ongoing Phase 3 outcomes trial is evaluating Rezdiffra for the treatment of compensated MASH cirrhosis (F4c).
Source: Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
