BioCentury This Week Ep. 348 - Biotech's 2026 Catalysts. Plus: China's New Orphan Rules
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Feb 3, 2026 Simone Fishburn, geopolitics and life‑sciences policy commentator; Selena Koch, editorial strategist on industry trends; Steve Usdin, policy and regulatory analyst; Lauren Martz, biopharma intelligence lead on RNA and renal. They unpack RNAi and antisense as 2026 catalysts. They cover cardiovascular Lp(a) trials, renal and neuromuscular readouts, obesity launches, and China’s new orphan drug exclusivity rule.
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RNA Therapies Span Many Late-Stage Trials
- Ten phase III trials of antisense or siRNA across diverse indications will read out in 2026, spanning neuromuscular, renal and musculoskeletal diseases.
- The breadth of indications highlights RNA modalities moving from niche to mainstream therapeutic tools.
Next-Gen Exon Skipping Raises Expectations
- Next-generation exon-skipping therapies show higher exon skipping and dystrophin expression than earlier versions.
- Improved molecular performance could change outcomes for DMD patients and complement gene therapies.
IGA Nephropathy Set A Regulatory Template
- IGA nephropathy regulatory precedent — approval via proteinuria as a surrogate — created a clear development pathway and spurred multiple programs.
- That pathway enabled five approvals in five years and continues to accelerate renal pipelines.