Nine Chinese Cell Therapy Companies Secure New Funding Rounds and Advance Toward IPO

Jun 19, 2024 15:14 CST Updated 15:14

HRYZ

Immune Cell Therapy Developer

Huadao Biopharma

Developer and Manufacturer of Cell-Based Immunotherapy Drugs

▎WuXi AppTec Content Team Report

According to the Immediate Drug Database, as of June 18, there were over 400 financing cases in the global innovative drug sector in the first half of 2024. In terms of financing rounds, early-stage financing (before Series B) accounted for 202 cases, representing 48.9%.In terms of research areas, small molecule drugs, cell and gene therapies, and antibody-based drugs are the three fields with the most financing events.

In China, a total of 86 financing events occurred in the first half of 2024, among whichThe field of cell therapy (excluding gene therapy) is also one of the key focuses of the industry. According to incomplete statistics, since 2024, there have been more than ten financing cases in China's cell therapy sector. By reviewing the product pipelines and research areas of these companies, we have identified the following characteristics.：

In terms of drug types, the products developed by these companiesIncludingIn vivo CAR-T therapy, CAR-NK therapy, CAR-M therapy,TCR-T Therapy,Multi-Antigen Autologous Immune Cell Injection (MASCT),Stem Cell Therapyetc., among whichMultiple Companies Are Developing Universal Cell Therapies, to address the currentAutologous CellsPain points such as long cycles and limited accessibility faced in therapy treatment；
From the perspective of disease areas, the industry is striving to expand the therapeutic boundaries of cell therapies, which involve not only common indications but also...Hematological tumors, solid tumors,Also,PaParkinson's disease, Systemic lupus erythematosusAnd other diseases;

The following will share 9 of themCell Therapy in ChinaBasic Information of New锐 Company, for Reader's Reference Only。Scan the end of the articleQR code to access the list of "Chinese Innovative Drug Companies with Financing Amounts Exceeding 100 Million Yuan in the First Half of 2024."

Hengrui Yuanzheng

Financing Round:C3 Round

On January 9, Hengrui Yuanzheng announced the completionNearly 100 Million Yuan in C3 Round FinancingThis round was led by the original investor Zijin Harbor Capital, with follow-up investments from other investors including Zhongke Sci-Tech Innovation and other institutions. Hengrui YuanzhengHengrui Yuanzheng (Shanghai) Biotechnology Co., Ltd.EstablishmentIn 2015,Founded by Hengrui Medicine and Shenzhen Yuanzheng Cell Medical Technology Co., Ltd.,Focus on solid tumor cell therapy.

Currently,Hengrui YuanzhengHas been developed for patients with advanced solid tumorsMultiple product pipelines, includingMulti-Antigen Autologous Immune Cell Injection (MASCT), TCR-T Therapy, TCR Bispecific AntibodyWait, several products have entered the clinical trial stage. According toHengrui Yuanzheng Official Website: The active components of MASCT include mature autologous dendritic cells (DC cells) loaded with 15 types of tumor-associated antigens, as well as autologous effector T lymphocytes activated and expanded by the aforementioned DC cells. Sequential treatment with these two components can eliminate tumors.

HuaDao CAR-Tcell

Financing Round: D+1 Round

News on February 23: HuaDao CAR-Tcell announced that it has recently completed the D+1 round of financing and officially launched the D+2 round of financing. HuaDao CAR-Tcell was established in 2017.Mainly engaged in cellular immunotherapy, with a particular focus on the development and innovation of cell-based therapeutics. According to a press release from HuaDao CAR-Tcell,The company has received clinical trial implied permission from the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of the China National Medical Products Administration for three CAR-T candidate drugs in 2023.The indications involved include relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, adult patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

Kunshi Biotechnology

Financing Round: Pre-A Round

On February 26, ROC ROCK Biotechnology announced the completion of a Pre-A round of financing worth tens of millions of RMB. This round was led by Guozhu Capital under Ronghui Group, with continued additional investment from Deshi Capital. ROC ROCK Biotechnology was founded in April 2021.Focus on promoting the industrialization of macrophage drugs in the field of targeted solid tumors。

According to the news release from Kunshi Biotechnology, the company's product pipeline covers indications for many different types of solid tumors. Among them, the core productRR-M01 is a third-generation chimeric antigen receptor macrophage drug (CAR-M) developed independently.The proposed indications for development include HER2-positive recurrent/refractory solid tumors such as ovarian cancer, gastric cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, lung cancer, and pancreatic cancer.

Huixin Medical Valley

Financing Round: Pre-A Round

News on February 26: Huixin Yiguo announced the completion of a pre-A round of financing worth tens of millions of RMB. This round of financing was led by Beichuang Investment, with Jiuzhi Capital following up. Huixin Yiguo was established in July 2021.ToDedicated to applying induced neural stem cell (iNSC) technology in drug research for neurological diseases and the development of innovative therapies.。

The first pipeline under research by Huixin Medical Valley is an injection of dopaminergic neural precursor cells (iNSC-DAP) derived from iNSCs, which is being developed forParkinson's DiseaseThe treatment. The candidate drug, administered via intracranial injection, can replace and supplement necrotic dopaminergic neurons, achieving physiological secretion of dopamine in the brain. This is expected to result in a single transplantation with long-term effectiveness, alleviating symptoms and halting disease progression.

Xianbo Biotechnology

Financing Round:A+Wheel

News on March 11: SinoBio announced the completion of a 200 million RMB A+ round of financing. This round of financing was led byYou Mountain CapitalLeading investment,Yuanhe Origin, Pudao Capital, Guochuang QinzhiFollow-up Investment.Xianbo BiotechnologyFounded in 2019, focusing on the development of innovative immunocyte therapies.

Xianbo BiotechnologyThe FirstCAR-NK Product PipelineSNC103 has already achieved positive results in the investigator-initiated clinical research (IIT) phase, andApproved for clinical trials in China this February, intended for development in treatmentModerate to Severe Refractory Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. The companyAnother R&DCarrying Two CAR MoleculesTheDual CAR-T Cell TherapySNC109 has also been approved for clinical trials in China and has been granted by the U.S. FDAOrphan Drug Designation, used for treatmentMalignant Glioma。

YueSai Bio

Financing Round: Series A

April 3,YueSai Bio announces completionOver 100 Million Yuan in Series A Financing。YueSai Bio was founded inIn 2021,Dedicated to developing a new generation of cell therapy drugs based on human pluripotent stem cell technology, in order to provide innovative cell therapy solutions for patients with neurodegenerative diseases, rare diseases, and cancer. According toYuSai Biotech Official Website Information,The company has now developed multiple product pipelines, includingMidbrain dopaminergic neuron precursor cells, GABAergic neuron precursor cells, GABA intermediate neuron precursor cells, spinal cord neuron precursor cellsetc., involvingParkinson's Disease, Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy, Epilepsy, Spinal Cord InjuryIndications such as...

YiZun Bio

Financing Round:A+Round

On April 15, Yizun Biotechnology announced the completion of nearly 100 million yuan in A+ round financing. Yizun Biotechnology, established in 2018, is an emerging immunotherapy company specializing in treatments for solid tumors and allogeneic universal cell technology. According to the Yizun Biotechnology official website, currentlyThe company's product pipeline includes 6 candidate drugs.The indications covered include liver cancer, colorectal cancer, acute myeloid leukemia, kidney cancer, lung cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer.

In May 2024, Yi尊 Biologics submitted the IND application for its self-developed CNK-UT002 cell injection to the CDE and received acceptance. According to the company's press release, the CNK-UT002 cell injection utilizes the company’s CNK-UT technology.The same CNK-UT cell product can achieve killing effects on various tumor cells, including liver cancer, melanoma, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, renal cancer, and pancreatic cancer.。

Shire Biologics
Financing Round:Pre-A Round

News on May 22,Siling Biotech Completes Pre-A Round Financing Worth Tens of MillionsThis round of investment was exclusively provided by Saima Capital. Public information shows that Xilin Biotechnology was established in 2023 and is committed to the research and development of new anti-cancer drugs. Currently, the company's product pipeline involvesResearch on Tumor and Immune Mechanisms, Efficient Expansion of "Off-the-Shelf" Immune Cell Drugs, precision gene diagnosis, and other fields. Siling Biotech hopes to develop treatments for malignant solid tumors.SuddenGroundbreaking new therapy.

Jiyin Biotechnology
Financing Round:Angel+ Round

News on May 15,Jiyin Biotech Announces Completion of Tens of Millions of Yuan in Angel+ Round FinancingThis round was exclusively invested by Tianchuang Capital. JiYin Biotechnology was founded in July 2021.Dedicated to Developing Universal Cell Therapies for Cancer PatientsAccording to the press release from Jiyin Biotechnology, the company'sIn Vivo CAR-T Therapy DrugCompleted preclinical studies and is actively promoting investigator-initiated clinical trials (IIT). Compared with traditionalCAR-T therapy needs to be generated in vitro firstCAR-T CellsDifferent from reinfusion into the patient's body,In Vivo CAR-T TherapyWhat is infused into the patient is not the finished CAR-T cell product, but a "guide" that transforms the patient's own T cells into CAR-T, thus achieving the desired effect.Cost Reduction and Efficiency Enhancement Effects.

Summary

According to IQVIA's recently released "Current Status and Future Development Trends of Cell and Gene TherapiesResearch Report", the industry's confidence and interest in cell and gene therapies continue to grow, and emerging companies have become a source of innovation.IQVIAThe report believes that the future development of the cell and gene therapy industry depends on the progress of eight indicators: R&D activities, regulatory approvals, patient accessibility, long-term efficacy and safety of therapies, etc.The report also predicted that with the acceleration of regulatory reviews, and the potential of cell and gene therapies beyond oncology gaining attention,，In the future, more than 12 cell and gene therapies may be approved globally each year, with half of these therapies treating diseases outside the field of oncology.。

In addition to the aforementioned companies, many other Chinese innovative drug companies also announced financing progress in the first half of this year.，Due to space limitations, this article will not introduce them one by one. It is hoped that with the support of capital, these biopharmaceutical companies can accelerate the R&D progress of candidate drugs and bring new treatment options to the vast number of patients as soon as possible.

Scan the QR code below, you will be able to obtain"Chinese Innovative Drug Companies with Financing Amounts Exceeding 100 Million Yuan in the First Half of 2024"List (Time-limited free download).

References:
[1] Public information and official press releases from various companies.

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Nine Chinese Cell Therapy Companies Secure New Funding Rounds and Advance Toward IPO

HRYZ

Huadao Biopharma

▎WuXi AppTec Content Team Report

References:[1] Public information and official press releases from various companies.

References:
[1] Public information and official press releases from various companies.