Innostellar Biotherapeutics Secures B+ Financing Led by Shanghai Biomedical Industry Fund to Advance Gene Therapy R&D and Industrialization
Innostellar Biotherapeutics
Innovative Gene Therapy Drug Research, Development, and Manufacturing
On June 11, Innostellar Biotherapeutics, an innovative gene therapy pharmaceutical company, announced the completion of its B+ round of financing. This round was led by the Shanghai Biomedical Industry Fund, with follow-on investments from shareholders such as United Investment.
Innostellar Biotherapeutics was founded in 2020,Committed to the research, development, and manufacturing of innovative gene therapy drugs.Since its establishment, Innostellar Biotherapeutics has built a GMP-compliant, scalable platform process for AAV production, with the capability to develop high-yield, high-quality gene therapy products at a controllable cost. This round of financing will further accelerate Innostellar Biotherapeutics' research and industrialization process in the field of innovative gene therapy drugs.
Currently, the company has advanced 5 candidate molecules into clinical trials, taking the lead in conducting gene therapy clinical research in 3 indications of blinding eye diseases, and obtained 3 INDs.。Among them, the first pipeline, LX101, for treating RPE65 mutation-associated inherited retinal dystrophy (IRD), has entered Phase III clinical trials; the second pipeline, LX102, for treating wet age-related macular degeneration, has entered Phase II clinical trials; and the third pipeline, LX103, for treating X-linked retinoschisis, has completed an IIT trial involving six patients, showing significant safety and efficacy.
▲Clinical Trial Patient Dosing
Innostellar Biotherapeutics has been dedicated to the field of gene therapy for hereditary and chronic eye diseases for many years, and has developed a foundation for the research and industrialization technology of multiple pipeline products., and closely cooperate with clinical medical scientists from well-known hospitals both in China and internationally, focusing on enhancing innovation capabilities. We look forward to developing gene therapy products more efficiently, promoting their clinical application, and benefiting patients.
▲ Innostellar Biotherapeutics Research and Development Laboratory
Wang Fenghua, founder and CEO of Innostellar Biotherapeutics, said:"Thanks to the recognition and support from Shanghai BioPharmaceutical Fund and Unity Investment, this round of financing will further strengthen our R&D and production capabilities in the gene therapy field, and accelerate the clinical research and industrialization process of innovative drugs. We are committed to providing more patients with efficient, safe, and affordable treatment solutions through technological innovation, making the rare visible and restarting the healthy life of patients with genetic and chronic diseases."
Liu Dawei, President of Shanghai Biomedical Fund, said:"CGT innovative therapies have broad application prospects in the field of rare diseases and even common diseases. We believe that China, relying on advantages such as efficient clinical transformation, possesses global industrial competitiveness in this field. Therefore, CGT innovative therapies are one of the key areas for fund allocation. Innostellar Biotherapeutics leverages the research accumulation and clinical resources in ophthalmology from Shanghai First People's Hospital (Shanghai Clinical Medical Research Center for Gene Therapy) to continuously advance its ophthalmic gene therapy pipeline. The team’s high execution efficiency has achieved domestic firsts in the clinical progress of multiple pipelines. Its core pipeline, used for treating wet age-related macular degeneration, marks the first time gene therapy has been applied to a common ophthalmic disease, targeting a population in the millions. The development progress is leading, with excellent clinical data. We will fully explore the potential for transforming ophthalmic gene therapy research results in Shanghai and provide long-term support for Innostellar Biotherapeutics' local clinical development and future international expansion."
Shen Siyu, General Manager of the Third Investment Department of United Investment, stated:"United Investment's global biopharmaceutical investment strategy has always been patient-centric and clinically value-oriented. Innostellar Biotherapeutics' team, with their rigorous scientific approach, extensive clinical experience, and efficient execution capabilities, has developed multiple innovative gene therapies for ophthalmic patients, bringing new 'hope of light' to those suffering from blinding eye diseases. Currently, Innostellar Biotherapeutics ranks first in China in the clinical progress of several R&D pipelines, with outstanding clinical data performance. For example, the rescue treatment rate of their product for wet age-related macular degeneration is 0%, significantly outperforming other similar global competitors. We understand that the development cycle for innovative drugs is long, fraught with unforeseen challenges and high risks, especially so for gene therapies. Therefore, we will continue to support the long-term development of Innostellar Biotherapeutics, advancing these products that bring 'hope of light' to patients into real-world clinical applications."”
