BioSOS Completes Tens of Millions RMB Series B+ Financing to Accelerate Its Innovative Pipeline for Neurological Disorders

VCBeat learned第一时间 that Baixi Ousi (Beijing) Biological Technology Co., Ltd. ("Baixi Ousi") recently announced the completion of a multi-million RMB B+ round of financing led by Green Pine Capital, with participation from Xiamen Hi-tech Angel Investment Co., Ltd. and Cheng Du Sheng Nuo Biotec Co.,ltd. The existing shareholder, Beijing Science Sun Pharmaceutical Co.Ltd., continued to increase its investment. The funds raised in this round will be used to advance the clinical Phase II trial of BXOS110, a Class 1 innovative drug for treating ischemic stroke, and to file IND applications for two other Class 1 innovative drugs, BXOS116 and BXOS401, which are aimed at neural repair and regeneration during the stroke recovery period.

With the increasing degree of aging in China and changes in people's lifestyles, China has become one of the countries with the highest incidence of stroke in the world. Stroke has now become the leading cause of death among Chinese citizens and the disease with the highest single-cause disability rate. Stroke is divided into two main categories: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke, with ischemic stroke being the most common type, accounting for 70%-80% of all strokes. Ischemic stroke is caused by blockages in cerebral blood vessels, interrupting the blood supply, oxygen, and nutrients to brain tissue, resulting in irreversible damage to the brain. It also leads to a series of cognitive, motor, and emotional disorders in patients, severely affecting their quality of life and placing a tremendous burden on society and families.

In China, a new stroke patient occurs every 12 seconds. According to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data, in 2019, there were 3.94 million new stroke cases in China, with the total number of stroke patients reaching 28.76 million, and the number of stroke-related deaths at 2.19 million. Under the new treatment model for stroke that combines "vascular recanalization + neuroprotection," sales of neuroprotective agents reached nearly 18 billion yuan in 2022, and the market size is expected to reach nearly 33 billion yuan by 2030.

The Trend of Stroke Incidence in China Shows: The Overall Incidence Tends to be Stable, While the Incidence of Ischemic Stroke is Significantly Increasing. According to the National Stroke Registry Study, the 1-year recurrence rate of acute stroke patients in China is 17.7%, and the cumulative recurrence rate over 5 years exceeds 30%. Recurrence in stroke patients can exacerbate existing neurological dysfunction, cause disability, and significantly increase mortality.

At the onset of ischemic stroke, the first choice of treatment is to immediately administer tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) thrombolytic therapy to restore blood flow by reopening the blocked vessels. With each minute of prolonged cerebral ischemic injury, millions of brain cells may undergo irreversible death, significantly impacting the patient's prognosis. With advancements in medical technology, the "time window" for treating ischemic stroke can be extended to 3-4.5 hours, and in certain cases, even up to 6 hours. However, cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury following thrombolysis continues to severely affect the overall treatment outcomes for ischemic stroke. Moreover, due to the irreversible nature of neuronal cell death, many patients experience poor outcomes despite undergoing thrombolytic therapy, often suffering from severe "sequelae" such as aphasia and hemiplegia, which drastically reduce the quality of life for both patients and their families, leading to a series of social and familial issues. Implementing measures to protect damaged neurons after ischemic stroke can delay irreversible neuronal death and reduce reperfusion injury post-thrombolysis, thereby improving treatment efficacy.

Over the past few decades, scientists have been relentlessly exploring neuroprotective agents to improve the treatment outcomes of ischemic stroke. Research on these neuroprotective drugs has primarily focused on glutamate antagonists, immunomodulatory factors, inflammatory factor antagonists, ion channel modulators, free radical scavengers, and neurotrophic substances, achieving significant progress in cellular and animal model experiments. However, the results of clinical trials for these drugs have been disappointing. The large unmet market demand makes the development of new mechanism-based neuroprotective and reparative agents, as well as clinical breakthroughs, particularly crucial.

Baixi Ousi (Beijing) Biological Technology Co., Ltd. is a national high-tech enterprise specializing in the field of neurological diseases, and has received multiple honors and qualifications such as a national-level technology-based small and medium-sized enterprise and a Beijing specialized, refined, unique, and innovative small and medium-sized enterprise. The company focuses on the prevention and treatment of neurological damage throughout the entire disease cycle of stroke, neuroprotection for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, brain edema, and nerve repair, all of which have significant unmet clinical needs. The company possesses small molecule and peptide drug research and development platforms, in vitro molecular and cellular level drug screening platforms, and in vivo animal level efficacy evaluation platforms, with a complete system for drug design, screening, evaluation, CMC, and clinical research. The core R&D team of Baixi Ousi consists of several members from the former Academy of Military Medical Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and overseas doctoral teams, with profound expertise in peptide and small molecule drug design and screening, pharmacology, and toxicology evaluation.

Baixi Ousi’s leading pipeline for neuroprotective agents in acute ischemic stroke is a novel, effective, and safe neurocyte protector. It has implemented multi-angle and multi-level patent layouts globally and has obtained 36 domestic and international invention patents (including 11 European effective national patents). Currently, there are no similar products available on the global market. This product is part of the "13th Five-Year Plan" National Major Special Project for New Drug Development, having completed Phase I clinical trials and successfully entered Phase II clinical trials. It has become the second-most advanced candidate drug internationally and the first domestically in terms of the same target research progress. Its efficacy and safety are significantly superior to international counterparts, making it the strongest contender for the "best-in-class drug" internationally. The principal investigator (PI) is Professor Wang Yongjun, an internationally renowned expert in the field of cerebrovascular disease, recipient of the highest achievement award in the world stroke field—the "President's Award" (WSO), and the president of Beijing Tiantan Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University. Additionally, the company has multiple product pipelines in the fields of stroke and cerebral edema treatment that can be submitted for IND applications successively. The company is committed to developing innovative drugs for various neurological-related diseases, including stroke, bringing good news to patients worldwide.

Chairman of Baixi Ousi, Tian QiupingExpressed: "We are very grateful for the addition of new shareholders such as Green Pine Capital, Xiamen Hi-tech Angel Investment, Science Sun, and Cheng Du Sheng Nuo Biotec at this critical time, as well as the continued support from existing shareholders. We will continue to carry out the phase 2 clinical trial of BXOS110, which is a milestone. BXOS110 is the company's first class 1 innovative drug to enter clinical trials, used for neuroprotection in the ultra-acute phase of acute stroke. At the same time, we will also actively promote the clinical transformation of BXOS116 and BXOS401, which are used for neural repair and regeneration during the stroke recovery period, achieving a pipeline layout for the entire disease cycle of stroke, and developing truly effective innovative drugs that meet unmet clinical needs in the stroke field. Green Pine Capital is a well-known investment institution with rich experience in the biopharmaceutical investment field, and its participation provides dual support in terms of funding and expertise for the rapid and healthy development of the company."

Zhang Chong, Managing Director of Green Pine Capital"It takes ten years to sharpen a sword, and we dare to be the first in the world. Baixi Ousi (Beijing) Biological Technology Co., Ltd. chose such a challenging field for quiet and deep cultivation when the company was initially established, accumulating over a decade of experience in innovative drug research and development in the stroke field. To date, the company has built an efficient R&D team in areas such as molecular design, drug screening, animal experiments, CMC, clinical trials, and patent protection. We look forward to Baixi Ousi achieving fruitful success in the field of innovative drugs for stroke treatment, benefiting all humanity."

Science Sun Chairman Ma Biao"We have been paying special attention to the NA-1 variety. It is the first drug proven to potentially have a neuroprotective effect when applied early after acute ischemic stroke, filling the gap for drugs within the time window. We have high hopes for the Baixi Ousi team and their product pipeline. As the saying goes, 'Plum blossoms emit fragrance after bitter cold.' Once the interim results of the Phase II trial are unblinded, it will definitely be a blockbuster product. The company has long been dedicated to the field of peptide innovative drugs, which aligns well with our group's strategy. We are willing to continue investing and accompany Baixi Ousi to create further brilliance in the field of innovative stroke drugs."

Wen Yongjun, Chairman of Cheng Du Sheng Nuo Biotec Co.,ltd."Innovation requires not only breakthrough ideas but also silent, long-term dedication. The Baixi Ousi team has adhered to this principle, building and refining its highly efficient R&D team. They have achieved remarkable success in the development of innovative drugs for stroke and neurological disorders. We look forward to the early market launch of Baixi Ousi's innovative stroke treatment drug to benefit patients."

Xiamen Hi-tech Angel Investment Co., Ltd.Stated: "Baixi Ousi focuses on innovative drugs for various neurological-related diseases, including stroke and cerebral edema, as key research and development directions. Multiple candidate drug molecules have been screened out and advanced to clinical trials or are about to submit IND applications, showcasing the professionalism and efficiency of Baixi Ousi's R&D team. In the future, we look forward to collaborating with Baixi Ousi to continue exploring treatments for stroke and other neurological-related diseases, benefiting a wide range of patients as soon as possible."