Dongna Investment leads funding in Cunde to advance next-generation cell therapy

Sichuan Cunde Medical Technology Co., Ltd. ("Cunde") recently completed a Series A financing round raising tens of millions of RMB. This round saw participation from Dongna Fund (东纳医健基金), co-investing with a fund under Aier Eye Hospital Group. The proceeds will accelerate Cunde's research, development, and industrial translation in the cell therapy field, further consolidating its leadership in mRNA-DC cancer vaccines and macrophage-based therapies.

Founded in 2016, Cunde focuses on the research, development, and translation of "mRNA + Cell Therapy" for the treatment of major diseases including cancer and severe fibrosis. The company has developed China's first personalized mRNA-DC cancer vaccine based on tumor neoantigens, along with an individualized macrophage injection for liver cirrhosis treatment. Both pipelines have received IND approvals in China and demonstrate "first-in-class" potential.

Its self-developed Cunde® technology platform utilizes the patient's own dendritic cells as carriers and employs mRNA editing technology to develop personalized cancer vaccines, thereby enhancing the immune system's ability to recognize and eliminate tumors. Concurrently, the company has innovatively integrated mRNA technology into macrophage therapies to boost their anti-inflammatory and tissue repair capabilities, intervening in disease progression at the etiological level.

• Highly Scarce Technology Platform: Cunde is the only company in China that has simultaneously developed and achieved IND approvals for both macrophage and dendritic cell (DC) therapies. Beyond the highly competitive T-cell therapy landscape, it has pioneered a more forward-looking immunotherapy pathway.

• Clinical Data-Driven R&D: Unlike the traditional "trial-and-error" model, Cunde employs clinical samples from the initial R&D stages for data modeling and process optimization, thereby enhancing clinical trial success rates and product efficacy.

• Imminent Technology Dividend: The most advanced global mRNA pipelines have entered Phase III clinical trials, with a new wave of capital attention expected by 2026. As a rare domestic pioneer in mRNA-DC technology, Cunde is well-positioned to capture this industry dividend.

• Significant Cost and Safety Advantages: DC and macrophage therapies offer substantially lower costs compared to CAR-T, feature shorter production cycles, utilize autologous cells for enhanced safety, and are better suited for large-scale clinical application.

Cunde represents the cutting-edge of China's exploration at the intersection of cell therapy and mRNA technology. Dongna Investment's strategic stake in the company not only affirms Cunde's technical capabilities and team expertise but also demonstrates confidence in the global potential of China's original cell therapy platforms. Moving forward, the two parties will collaborate to advance the clinical translation and industrial upgrade of cell therapies, aiming to provide global patients with more effective and accessible treatment options.