Rui Therapeutics Secures Tens of Millions of RMB in Pre-A Financing to Advance Clinical Development of Novel Cell Therapy Pipeline

Rui Therapeutics Announces Completion of Pre-A Round Financing Worth Tens of Millions of RMB, Led by Watere Capital Management Co., Ltd. with Participation from Zhejiang Fujutouzi Guanli Youxian Gongsi

This round of financing will be used for Rui Therapeutics to complete IND applications, advance pipeline products, conduct investigator-initiated clinical studies (IIT) for existing R&D projects, and develop early-stage pipelines.

Rui Therapeutics was founded in June 2021 as a platform company focused on the research and development of a new generation of cellular drugs.Rui Therapeutics was co-founded by returned overseas scientists and senior executives from multinational pharmaceutical companies, and is committed to the innovation of proprietary underlying core technologies. Rui Therapeutics has established three major platforms in the field of cell therapy: first, the CAR-NK platform; second, the single-base gene editing platform; third, the small molecule-induced differentiation iPSC platform. Focusing on invention and innovation, the company has developed proprietary core technologies such as CAR structure design technology for CAR-NK development, HTAS-RVTM virus delivery system, and CRA-NKTM domestication technology. Currently, the company has laid out cutting-edge First-in-class pipeline products, covering tumors, autoimmune diseases, central nervous system diseases, and anti-aging fields where clinical needs have not yet been met.

The company has established long-term partnerships with clinical centers such as Shanghai Changhai Hospital and the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University. Early clinical IIT research data has shown that the company’s CAR-NK cell therapy demonstrates significant efficacy and excellent safety, indicating high development potential and promising commercial prospects in the future.

Dr. Qian Hao, Co-founder and CEO of Rui TherapeuticsRui Therapeutics stated that the success of biopharmaceutical companies lies in innovation at its core, with pharmaceutical concepts and clinical rhythm being the key. Over the past two years, Rui Therapeutics has built an R&D team led by returned overseas scientists and a CMC team headed by executives from multinational pharmaceutical companies. According to Dr. Qian Hao, the company has initiated multiple clinical IIT trials for CAR-NK cell products. The first pipeline product is currently undergoing IIT clinical trials at Shanghai Changhai Hospital, demonstrating excellent safety and tumor cell clearance effects, and is in the process of IND application. Two other pipeline products have passed ethical review and are recruiting patients for relevant IIT clinical trials. Other pipeline-related experiments have also shown good safety and therapeutic effects in preclinical studies. In the future, Rui Therapeutics will further strengthen the innovation of core technologies, the upgrading of pipeline products, the expansion of clinical indications, and international cooperation. We sincerely thank the investors of this round for their trust and support in Rui Therapeutics. Moving forward, we will continue to leverage Rui Therapeutics' expertise and advantages in cell therapy to create greater value in the field of innovative cell therapy.

An Yuming, General Manager of Watere Capital Management Co., Ltd.It was stated that in the "14th Five-Year Plan for Medical Industry Development," jointly issued on January 30, 2022, by nine departments including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Commerce, the National Health Commission, the Ministry of Emergency Management, the National Healthcare Security Administration, the National Medical Products Administration, and the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, there is a proposal to prioritize the development of immunotherapy cell treatments and stem cell therapies. Watere Capital Management Co., Ltd. has consistently focused its investment strategy on the biopharmaceutical sector, paying close attention over the years to advancements in cell therapy, particularly within the NK cell domain. After extensive research, it was found that NK cells hold the most potential as off-the-shelf allogeneic cell therapy products. NK cells do not rely on MHC, possess T-cell-like cytotoxic capabilities, lack TCR-like receptor expression, do not attack the host upon allogeneic transfusion, and do not induce GvHD. Internationally, the fastest-progressing CAR-NK cell therapy product has entered Phase II clinical trials, led by MD Anderson Cancer Center (Takeda Pharmaceuticals) and Nkarta Inc. In China, we highly recognize Rui Therapeutics' innovative underlying technology and their technical approach to product development. The core entrepreneurial team has deep experience in the cell therapy industry. We are confident in the future development of Rui Therapeutics and hope to participate in this innovative journey through the collaborative empowerment of our organization.

Zhou Lihong, Founding Partner of Zhejiang Fujutouzi Management Co., Ltd.Representatives stated that Fugu Investment focuses on the value discovery, value enhancement, and value creation of leading enterprises in niche markets. We have always been optimistic about the investment and development opportunities in the life and health industry. At the same time, we highly recognize Rui Therapeutics' current capabilities and future development potential, and we greatly admire the entrepreneurial passion of its founder and core team. We look forward to and believe that Rui Therapeutics will achieve even more outstanding results in the future. As investors, we will also harness the power of ecosystem collaboration, fully leverage resource advantages, and provide comprehensive post-investment services.