Acuron Medical Secures Nearly RMB 100 Million Series A Financing to Accelerate Integrated Solutions in Cardiac Electrophysiology

VCBeat (WeChat: vcbeat) learned第一时间获悉 that recently,AccuPulse Medical Technology Co., Ltd.(Abbreviation“AccuPulse”) Completes Nearly 100 Million Yuan in Series A Financing, This Round of Financing Led byQianhai Mother FundLed by, old shareholdersSHC, YuanBio Venture CapitalFollow-up Investment.AccuPulse Medical Technology Co., Ltd. continues to serve as the exclusive financial advisor.

Cardiac electrophysiology technology is mainly used to treat tachyarrhythmia. In 2020, the total number of patients in China exceeded 30 million, primarily suffering from atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmia, and supraventricular tachycardia. Three-dimensional (3D) electrophysiology procedures use electromagnetic technology for precise positioning, significantly reducing operation time while improving success rates and safety. This approach has gradually replaced two-dimensional (2D) techniques to become the mainstream. Multinational brands such as Johnson & Johnson, Abbott, and Boston Scientific have long dominated the main market share of 3D ablation procedures due to their advanced product technologies. In 2020, foreign brands accounted for a combined 87% of the Chinese market. Moreover, most manufacturers’ 3D navigation systems rely on closed-loop algorithms, making them incompatible with mapping catheters and treatment catheters from different brands.

In the future, only companies that can simultaneously own core products such as self-developed innovative pulsed field ablation systems, three-dimensional navigation systems, and comprehensive precision mapping and accurate ablation catheter solutions will have the potential to break the technological and market monopoly of multinational corporations.

Following the Pre-A round of financing worth tens of millions of yuan obtained in November last year, AccuPulse Medical Technology Co., Ltd. has reached a brand-new stage of development.The company has successively completed the establishment of senior professional teams covering various business segments and the commissioning of R&D centers in both China and the U.S. Despite the impact of the pandemic, the company exceeded expectations in advancing its projects, earning recognition from both existing and new investors. This round of financing will further solidify the company’s competitive edge in the cardiac electrophysiology field, accelerate clinical trials for the atrial fibrillation pulsed field ablation (PFA) product, and advance the development of the three-dimensional mapping system and other electrophysiology treatment and mapping products, supporting the company’s goal to become an internationally leading next-generation electrophysiology platform technology company.

After the completion of the previous round of financing, AccuPulse Medical Technology Co., Ltd. attracted several experts with rich experience in the electrophysiology field from both within and outside China, forming a well-rounded team that aligns with the company’s rapid development.Among them, the core team members all have more than 10 years of experience in electrophysiology-related industries, and R&D personnel account for over 70% of the team. This is one of the few electrophysiology teams in China that combines deep industry practice with innovative technical concepts. The main R&D leaders have successful experience in developing electrophysiology ablation systems, 3D electrophysiology navigation systems, and related consumables.

Currently, the company has established a complete team in China, including hardware and software R&D for pulsed electric field technology and 3D mapping systems, regulatory affairs, clinical affairs, market medicine, and more. Core team members come from well-known enterprises such as Johnson & Johnson, Abbott, and GE. At the same time, AccuPulse's R&D team in the United States has been further strengthened, quickly attracting senior technical experts from Johns Hopkins University and renowned industry companies to jointly advance product R&D and optimization.

AccuPulse's R&D and Operations Center located in Suzhou has completed construction and has been officially put into use.Meanwhile, AccuPulse's R&D center located in Utah, USA, has been successfully completed and put into operation.

While the team and facilities are being rapidly and efficiently established, AccuPulse's product pipeline is also advancing and expanding quickly. The company has built a portfolio of nearly 10 products based on new technologies such as pulsed field ablation (PFA) and innovative 3D mapping, covering the complete process of diagnosis and treatment for atrial fibrillation, premature ventricular contractions, and other arrhythmia ablations.Currently, the first core product, the PFA Pulse Electric Field Ablation System, has efficiently completed animal experiments and registration inspections. The clinical trial of this product has also received strong support from several well-known electrophysiology clinical hospitals and researchers, and patient enrollment for the clinical trial is about to begin. In addition, the development work of the three-dimensional mapping system teams in both China and the U.S. is proceeding simultaneously. This product aims to become an internationally leading intelligent magnetic and electric positioning navigation system, and its clinical trials will be advanced concurrently in China and the U.S. in the future.

AccuPulse Founder Yin JieRepresentation: "We are very grateful to the new shareholder QHFZ Capital Management Co., Ltd., as well as the existing shareholders Shanghai Healthcare Capital and YuanBio Venture Capital for their recognition and support. We also sincerely thank all the colleagues at AccuPulse for their hard work, which has allowed us to efficiently advance our product development and clinical registration despite the challenges posed by the pandemic in Suzhou and Shanghai. We have successfully completed our milestones and closed this round of financing as scheduled. This funding will help us advance the clinical trials of key products, continue to attract the best talents from home and abroad, and develop innovative products that are of higher quality and more cost-effective for Chinese patients suffering from atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmia diseases."

Li Shengnan, Managing Director of Qianhai Mother FundRepresentation："The population of Chinese patients with atrial fibrillation is large, and there are currently no effective drug treatments. Although electrophysiology procedures in China have achieved a certain penetration rate, it still lags behind the United States by 6-7 times. In the future, growth is expected to remain high. We firmly believe in the clinical application prospects of pulsed field ablation in the treatment of atrial fibrillation. This method is safe, efficient, and has a short learning curve for doctors. It represents an opportunity for Chinese companies to overtake competitors and break the monopolistic pattern held by multinational corporations. AccuPulse's team has a diverse and balanced background, with rich corporate management experience, deep expertise in 3D mapping technology, and detailed clinical insight. We believe the company will become a next-generation platform-based high-tech enterprise in the electrophysiology industry."

SHC's Dr. Liang WeibinRepresentation"We highly recognize the progress that the company has made in product development and clinical trials, team building, and overall business since the last round of financing, which demonstrates the excellent execution capability of the company's team. There are still significant unmet clinical needs in the field of cardiac electrophysiology, and the penetration rate of catheter ablation procedures based on 3D mapping technology has considerable room for improvement. In the future, local companies with strong technical capabilities are expected to change the current market landscape dominated by foreign enterprises. As the company further enhances its product portfolio, we believe that AccuPulse has the opportunity to provide comprehensive treatment solutions based on green electrophysiology technology for a large number of patients, becoming a new force in China’s and even the global cardiac electrophysiology market."

Dr. Cheng Gang, Partner of YuanBio Venture Capital, stated"Pulsed field ablation combined with three-dimensional mapping has significant clinical value in the field of cardiac electrophysiology and represents a cutting-edge surgical method internationally. The AccuPulse team has deep expertise in the cardiac electrophysiology industry, with profound insights into the market, products, and technology. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, they steadfastly and efficiently achieved key R&D and financing milestones, demonstrating remarkable resilience and execution capabilities. We believe that AccuPulse will continue to strive forward and bring excellent products and treatment solutions to patients in China and overseas."

Li Qiang, Managing Director of Xingyuan Zhitong, stated:"When AccuPulse entered a new round of financing, it faced numerous unfavorable factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, successive lockdowns in Suzhou and Shanghai, and a cooling capital market. However, investors still efficiently completed detailed interview due diligence and investment decision-making processes. We thank all the investors for their trust and support in AccuPulse. With the support of our investors and all parties involved, AccuPulse will continue to maintain its rapid pace of development with even more resolute and powerful steps. We are also confident in accompanying AccuPulse and all investors through the winter to welcome the spring."

Qianhai Equity Investment Mother Fund was established in accordance with the spirit of "supporting the establishment of a Qianhai equity investment mother fund" outlined in the "State Council's Approval of Policies Related to the Development and Opening-up of the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone in Shenzhen." As a large-scale commercialized mother fund, it aligns with the major trend of the domestic equity investment mother fund industry poised to embrace a developmental spring. It is currently China’s largest commercially raised mother fund and a leading private equity investment fund, placing equal emphasis on fund investments and direct equity investments. The fund is managed by Qianhai Ark Asset Management Co., Ltd., led by靳海涛, a pioneer in China's venture capital industry. Qianhai Ark currently manages assets worth 66 billion yuan. Since its inception, it has cumulatively invested in 1,800 direct/indirect equity projects and facilitated the domestic and overseas listings of 79 directly/indirectly invested companies.

SHC, approved by the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, is a municipal industrial fund with a total target management scale of RMB 500 billion, initiated and established by Shanghai Industrial Group. The fund will leverage Shanghai's comprehensive advantages in developing the biopharmaceutical industry and rely on industrial resources to create an innovative investment platform in the biopharmaceutical field that is "rooted in Shanghai and Hong Kong, linked with the Yangtze River Delta, and oriented towards the globe." By combining financial capital with industrial resources and integrating domestic and overseas operations, the fund will focus on key areas that align with Shanghai's biopharmaceutical industry development strategy. These include high-end biologics, innovative chemical drugs and formulations, advanced medical devices and diagnostics, and innovative business models in the healthcare sector, covering all major project fields.

YuanBio Venture Capital is an investment institution focused on the early and growth-stage healthcare sector, based in Suzhou bioBAY with a global reach. It has successfully invested in over 140 outstanding companies in the life sciences and healthcare field, 14 of which have gone public on capital markets such as the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and STAR Market. These investments cover four major areas: novel drug development, medical devices, in vitro diagnostics and precision medicine, and healthcare services, yielding substantial investment returns. YuanBio Venture Capital has been repeatedly recognized as one of the Top 10 venture capital funds in China's healthcare sector and one of the most active healthcare investment institutions in China. With a team of experienced professional investors and a world-class scientific advisory board, YuanBio Venture Capital possesses extensive experience in entrepreneurship, venture capital, and corporate operations within the biopharmaceutical industry. Leveraging professionalism, dedication, and abundant industry resources, we are committed to becoming one of the most successful healthcare and pharmaceutical venture capital funds in China.

StartPointAdvisors, established in 2020, is a financial advisory firm focused on the healthcare industry. As one of the most active emerging healthcare financial advisors in the Chinese market in recent years, StartPointAdvers has successfully completed nearly 30 significant transactions with a total transaction value exceeding 5 billion yuan since its inception. The StartPointAdvisors team consists of professionals from well-known institutions in the industry, all possessing extensive practical experience. The company currently has offices in Beijing, Suzhou, and Guangzhou.