Gigaceuticals Tech Secures Tens of Millions RMB in Series Angel+ Funding to Advance AI-Driven Longevity and Metabolic Disease Drug Discovery

Recently, the development of the world's leading efficacy prediction system based on deep learning and gene fingerprint (DLEPS, LingSu system)GigaCeuticals, announcing the completion of a multi-million yuan angel+ round of financing from Xiantong Capital.

It is reported that,This round of funding will be used for the development of the desktop version of the Lingsu drug development system, accelerating the progress of the company's R&D pipeline in the areas of life extension and metabolic diseases, improving the construction of cloud computing platforms and innovative R&D laboratories, as well as recruiting teams and patent layout.。

GigaCeuticals was founded in 2018, with the founding team coming from Peking University. In June 2021, GigaCeuticals published its proprietary efficacy prediction system in the international top journal *Nature Biotechnology*. Unlike the traditional approach where biologists first discover disease targets and medicinal chemists then design molecules, the LingSu system can directly and efficiently identify small-molecule compounds for treating diseases through disease markers.

The Lingsu system can accurately predict changes in gene expression profiles after small molecule treatment of cells or animals, expanding the applicable molecular space to the "hundred million" level.The LingSu system is particularly suitable for areas where traditional methods are not proficient and has been validated in multiple important disease directions.The achievement was selected as one of the "Top Ten Advances in Chinese Bioinformatics in 2021."; The patents involved in this system are structural patents and have been applied for both in China and internationally.

GigaCeuticals has publicly released its progress in disease areas such as weight loss, uric acid reduction, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Among these, the NASH field is highly competitive internationally, with dozens of clinical trials involving numerous targets already underway. However, no significant progress has been made in small molecule drugs. For instance, Gilead has already invested billions of dollars in this direction.GigaCeuticals' strategy can simultaneously regulate multiple NASH-related pathways, achieving significant efficacy in animal models overall.

The direction of extending lifespan is one of the hottest tracks internationally in recent years.In the United States and Europe, many companies or startups have entered the field. Dr. Xie, the founder of GigaCeuticals, is a senior expert in aging research. In his early years, he invented the yeast lifespan microfluidic chip, and the research findings were reviewed in a dedicated article by Nature. He collaborated with the 2009 Nobel Prize winner in Physiology or Medicine to discover the significant role of deoxyribonucleic acid levels in regulating cellular aging caused by telomerase inactivation. He also discovered that berberine can extend the lifespan of mice, which garnered widespread attention on social media. Additionally, he found that EGCG extends cellular lifespan and its downstream mechanisms by inhibiting acetyltransferase. In terms of developing drugs for lifespan extension, some unpublished data currently indicate that its efficacy is more than four times that of similar international candidate molecules, showing broad commercial prospects.

Dr. Zhengwei Xie, founder of GigaCeuticals, stated: "The investment team at Xiantong highly recognizes the company's concept of innovative pipeline research and development and has provided financial support. We are very grateful to them. The modern R&D of new drugs is no longer a task confined to the discipline of chemistry alone; instead, it must start from the biological source to establish the ability to discover new targets. Artificial intelligence plays a crucial role in this process. This approach is superior to traditional high-throughput screening, as it can reveal important targets and corresponding small molecules that traditional methods cannot discover. Against the backdrop of AI-driven drug discovery, an AI-powered drug design software platform is also essential. We are already on the path to completion and continuous improvement."

Mr. Liu Mulong, Managing Partner of Xiantong Capital, stated that AI pharmaceuticals represent the future direction of the innovative drug industry. GigaCeuticals innovatively combines expression profile big data with drug discovery, utilizing a self-developed algorithm system with deep learning capabilities to develop drugs for complex diseases such as obesity, NASH, and aging, addressing unmet clinical needs. The team, led by Dr. Xie, has a composite background in systems biology and artificial intelligence algorithms. We look forward to GigaCeuticals' rapid development under their efforts and contributing to innovative drug development in China.

GigaCeuticals Tech is an AI-driven new drug research and development company. It was established in 2018 at the Beijing Life Science Park and received angel investments from InnoAngel and ZhenYun Venture Capital. The core team was incubated at the Peking University Health Science Center, and the company has gathered a team of outstanding talents. In 2022, GigaCeuticals set up a wholly-owned subsidiary in Suzhou New District and obtained leading talent recognition. The trial platform of GigaCeuticals' LingSu system has already garnered over a thousand users and is receiving increasing attention in both academic and industrial circles.

Xiantong Capital is one of the earliest professional biomedical equity investment institutions established in China, focusing on the biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, and biotechnology sectors. It holds a leading professional edge and has an extensive project reserve in the biomedical investment industry. Centered on the most promising industries, Xiantong Capital identifies innovative growth enterprises with significant capital value and commercial potential, nurturing a group of benchmark companies in niche markets. With offices in Shenzhen, Beijing, Suzhou, and the United States, Xiantong Capital brings together a team of experts from the life sciences industry, scientists, and investors to form its investment and advisory team. The firm manages and operates a series of RMB and USD funds and has received numerous honors and awards from various institutions.