EdiGene and Neukio Announce Collaboration to Advance Next-Generation Immune Cell Therapies

On February 9, Boya jiyin(Beijing)Biotechnology Co., Ltd. and Xingyiang (Shanghai) Biotechnology Co., Ltd. jointly announced that the two parties would collaborate on the research and development of a new generation of immunotherapy based on Boya jiyin's expertise in high-throughput genomic editing screening and Xingyiang’s technological and resource advantages in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and natural killer cell (NK Cell) functionality and production processes. Boya jiyin is a global biopharmaceutical company at the clinical stage, specializing in the translation of gene-editing technologies to develop innovative therapies for difficult-to-cure genetic diseases and cancer. Xingyiang is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and application of off-the-shelf, mass-producible iPSC-CAR-NK immune cell products.

"Our high-throughput genomic editing screening platform, built with proprietary intellectual property technology, is capable of exploring key genes involved in the growth and differentiation of specific cell types at the whole-genome level. It efficiently establishes causal relationships between gene function and cell therapy processes, offering unique advantages in mechanism exploration, target screening, and rapid translation," said Dr. Wei Dong, CEO of Boya Jiyin (Beijing) Biotechnology Co., Ltd. "We are very pleased to collaborate with Xingyiang (Shanghai) Biotechnology Co., Ltd., a leader in cell therapy, leveraging our experience in the application and translation of gene-editing technologies to accelerate the development of innovative immunotherapy based on iPSC-NK cells, providing patients with more treatment options as soon as possible."

Dr. Wang Liqun, founder, chairman, and CEO of Xingyiang (Shanghai) Biotechnology Co., Ltd., stated: "The first autologous CAR-T cell therapy was launched in China in 2021, giving more cancer patients hope of accessing next-generation cell therapies sooner. We are collaborating with Boya jiyin (Beijing) Biotechnology Co., Ltd., a leading company in the gene-editing field, to explore entirely new therapeutic mechanisms and targets, enabling our NK cells to be both allogeneic and effective against solid tumors safely, meeting the accessibility needs of a broad range of cancer patients while building our proprietary intellectual property system. This novel screening method complements our efforts on known targets, laying a solid foundation for Xingyiang’s product development and sustainable growth. We look forward to the fruitful collaboration between the scientists from both sides."

According to the cooperation agreement, Xingyiang (Shanghai) Biotechnology Co., Ltd. will develop cell therapy products in a restricted field based on research findings and pay clinical development milestone payments to Boya jiyin (Beijing) Biotechnology Co., Ltd. according to the clinical progress of the products it develops, as well as sales royalties after the products are marketed.

About Boya jiyin

EdiGene, Inc. is a global biopharmaceutical company at the clinical stage, specializing in the translation of gene editing technologies. It is dedicated to developing innovative therapies for difficult-to-cure genetic diseases and cancer. EdiGene has established proprietary ex vivo cell gene editing therapeutic platforms targeting hematopoietic stem cells and T cells, an in vivo gene therapy platform based on RNA base editing technology, and a high-throughput genomic editing screening platform aimed at advancing targeted therapy development. Founded in 2015, EdiGene is headquartered in Beijing with offices in Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Cambridge, USA. For more information, please visit the company's official website: www.EdiGene.com.

About Xingyiang (Shanghai) Biotechnology Co., Ltd.

Xingyiang (Shanghai) Biotechnology Co., Ltd. was founded in June 2021, focusing on the development of universal off-the-shelf iPSC-CAR-NK immune cell products and applications that are capable of mass production. In July of the same year, it completed a $40 million angel round of financing led by Lilly Asia Ventures, with participation from IDG and Sherpa Capital. While independently innovating and conducting research and development, the company actively collaborates with world-leading institutions to provide safe and effective therapeutic drugs for cancer patients globally. In December 2021, it inaugurated an integrated R&D and production center located in the Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone No. 1 Life Science Park, meeting the needs of Xingyiang’s R&D pipeline from research to commercial production. For more information, please visit the company's official website: www.Neukio.com.