Kerui Biotech Completes Nearly RMB 100 Million Pre-A Financing to Advance TCR-Based Innovative Therapeutics

VCBeat learned第一时间 that recently, Beijing Kerui Biological Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Kerui Bio") announced the completion of a nearly 100-million-yuan Pre-A round of financing.

This round of financing was led by CD Capital, with participation from Shaanxi Investment Growth, Sunshine Ronghui, Chang Development and other institutions. The existing shareholder, Anlong Fund, also increased its investment to continue support. The funds from this round of financing will be used to advance the company's multiple clinical pipelines, including TCR-T cell therapy products for HPV-positive cervical cancer and head and neck tumors, KRAS G12V-mutated colorectal cancer and pancreatic cancer, as well as related TCR protein drug products.

Beijing Kerui Biological Technology Co., Ltd. was co-founded in 2016 by several Peking University alumni and returned overseas students, committed to building a world-leading T-cell receptor (TCR) innovative drug research, development, and transformation platform. With the mission of "innovating biotechnology to illuminate the hope of life," Kerui Bio is currently developing multiple First-in-class TCR-T cell immunotherapy drugs and TCR-based T-cell bridging bispecific antibody protein drugs. These include China's first cell therapy product targeting KRAS G12 mutations and the world’s first TCR protein drug for the treatment of HPV infectious diseases. In the future, through cell therapy products and soluble protein drug products, the company aims to treat various indications such as cancer, chronic infections, and autoimmune diseases, addressing clinical needs and maximizing patient benefits.

Dr. Xie Xingwang, founder of Beijing Kerui Biological Technology Co., Ltd., said"Through technological innovation, Kerui Biological Technology Co., Ltd. has established the internationally leading SMART-TCR affinity optimization platform, which has greatly improved the success rate and efficiency of TCR affinity optimization, breaking through the development barriers of TCR innovative drugs."

"A rich product pipeline covering various indications such as solid tumors, viral infections, and autoimmune diseases has been established. The two fastest-advancing products will greatly meet unfulfilled clinical needs including cervical cancer, head and neck cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, and lung cancer. Excellent safety and efficacy data from in vitro and animal experiments have already been obtained, and patient recruitment for IIT clinical trials is planned for early next year."

"Special thanks to new and old investors for their recognition and trust. Kerui Biology leads technological innovation with creativity, maintains its pioneering spirit in the industry, expands its global vision, optimizes the R&D pipeline structure, focuses on the research and transformation of TCR innovative drugs, and provides high-quality and cost-effective products to meet patients' clinical needs."

CD Capital Investment Team Stated"Chen De continues to focus on innovative biotechnology in the field of solid tumor treatment, and remains optimistic about TCR-T and TCR protein drugs in the long term. Kerui Biotech is a TCR drug development company based in China with a global outlook. The company owns a unique TCR screening and optimization platform, establishing deep technical barriers, with multiple products soon to enter the clinical stage. Under the leadership of the founding team centered on Dr. Xie Xingwang, we look forward to the company rapidly advancing the clinical development of multiple pipelines, bringing innovative products to patients worldwide at an early date."

Guo Jia, Managing Director of Shantou Growth, stated"TCR-T is one of the most highly regarded directions in recent years, and it will bring new breakthroughs in overcoming solid tumors. Facing the high technical barriers of TCR-T, Beijing Kerui Biological Technology Co., Ltd. has completed the establishment of a TCR epitope identification platform, a TCR cloning platform based on single-cell and library methods, and an innovative SMART-TCR affinity optimization platform, which greatly improves the efficiency of TCR screening and the success rate of affinity optimization, breaking through the development bottleneck of TCR-T cell drugs. Additionally, the company has the capability to develop soluble TCR protein drugs, filling the gap in China. In terms of commercialization, Beijing Kerui Biological Technology Co., Ltd. possesses a complete production process and a quality control system that meets international standards. We look forward to Beijing Kerui Biological Technology Co., Ltd. bringing more surprises to the industry and providing benefits to patients as soon as possible."

Shi Shenghao, Managing Partner of Sunlight Ronghui Fund, said"We continue to be optimistic about the application of cell therapy in the field of oncology; currently commercialized CAR-T therapies have their limitations, while TCR-T cell therapy has shown preliminary treatment potential for solid tumors, making it an important direction for future cancer treatment. The strong execution ability of the company's management, efficient screening platform, stable processes, and comprehensive quality control system have all left a deep impression on us. At the same time, the company’s pipeline layout is highly innovative, including not only TCR-T cell drugs but also TCR protein drugs, showing great future potential. We look forward to the company, under the leadership of Dr. Xie Xingwang, becoming a globally competitive player in the cell therapy field, benefiting patients in China and around the world."

Chende Capital is an investment institution focused on innovative medical technology and cutting-edge biotechnology subfields, managed and operated by a professional team with a deep background in the medical industry, overseeing multiple RMB funds and USD funds.

Chendeh Capital adheres to the investment philosophy of "Focus, Perfection, and Reputation." Based on extensive industry resources in the medical field and years of in-depth research and cultivation, Chendeh Capital gains early insights into the latest international technological trends and seizes investment opportunities driven by technological innovation. Chendeh Capital is committed to discovering top-tier enterprises with industry leadership potential and, through an interconnected and win-win investment methodology along with a precise and pragmatic post-investment empowerment system, collaborates with entrepreneurs to build an industrial ecosystem for mutual growth while delivering optimal returns to investors.

Shantou Growth is a professional fund management institution officially approved by the People's Government of Shaanxi Province, possessing qualifications in equity investment, investment management, and consulting. Adhering to the principle of "government guidance, social participation, and market operation," the company continuously leverages the amplifying and leading role of fiscal funds and state-owned industrial capital, as well as their magnetic effect in aggregating resources, injecting capital momentum into the development of regional economy by stimulating new vitality, fostering new drivers, and creating new business models.

As a representative of hard technology venture capital investment, Shantou Growth has initiated and established 13 market-oriented professional sub-funds around high-end manufacturing, healthcare, military technology, new materials, and other fields, completing investments in more than 30 high-quality enterprises. Currently, Shantou Growth continues to focus on the development of the healthcare industry and has systematically laid out investments in segments such as biopharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical devices.

Sunshine Ronghui Capital, established in January 2015, is one of the first private equity fund management companies initiated by insurance funds in China's insurance industry, with a fund management scale of 30 billion yuan. It focuses on investing in the medical health and emerging technology sectors, including investments in Mindray Medical, New Hope Pet Healthcare Group, Yingsheng Biotechnology, LePu Biopharma, Sirnaomics, Silicon Life, Qicheng Bio, SEDA Sunshine, Chaoju Eye Hospital, Quantum Medical, Ternary Immune, Huaxin Medical, Kunshan Medical Source, SenseTime Technology, Full Truck Alliance, QingCloud Technology, Enflame Technology, Yingren Technology, Qitan Technology, AInnovation, Moore Threads, Dreamink, and Socreator Technology, among other prominent enterprises.

Figure 1. Deep Cultivation of TCR Innovative Drug R&D Platform

Figure 2. Beijing Kerui Biological Technology Co., Ltd. GMP Facility

Figure 3. Development of a Highly Automated TCR-T Production Process