Raymon Pharma Secures Nearly RMB 100 Million Series A+ Financing Led by Hui Mai Capital to Advance Ophthalmic Drug Pipeline

According to a June 15 report from Pedaily (ID: pedaily2012), Suzhou Raymon Pharmaceuticals Company, Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Raymon Pharma"), a therapeutic small-molecule ophthalmic novel drug R&D platform in China, announced the completion of a`Led by HM Capital, existing shareholdersNearly 100 Million RMB Series A+ Financing Round with Follow-on Investments from TigerYeah Capital and Shengding Pharmaceutical Investment。This financing represents another new funding round completed within a year, following the company's Series A round last year. The proceeds will be primarily allocated to IND filings and clinical exploration for multiple product candidates, as well as the licensing-in of new projects, marking a new milestone for Raymon Pharma in the development of novel ophthalmic drugs.

Raymon Pharma was founded in March 2018 and is located in the Biomedical Industry Park of Suzhou Industrial Park. It is a company focused on the ophthalmic therapeutics sector, dedicated to the development of small-molecule innovative ophthalmic drugs. The company maintains a sustainable pipeline of innovative assets, with products encompassing multiple targets and mechanisms of action. Founder Dr. Fei Zhang graduated from Columbia University and previously held key R&D positions at Merck and Novartis, bringing nearly 20 years of experience in new drug development. Raymon Pharma is backed by a professional core team comprising experts from globally renowned pharmaceutical companies such as Novartis and Alcon. With an average of over 30 years of new drug R&D experience per member, the team has successfully led the commercialization and out-licensing of multiple drug products.

The company operates a globally leading medicinal chemistry design platform dedicated to drug penetration and therapeutic delivery for ocular diseases, particularly within fundus tissues. The two most prevalent categories of blinding diseases in ophthalmology are vascular and neurogenic pathologies. Ocular vascular pathologies can be triggered by various primary or comorbid factors and are frequently associated with multiple fundus diseases, including wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinal vein occlusion, and diabetic macular edema, all of which are highly vision-threatening blinding conditions. Currently, some of these diseases lack clinically approved therapeutics, while others have approved drugs that require highly invasive intravitreal injections. These existing treatments are costly and suffer from poor patient compliance. From a novel drug R&D perspective, developing a patient-friendly, cost-effective topical eye drop delivery system addresses a critical unmet clinical need and constitutes a highly challenging endeavor.

Another major category of blinding fundus diseases comprises optic neuropathies, primarily triggered by elevated intraocular pressure, autoimmune disorders, and complications from underlying systemic conditions (e.g., hypertension). Clinically, these conditions predominantly manifest as retinal ganglion cell damage, glaucoma and its complications, or other vision-threatening retinopathies. Current first-line clinical guidelines lack effective interventions to halt or delay optic nerve degeneration. Therapeutic management is largely confined to intraocular pressure-lowering strategies to alleviate glaucoma symptoms, which are frequently accompanied by significant adverse effects and a high risk of drug resistance. Consequently, the research and development of novel therapeutics for neurodegenerative fundus diseases presents both substantial challenges and significant opportunities. Currently, the company’s product pipeline comprehensively spans the two major ophthalmic domains of vascular and neurological disorders. Beyond its focus on drug delivery technologies for fundus diseases, the company has strategically diversified its portfolio into ocular surface diseases, underpinned by a robust and diverse R&D pipeline and a comprehensive, integrated technology platform. All existing pipeline products are independently developed Class 1.1 innovative drugs, with intellectual property protection secured through a portfolio of patents across multiple ophthalmic indications. Concurrently, we will license in advanced ophthalmic programs from overseas to unlock greater future growth potential for the company, establishing a dual-engine growth strategy.

Regarding this successful Series A+ funding round,HM Capital ManagementPartnerLuo Rushu stated: Treating fundus diseases with eye drops represents the "crown jewel" of pharmacological therapy for these conditions. Blinding fundus diseases affect a substantial patient population and represent a significant unmet clinical need. Drawing on globally leading expertise in medicinal chemistry and ophthalmic drug R&D, the Raymon Pharma team aims to provide ophthalmologists and patients with safe, effective, and non-invasive treatment options. By delivering safe and effective therapeutics at the early stages of ocular diseases, the company seeks to enhance patient medication adherence, thereby increasing treatment rates and reducing the rate of blindness. As the lead investor in this round, HM CAPITAL will fully support the company's accelerated development, looking forward to the Raymon Pharma team providing superior treatment options to the vast population of eye disease patients.

Dr. Ji Tianrong, Founder & General Manager of TigerYeah CapitalIt was stated that: Against the backdrop of the global aging trend, ophthalmology, particularly fundus diseases, represents one of the healthcare markets with the strongest market demand and development potential. The design and R&D of novel therapeutics for fundus diseases must not only overcome efficacy challenges but also surmount the barriers to ocular drug delivery. Leveraging extensive experience in ophthalmic drug development, the Raymon Pharma team has independently developed products that are poised to effectively address ocular administration barriers. By enabling direct topical eye drop delivery, this approach significantly enhances treatment safety and convenience compared to injectables, bringing substantial benefits to numerous patients with fundus diseases. TigerYeah Capital, an investor from the previous financing round, continues to back the company in this round, consistently supporting Raymon Pharma's new drug R&D initiatives as always.

Dr. Shu Xiao, Partner at Shengding InvestmentStated: Suzhou Raymon focuses on therapeutic small-molecule innovative ophthalmic drugs, backed by an international team and a differentiated R&D strategy. Its lead product, an ophthalmic solution for wet macular degeneration, effectively addresses numerous limitations associated with intravitreal injections. As a previous-round investor, Shengding Investment notes that since its initial investment, the company has successively advanced multiple promising pipeline candidates. The systematic approach to addressing various fundus and blinding diseases through topical eye drops has validated the company’s platform value and the team’s professional expertise. Shengding Investment’s follow-on investment in this round underscores its confidence in the company’s potential to develop into a leading platform-based enterprise in the field of innovative ophthalmic therapeutics.