Ractigen Therapeutics Secures Over RMB 110 Million Series A Financing Led by GL Ventures to Accelerate IND Submissions for Multiple Preclinical Programs

VCBeat has learned that Ractigen Therapeutics, a globally unique new drug R&D company specializing in the development of small activating RNA (saRNA) therapeutics, announced today that it has completed an RMB 110 million Series A financing round. The round was led by Hillhouse Venture Capital, with participation from CCB Medical Growth Fund, Boyi Capital, and Longmen Capital. The funds raised will be primarily used for R&D investment, team expansion, and filing Investigational New Drug (IND) applications for multiple preclinical-stage drug candidates.

Small activating RNA (saRNA) drugs, as a novel gene therapy approach, activate gene expression at the transcriptional level through the RNA activation mechanism, thereby increasing protein expression to treat various diseases caused by protein deficiency or low expression, including monogenic hereditary disorders and common diseases not resulting from genetic variations. RNA activation (RNAa) is a biological mechanism first discovered and named globally in 2006 by Dr. Longcheng Li, founder of Ractigen.

Founded in 2017 in Nantong, Jiangsu Province by Dr. Longcheng Li and his former laboratory team members, Dr. Robert Place and Dr. Moorim Kang, Ractigen is dedicated to the development and commercialization of RNA activation (RNAa) technology for the global market. Since its establishment, the company has focused on monogenic genetic disorders as a key therapeutic area, successfully building a next-generation RNA activation platform alongside an innovative small nucleic acid delivery platform. Currently, Ractigen has established a world-leading drug discovery and development platform for RNAa therapeutics, with a proprietary pipeline comprising more than ten novel drug candidates. All assets are protected by independent intellectual property rights, covering indications in monogenic genetic disorders, oncology, liver-targeted metabolic and hematologic diseases, and dermatological conditions.

Dr. Li Longcheng, Chairman of Ractigen, stated, “From a global pharmaceutical development perspective, there is substantial clinical demand for gene activation therapies. RNA activation technology is currently the only drug development platform capable of achieving targeted gene activation that has entered clinical translation. Since its inception, Ractigen has adhered to a strategy of original innovation and internationalization, continuously exploring and advancing in the field of RNA activation. We have made significant progress in establishing our foundational platform technologies and developing new drug candidates. We are pleased to see that Ractigen’s highly differentiated platform technology has gained the favor and recognition of renowned investment institutions in this financing round. This also reflects the domestic capital market’s acknowledgment of the value of source innovation technologies and its optimistic outlook on the prospects of nucleic acid therapeutics. This round of financing will help Ractigen rapidly advance multiple new drug candidates into clinical trials and accelerate the company’s commercialization process.”

GL Ventures, the venture capital arm of Hillhouse, is a startup investment fund focused on early-stage innovative companies. Its portfolio spans key sectors including software and hard technology, biopharmaceuticals and medical devices, consumer internet and technology, and emerging consumer brands. Biopharmaceuticals and medical devices have long been core investment priorities for Hillhouse. Over the past decade, Hillhouse has invested in more than 200 outstanding enterprises in the biopharmaceutical, medical device, and healthcare services sectors. We aim to partner with companies as “friends of time,” jointly driving innovation and development in the broader healthcare industry to benefit more patients.

CCB Medical Growth Fund is a venture capital fund under CCB International, operating on a market-oriented basis and focusing on investments in growth-stage healthcare enterprises. Led by CCB International, the fund was jointly established with high-quality institutions such as Kun Gaoxin Group, with an initial size of RMB 500 million.

The Fund leverages the comprehensive advantages of CCB International, including its extensive project sourcing capabilities, synergy with investment banking services, and a specialized investment team focused on the healthcare industry. By integrating high-quality healthcare industry resources from the Fund’s investors, it precisely screens for technology commercialization projects in the healthcare sector and accelerates the cultivation of innovative technology enterprises. Drawing on its rich investment and management experience as well as deep industry resources, the Fund provides comprehensive post-investment value-added services to its portfolio companies, committed to achieving mutual growth with both enterprises and investors.

The CCB Medical Fund is a series of equity investment funds established by CCB International to deploy in the domestic healthcare industry. Funds under management include CCB Medical Fund Phase I, CCB Medical Growth Fund, and Jianxing Medical Fund.

Boyi Capital, established in 2015, is a reputable and highly professional investment institution jointly founded by prominent pharmaceutical enterprises such as Tasly Holding Group, Chongqing Huayi Group, and the Chongqing Industrial Guidance Fund. Currently, it manages two venture capital funds: Boyi Xintian and Boyi Qikai. Focusing on the pharmaceutical investment sector, Boyi Capital addresses pain points in the real economy and grows alongside companies in their expansion stages. The firm has invested in over twenty high-quality enterprises across fields including pharmaceuticals, healthcare, in vitro diagnostics (IVD), and medical devices. Within five years of its establishment, six of its portfolio companies have been listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the A-share market through various channels, with several others currently undergoing listing applications.

Longmen Capital was established in 2017, focusing on investments in innovative pharmaceuticals and life sciences, primarily targeting early-stage and growth-stage enterprises. The fund’s core team possesses extensive experience in pharmaceutical industry management and investment mergers and acquisitions. To date, it has launched three funds with a total assets under management (AUM) of RMB 2 billion. It has conducted in-depth screening and invested in more than 30 high-quality companies, including Airong Technology, Changfeng Pharmaceutical, Starna Therapeutics, Kyee Technology, Yusen Pharmaceutical, SwellBio, and Huada Bio.