Jingfeng Bio Secures $10M Pre-A Financing to Advance Next-Gen TIL Therapy for Solid Tumors

VCBeat learned at the earliest opportunity,Biotech company DISCOVERY TO CURE recently completed a multi-million-dollar Pre-A financing round,The lead investors in this round were Hanyi Capital and Hongli Venture Capital. The funds raised will be primarily used to upgrade DISCOVERY TO CURE’s biotechnology platform, build its patent portfolio, and expand the relevant teams.

DISCOVERY TO CURE was officially established this year, emerging as a rising star in the field of oncology therapeutics. Founded by Dr. Yu Fuli, who brings extensive experience in pharmaceutical R&D and corporate management, the company is dedicated to accelerating the development and clinical application of tumor cell therapy products.

As a biotechnology company, DISCOVERY TO CURE has overcome bottlenecks in tumor liquid biopsy and single-cell sequencing technologies by leveraging genomics and proteomics. Through the integration of non-invasive tumor detection and screening into the research, development, and application of precision cell therapy, and by utilizing bioinformatics and artificial intelligence to deeply mine tumor multi-omics data, the company aims to intelligently optimize cell therapy strategies, enhance the efficacy of tumor treatment, and improve patients' quality of life.

It is reported that DISCOVERY TO CURE received recognition from renowned experts in the field even before its establishment—including a Member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and Chair of the Department of Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine.Prof. Brendan LeeBased on Dr. Fu Li’s achievements in scientific research and industry, as well as his independent judgment on the overall development of the sector, he became an angel investor in DISCOVERY TO CURE at its inception and currently serves as a member of its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB).

When it comes to immunotherapy, many people are already familiar with PD-1 and CAR-T therapies, but these represent only the tip of the iceberg. At different stages of cancer, the immune system attempts to attack tumors by mobilizing specialized immune cells known as lymphocytes. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) refer to lymphocytes that leave the bloodstream and migrate into tumor tissues. These are lymphocytes isolated directly from tumor tissue, a discovery made by Steven A. Rosenberg, a leading authority in immunology, and his team.

TIL therapy was initially developed for patients with advanced melanoma. After more than a decade of clinical trials, it has been proven safe and demonstrates significant clinical efficacy.

From the perspective of their origin, TILs differ significantly from conventional immune cells. As these immune cells are derived directly from tumor tissue, this inherently determines their capacity to target tumor cells. Furthermore, DISCOVERY TO CURE’s TIL therapy is not merely a process of expansion and reinfusion. Instead, it employs gene sequencing technology to identify specific mutations within the patient’s tumor cells. This mutational information is then utilized to isolate T cells that can most effectively target these mutations. Finally, these T cells are extracted and enriched to achieve precise recognition and killing of tumor cells.

DISCOVERY TO CURE leverages its team’s expertise in bioinformatics and AI technology to accurately predict mutant neoantigens with HLA-binding affinity during the analysis of somatic mutations in tumor cells, thereby specifically expanding TIL cells that are immunogenic to these neoantigens and maximizing the therapeutic efficacy of TIL therapy.

Screened tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) exhibit robust recognition of tumor-associated antigens. Following ex vivo expansion and reinfusion into patients, they accurately migrate to the primary tumor site and effectively kill tumor cells. Furthermore, their therapeutic efficacy is enhanced when combined with PD-1 inhibitors.

Dr. Fu Li, Founder and CEO of DISCOVERY TO CURE“TILs are the most potent immune cells capable of penetrating deep into tumors, and TIL therapy is virtually ‘tailor-made’ for patients,” they told VCBeat. “Compared with CAR-T cell therapy, TIL therapy not only offers superior safety but also effectively tackles solid tumors. Lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and cervical cancer are all key targets currently being pursued by TIL therapy, indicating a very broad future development trajectory.”

DISCOVERY TO CURE has assembled a multidisciplinary team to overcome bottlenecks in tumor liquid biopsy and single-cell sequencing technologies, leveraging genomics and proteomics. Furthermore, by integrating non-invasive tumor detection and screening with R&D and applications in precision cell therapy, and utilizing bioinformatics and artificial intelligence to deeply mine multi-omics tumor data, the company can efficiently and precisely extract and purify Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) with the highest tumor-targeting potency.

Dr. Yu Fuli, Founder & CEO of DISCOVERY TO CURE

Dr. Fu Li Yu, Founder & CEO of DISCOVERY TO CURE, pursued advanced studies abroad after earning his bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Nankai University. He obtained his Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics from Baylor College of Medicine, where he studied under Professor Richard Gibbs, a renowned genomics pioneer and member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Yu then conducted his postdoctoral research at Harvard Medical School, working with Professor David Reich, a distinguished population geneticist and paleogeneticist.

After completing his academic studies, Dr. Yu joined the Human Genome Sequencing Center in the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine in the United States, where he dedicated himself to large-scale human genomics research. He has made significant contributions to understanding human genetic variation and its characteristics in population genetics, as well as elucidating the etiologies of genetic diseases. Dr. Yu has participated in and led several major international human genome projects, including the International HapMap Project, the 1000 Genomes Project, and projects focused on human cardiovascular diseases. His laboratory has received tens of millions of dollars in research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). To date, Dr. Yu has published more than 70 international peer-reviewed articles, which have been cited over 45,000 times, and the various software tools he has developed are widely used in the field.

Prior to founding DISCOVERY TO CURE, Dr. Yu Fuli served as Chief Information Officer at Berry Genomics, where he was primarily responsible for overall bioinformatics analysis, product research and development, and the application of cloud computing and artificial intelligence technologies in genomics. During his tenure, Dr. Yu successfully incubated key strategic subsidiaries of Berry Genomics, including Herui Genetics (focused on tumor detection), the Fujian Berry Genomics Big Data Industrial Park (centered on big data), and Yuanjiyin (specializing in consumer genetic testing).

Leveraging the influence he had built over many years in both the scientific community and industry, Dr. Yu Fuli founded DISCOVERY TO CURE. United by a shared vision, a strong team of co-founders quickly came together with the mission to rapidly and precisely target solid tumors, thereby benefiting patients.

According to Dr. Yu, the founding team of DISCOVERY TO CURE includes bioinformatics and statistics experts with over a decade of experience in multi-omics cancer research at globally renowned cancer centers, as well as cell therapy specialists from leading pharmaceutical companies who possess extensive hands-on experience in R&D, manufacturing, and clinical application. The team also comprises business development professionals well-versed in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. This robust talent structure enables DISCOVERY TO CURE to deeply mine multi-omics cancer data, foster comprehensive collaborations with upstream and downstream industry partners, and accelerate product development in response to actual clinical needs.

Discussing future development strategies, Dr. Yu stated, “Currently, genetic testing technology in China is advancing rapidly; however, its clinical guidance significance and practical value have not been fully realized, with limited implementation capabilities. We aim to integrate our products with genetic testing, collaborate closely with upstream companies specializing in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, and engage tightly with downstream enterprises researching cell therapy products. By extending to the clinical treatment stage and delivering a comprehensive product that offers a one-stop solution, we seek to drive the overall development of cell therapies and generate tangible clinical value.”

Zhou Yinghua, Founding Managing Partner of Hanyi Capital, stated that tumor immunology and cell therapy are key areas of focus for Hanyi, which has already made multiple investments in these sectors. Hanyi is honored to serve as the lead investor, collaborating with a founding team that boasts strong academic backgrounds and extensive industry experience. By leveraging Hanyi’s accumulated resources in clinical development and regulatory affairs, the partnership aims to accelerate the large-scale commercialization of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs), a highly promising therapeutic approach, thereby benefiting a broad population of cancer patients.

Dr. Xu Tianhong, Founding Partner of VI Ventures, stated: “VI Ventures has been committed to discovering and investing in breakthrough innovative technologies in the early-stage biopharmaceutical sector, both overseas and in China. As a pioneer in exploring tumor neoantigens combined with Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs), DISCOVERY TO CURE is dedicated to addressing current challenges in the treatment of solid tumors. The company’s founder and CEO, Dr. Yu, is a rare talent with extensive R&D and management experience in both academia and industry. The core team primarily hails from internationally renowned universities and pharmaceutical companies, such as Baylor College of Medicine, Harvard University, Gilead-Kite, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Berry Genomics. We are pleased to co-invest in DISCOVERY TO CURE and believe the company will rapidly grow into a leader in this field.”