EdiGene Secures RMB 450 Million Series B Financing to Advance Clinical Translation of Gene Editing Therapies

VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) has learned that on October 13, 2020, in Beijing, China, and Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, Boya Jiyin, a biopharmaceutical company leveraging genome editing technologies to accelerate drug research and develop innovative therapies for various diseases, announced the successful completion of its Series B financing round totaling RMB 450 million. The round was led by 3H Health Investment, with participation from HongShan China Fund, Alwin Investment, and Kunlun Capital. Existing investors IDG Capital, Lilly Asia Ventures, Huagai Capital, and Sinoventures also participated, continuing their support for the company’s development. The proceeds from this financing round will be used to advance the clinical translation of its R&D pipeline and further expand its team.

Dr. Wang Minchuan, Partner at 3H Health Investment, stated, “As a revolutionary technology in the field of life sciences and medicine, gene editing is witnessing rapid clinical translation worldwide. Boya Jiyin is a pioneer in China’s gene editing sector, possessing not only leading domestic capabilities in clinical translation and industrialization but, more importantly, original R&D capabilities in editing tools and underlying core technologies. We are honored to lead this Series B financing round, working alongside the company’s team and both new and existing investors to bring life-changing innovative gene therapies to patients in China and around the globe. Furthermore, we look forward to providing robust support for the company’s development in areas such as clinical translation, industrial implementation, and policy navigation, helping Boya Jiyin become a leader in the field of gene therapy.”

“Over the past two years, Boya Jiyin has successfully completed RMB 700 million in financing. We are deeply grateful to our new investors for their participation and confidence, and equally thankful to our early-stage investors for their unwavering support,” said Dr. Wei Dong, CEO of Boya Jiyin. “The successful completion of this financing round will enable us to scale up our operations and advance into the clinical stage, marking a significant step toward building Boya Jiyin into a globally competitive biopharmaceutical enterprise in the field of gene editing. More importantly, it brings us closer to realizing our vision of delivering innovative, high-quality therapies to patients at the earliest possible time.”

“We are deeply grateful for the recognition and support from our investors, which has propelled the company into a new stage of development,” said Dr. Wei Wensheng, Founder of Boya Ji Yin. “We look forward to working closely with all our investors to translate cutting-edge advances in gene-editing technology into innovative therapies that can treat diseases and save lives, thereby bringing health and hope to more patients and their families.”

Boya Jiyin, established in 2015, currently operates four major platforms centered on gene editing technology and is dedicated to advancing R&D projects for genetic diseases and tumors into clinical trials. These four platforms include an ex vivo cell gene editing therapy platform targeting hematopoietic stem cells and T cells, an in vivo gene editing therapy platform based on RNA single-base editing technology, and a high-throughput genome editing screening platform committed to targeted drug development. Additionally, Boya Jiyin established a GMP-compliant clinical translation application base in Nansha District, Guangzhou, in 2018.

EdiGene, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to accelerating drug research and developing innovative therapies for various genetic diseases and cancers through cutting-edge international genome editing technologies. EdiGene has established an ex vivo cell gene editing therapy platform targeting hematopoietic stem cells and T cells with independent intellectual property rights, an in vivo gene therapy platform based on RNA single-base editing technology, and a high-throughput genome editing screening platform committed to targeted drug development. Founded in 2015, EdiGene is headquartered in Beijing, with branches in Guangzhou and Cambridge, USA.

3H Health Investment is a private equity fund dedicated to the healthcare industry. We focus on addressing unmet clinical needs by investing in innovative healthcare technologies, driving their clinical translation and industrialization to save more lives while improving patients’ quality of life. Leveraging deep resources in clinical practice, industry, and policy, 3H Health Investment collaborates with partners to build great health technology enterprises.

Sequoia Capital has always been committed to helping entrepreneurs build enduring, great companies by bringing rich global resources and valuable historical experience to its portfolio companies. Over the past 48 years, Sequoia Capital has invested in numerous innovative enterprises and leaders shaping industry trends. As “entrepreneurs behind entrepreneurs,” HongShan (Sequoia Capital China) focuses on investment opportunities in four sectors: Technology/Media, Healthcare, Consumer Goods/Modern Services, and Industrial Technology. Over the past 15 years, HongShan has invested in nearly 600 companies characterized by distinct technological advantages, innovative business models, and high growth potential.

Alwin Investment is a specialized fund focused on early-stage investments in the life sciences sector. Driven by professional research and guided by scientific disciplines, we systematically deploy capital into innovative drug development and breakthrough diagnostic technologies within the life sciences field. Committed to long-term investment in life sciences, we strive for superior returns grounded in deep scientific insights. Established in 2015, Alwin Investment’s core management team possesses extensive experience in investment and research within the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. To date, Alwin Investment has invested in over 20 companies in the life sciences sector, cultivating leading enterprises across multiple sub-segments.

Kunlun Capital is an investment management firm focused on investing in technology-driven innovative enterprises. It was founded in 2015 by Mr. Zhou Yahui, the founder of Kunlun Tech (a company listed on China’s A-share market) and Opera (listed on the U.S. stock market). Its assets under management exceed RMB 10 billion.

Kunlun Capital centers on user value, focusing on technology-, product-, and data-driven innovative business models. By selecting leading companies in niche sectors, it seeks out entrepreneurial teams with global potential and local execution capabilities. Investment portfolio includes: Liohexin Yuan, Obio Biology, Keya Medical, musical.ly, Dada, Kuaikan, Pony.ai, Dreame, and Leyan.