CASTALYSIS BIOSCIENCE Completes Tens of Millions of Yuan in Pre-A Round Financing, Accelerating In Vivo Gene Therapy Development and Platform Construction

VCBeat learned at the first time that recently,CASTALYSIS BIOSCIENCE, a Shanghai-based biotechnology company (hereinafter referred to as "CASTALYSIS"), has officially announced the completion of a multi-million yuan Pre-A round of financing. The investment institutions include Zeyue Venture Capital, EF Fund, and Med-Fine Capital. The funds raised in this round will mainly be used to advance the IIT research and preparation for formal clinical trials of the lead pipeline, while accelerating the development of the in vivo gene therapy platform.CASTALYSIS BIOSCIENCE was founded in July 2023, dedicated to the development of the original ultra-compact gene editor alphaCas.^®Clinical translation into safe and efficient in vivo gene therapy drugs, achieving "one-time administration for lifelong cure," to meet the significant unmet clinical needs in the fields of genetic and chronic diseases.

Since its establishment, CASTALYSIS BIOSCIENCE has built an international management and R&D team with both original innovation capabilities and industry experience. Dr. Ming Yan, CEO and co-founder, has nearly 20 years of experience in new drug development, pipeline registration, and transactions in U.S. startups and multinational corporations (MNCs). Professor Quanjiang Ji, the scientific founder, is an internationally renowned expert in the field of gene editors. He originally developed various novel compact-sized gene editing tools such as Cas12f, Cas12n, and Cas12p, laying a solid technical foundation for the company’s growth. Dr. Zhaoshi Wu, CTO and co-founder, was a core member of Professor Quanjiang Ji's team and has now joined the company full-time, leading the development of the ultra-compact and highly efficient gene editor, alphaCas.^®The mining, identification, and engineering optimization, led the team to complete alphaCas^®The Key Leap from Original Scientific Discovery to Medication.

In vivo gene editing can directly target diseased cells within the body, theoretically enabling radical treatment of genetic disorders, cancers, and other diseases. It is regarded as a key direction for future disease therapy. However, traditional gene editors still face unavoidable bottlenecks such as delivery precision, immunogenicity, and off-target effects. In October 2025, Intellia Therapeutics in the United States reported a severe adverse event during the Phase III clinical trial (MAGNITUDE), once again drawing industry attention to the immunogenicity risks of the conventional CRISPR/Cas9 gene editor and the toxicity issues of the LNP delivery system.

In response to industry pain points, CASTALYSIS BIOSCIENCE has proposed a solution—a "small key" born in the depths of the South China Sea: alphaCas.^®(Academically named Cas12n). This ultra-compact gene editor system, independently developed by Chinese scientists, was first reported in 2023 by a team led by Professor Ji Quanjiang, founder of CASTALYSIS BIOSCIENCE and professor at ShanghaiTech University, in the Cell subsidiary journal Molecular Cell. It isThe first independent CRISPR/Cas complete gene family excavated by Chinese scientists within China's territory,Led the breakthrough contributions of Chinese scientists in the foundational research system of gene editors, breaking the myth that Chinese scientists could only make incremental improvements within the CRISPR systems initially pioneered by European and American scientists, providing biotechnology professionals in China and globally with a more convenient and efficient tool option.

Compared with the currently mainstream CRISPR/Cas9 system, alphaCas^®Has demonstrated significant differentiated advantages:Its molecular size is less than 500 amino acids, only one-third of Cas9; it is derived from rare microorganisms found in the seabed of the South China Sea. There is no pre-existing immunity in the population, and it has very low immunogenicity, avoiding the issues of high pre-existing immunity and high immunogenicity associated with Cas9; meanwhile, alphaCas^®As a representative of a new generation of ultra-small, efficient, and low off-target gene editors, it is being developed pre-clinically using non-viral delivery technology. The derived gene-editing therapies can achieve low dosage, low toxicity, and high applicability, enabling breakthroughs in gene-editing treatments from genetic diseases to chronic conditions and even common illnesses.

Relying on alphaCas^®This breakthrough foundational tool has enabled CASTALYSIS BIOSCIENCE to establish two major in vivo gene editing therapeutic technology platforms, covering gene knockout and gene knock-in. Currently, CASTALYSIS BIOSCIENCE has developed multiple in vivo gene editing pipelines based on the aforementioned platforms, spanning the fields of genetic disorders and chronic diseases.Multiple pipelines have confirmed PCC (Preclinical Candidate Compound) and are about to enter the IIT stage. This also marks the company's upcoming entry into a critical window period for clinical validation.

Looking to the future, CASTALYSIS BIOSCIENCE will continue to focus on alphaCas.^®In-depth development of the technology platform accelerates the clinical translation of the pipeline and continuously expands the boundaries of indications. Relying on original底层tools and a non-viral delivery system, the company is expected to expand the application scope of in vivo gene editing from rare genetic diseases to chronic and common diseases with a larger patient base, truly realizing the vision of "innovative therapies, changing the world."

With the completion of a new round of financing, CASTALYSIS BIOSCIENCE is accelerating its transition to a critical stage from platform technology validation to clinical trial research. Professor Ji Quanjiang stated,"Thanks to the trust and support from all investors, CASTALYSIS BIOSCIENCE has made key progress in ultra-compact gene editing tools and platform optimization, laying a solid foundation for the clinical application of in vivo gene editing, and is about to enter the clinical validation stage. We look forward to the innovative technology from China benefiting the world soon."At the same time, Dr. Yan Ming also stated,"Thank you very much for the trust from all the investors and both new and existing shareholders. CASTALYSIS BIOSCIENCE's in vivo gene editing therapy is about to enter clinical trials. Our pipeline, developed with a focus on unmet clinical needs, has made significant progress in terms of safety, efficacy, and cost. We hope to bring benefits to patients worldwide and create more value for investors and society."

Lü Xiaoxiang, Founding Partner of Zeyue VenturesGene editing is one of the most certain "disruptive innovations" in the coming decades. Our investment philosophy has always focused on finding leaders who can define industry standards, rather than followers. CASTALYSIS BIOSCIENCE, with its original breakthroughs in ultra-small-sized gene editing, perfectly aligns with this criterion. Addressing the bottlenecks of traditional CRISPR-Cas9 tools in delivery and safety windows, CASTALYSIS BIOSCIENCE offers a revolutionary solution. This not only establishes its internationally leading technical moat but also accelerates the realization of "one treatment, lifelong cure."”The clinical value will benefit more patients. We are delighted to become a partner of CASTALYSIS BIOSCIENCE at this critical juncture as they are about to initiate clinical validation. We have great confidence in this top-tier team with original core technology. We firmly believe that this team will stand out and shine brilliantly on the international biopharmaceutical stage.

Mr. Zhang Chao, Head of Yifeng Zhuohua FundRepresentation: As the cornerstone of in vivo gene editing therapies, Cas nucleases with superior properties indicate better clinical benefits. The CRISPR-Cas12n family nuclease discovered by Professor Quanjiang Ji not only possesses independent intellectual property rights but also surpasses the existing CRISPR/Cas9 system in size, editing efficiency, off-target characteristics, and immunogenicity. Dr. Ming Yan, the CEO, has led the team to efficiently expand Cas12n, this groundbreaking foundational tool, into a platform technology, rapidly advancing the core pipeline closer to fruition.Key Milestones of IIT.Yifeng Zhuohua Fund Deeply Invests in the In Vivo Gene Editing Track, Confident in CASTALYSIS BIOSCIENCE's Outstanding Competitiveness Within the Sector, and Looks Forward to CASTALYSIS BIOSCIENCE Further Unlocking the Potential of the Cas12n Nuclease Across More Indication Areas.

Dr. Lingquan Deng, Partner of Med-Fine CapitalRepresentation: After two years of technical challenges from 2024 to 2025, the CASTALYSIS BIOSCIENCE team has successfully transformed Professor Ji Quanjiang's research achievements at ShanghaiTech University into life-saving tools and candidate new drugs that can be tested in real-world trials. Over the past two years, the company’s team has overcome one technical barrier after another to reach this point, which could be described as a life-and-death struggle. If any one of these hurdles had not been passed, the project might have been abandoned. However, we are extremely pleased and fortunate to see that this highly innovative and pioneering university research transformation project is about to enter the human clinical trial stage, placing it among the top few globally rare projects.The latest representative of an independent CRISPR/Cas complete gene family nuclease has entered the patient clinical trial phase.This should also be the first time in the field that scientists and biopharmaceutical enterprises based in China have achieved such a significant milestone. As the seed round exclusive investor incubating CASTALYSIS BIOSCIENCE, I am very pleased to see the company making this progress and sincerely welcome all new investors to join us in supporting CASTALYSIS BIOSCIENCE to continue moving forward with courage.

CASTALYSIS BIOSCIENCE was founded in July 2023, committed to transforming highly efficient and safe ultra-compact gene editors into in vivo gene-editing drugs that offer "one dose, lifetime cure." Leveraging an AI-driven gene editor discovery platform combined with enzyme engineering evolution, CASTALYSIS BIOSCIENCE has successfully developed alphaCas, a globally leading ultra-compact and highly efficient gene editor.^®CASTALYSIS BIOSCIENCE has established an in vivo gene editing platform using non-viral vector delivery, achieving precise and safe genome-targeted gene knockout and efficient knock-in of therapeutic genes. As a technological leader in the field of gene editing drugs, CASTALYSIS BIOSCIENCE's multiple new-generation gene editing drug candidates, which are safe, efficient, long-lasting, and competitively priced, are about to enter clinical validation, providing breakthrough solutions for unmet clinical needs in the fields of rare diseases and chronic conditions.

Zeyue Ventures focuses on equity investment in the healthcare sector. Founded by seasoned industry professionals, it boasts abundant industry resources and a differentiated investment philosophy. Based on profound insights into the market environment and healthcare reform trends, Zeyue Ventures integrates R&D, production, and marketing resources to seek out entrepreneurial projects with "fundamental innovation" and "global commercial potential," making investment decisions based on long-term value.

The ZHUO HUA Fund, managed by Med-Fine Capital, is an early-stage investment fund jointly established with the participation of Hubei Province, city, and district-level funding, along with partners such as Wuhan Innovation Institute, Anhui Railway Fund, Anji State-owned Assets, pharmaceutical listed companies, and other industry players. It focuses on investing in emerging sectors like innovative biotechnology, medical devices, and life science instruments, aiming to incubate, support, and attract outstanding startups, continuously promoting the development of the life health industry. The ZHUO HUA Fund team remains deeply engaged in the healthcare sector, with a research team led by Dr. Sun Jiawei concentrating on key tracks, committed to identifying and investing in innovative projects with high growth potential.

Med-Fine Capital focuses on investment in the pharmaceutical health and life sciences sectors. The management team boasts extensive international perspectives, profound industry background, abundant industry resources, and professional investment experience. Currently managing multiple RMB funds and USD funds, the fund emphasizes "early value and track opportunity discovery," focusing on investment opportunities in biomedicine, medical devices and diagnostics, digital health, and health technology. To date, it has completed investments in over seventy pharmaceutical and healthcare enterprises, including Tian Guangshi, Hanyu Medical, Chenglai Bio, Zanrong Pharmaceuticals, LNK Therapeutics, Pengli Bio, Xinying Medical, Libang Pharmaceuticals, Anruibio, Safu Pharmaceuticals, Ansong Technology, Enotym, Datage Biologics, AccuPulse, Shuimu Healthcare, Anlink Bio, CASTALYSIS BIOSCIENCE, AccuLink Bio, and Tian Yikang Pharmaceuticals.

With the vision of "Building a global healthcare connectivity bridge and outlining the skyline of life and health," and the mission of "Harnessing the power of capital to promote innovation and development in the healthcare industry," adhering to the values of "Customer First, Talent Triumph, Quality Leadership, and Rewarding Trust," and upholding the principles of "Focus and Expertise, Value Discovery, Risk Control, and Empowering Growth," Med-Fine Capital combines "institutionalized management" with "systematic operations" to become an open, platform-based, highly competitive, and internationally renowned top-tier professional investment institution.