Huateng Bio Completes Tens of Millions RMB Series A+ Financing to Advance Preclinical CRO Platform for Pharma and MedTech

VCBeat has learned that, recently,Guangzhou Huateng Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd.(hereinafter referred to as“HUA TENG”) once again garnered favor from numerous investors, completing an A+ round of financing worth tens of millions of yuan, with this round led byYanghe InvestmentandWanlian Tianze Capital, a subsidiary of Wanlian SecuritiesCo-led the investment round. The company had previously secured Series A financing in September 2022 from a fund under Zhongke Yuechuang Incubator Investment Management Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Zhongke Yuechuang”).

It is reported that this round of funding will be used for industrial layout, expansion of industrial service bases, and other purposes to further improve the company’s hardware and software infrastructure, enhance its CRO service capabilities for medical devices and pharmaceuticals, accelerate the R&D process of China’s pharmaceutical and medical device industry, and boost its international competitiveness.

Huateng Biomedical, located in Huangpu District, Guangzhou, is a national high-tech enterprise specializing in contract research organization (CRO) services for drug and medical device R&D, with expertise in animal model development. Led by academicians, its core team comprises senior scientists from top universities, research institutions, and enterprises both domestically and internationally. Focusing on gene-edited large animal models (miniature pigs and rabbits), the company provides preclinical efficacy and safety evaluations for pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Huateng Biomedical has established a comprehensive industrial chain covering laboratory animal biological resources, animal model development, and high-value-added innovative services, positioning itself as one of the largest preclinical CRO research service providers for animal models in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Hua Teng has established a 5,000-square-meter SPF-grade laboratory for small and large animals at its Guangzhou headquarters. With three wholly-owned subsidiaries in Foshan, Shenzhen, and Chongqing, the company’s total laboratory area exceeds 10,000 m². It operates three business divisions: Medical Device Services, Pharmaceutical Services, and Research Services.

HUA TENG’s CRO Division for Medical Devices continues to deepen its expertise in large-animal studies for medical devices, accelerating the innovative development of animal disease models in cardiology, orthopedics, spinal surgery, and ophthalmology. It is committed to creating animal disease models that more closely mimic the pathogenesis and progression of clinical diseases, thereby enhancing the value of these models for clinical evaluation.

In terms of hardware configuration, the company has invested nearly RMB 100 million to introduce high-end surgical imaging and research equipment, including Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA), Computed Tomography (CT), Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), laparoscopes, color Doppler ultrasound systems, anesthesia ventilators, physiological and biochemical analyzers, blood gas analyzers, pathology platforms, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS) systems, and real-time quantitative PCR instruments. The facility features multiple Class 10,000 laminar flow clean operating rooms and training operating rooms. The laboratory has obtained animal experimentation licenses, China Metrology Accreditation (CMA), full accreditation from the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC), and complies with the FDA Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) system. To date, it has completed preclinical animal studies for over 100 innovative medical device products, some of which are first-of-their-kind in China and have passed the review for innovative medical devices. The experimental reports have been recognized by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).

HUA TENG’s CRO Division constructs experimental animal disease models using efficient gene-editing technologies and standardized chemical induction methods, possessing unique advantages in the development of large-animal models. It is committed to creating evaluation approaches that more closely mimic clinical diseases, focusing on supporting source-innovative drug target discovery, efficacy screening and validation of drug molecules, and safety assessment. The company has mastered multiple proprietary animal models in miniature pigs and rabbits, including cardiovascular, neurological, and metabolic disease models, as well as xenotransplantation donor pigs, all reaching international leading standards.

Huateng Biological Research Services Department is committed to building a comprehensive research service platform, focusing on biomedical research services. With biological experiments at its core, it provides research experimental services ranging from gene molecules and cells to small and large animals, as well as collaboration on medical-engineering translation projects. It guides the standardization, refinement, and scaling of research services and internal scientific achievements, striving to become a one-stop research service platform for standard setting, solution evaluation, and value discovery.

The Company has obtained numerous qualifications and honors, including National High-Tech Enterprise, National Technology-Based Small and Medium-sized Enterprise, Guangdong Province Specialized, Refined, Differential, and Innovative (SRDI) Enterprise, Guangzhou SRDI Private Enterprise Support Recipient, Huangpu District Entrepreneurial Talent Enterprise, Huangpu District Outstanding Talent Enterprise, and Gazelle Enterprise. Industry-specific qualifications held include the Laboratory Animal Use License, Laboratory Animal Production License, AAALAC International Accreditation, and CMA Certification. The Company currently serves as the Secretariat Unit for the Miniature Pig Professional Committee of the Chinese Association for Laboratory Animal Sciences, the Deputy Secretary-General Unit of the Guangdong Provincial Association for Laboratory Animal Science, and a Standing Director Unit of the Guangdong Toxicology Society. It has jointly established graduate joint training bases with Southern Medical University and Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, an internship and practice base with Southern Medical University, a practical teaching base for the College of Veterinary Medicine at South China Agricultural University, and an industry-academia-research cooperation base with Jilin University, among others.

Wanlian Tianze CapitalStatement: We are delighted to partner with HUA TENG. The HUA TENG team boasts extensive experience in preclinical CRO services, a robust technical development team, and high-quality laboratory resources. It demonstrates prominent advantages in constructing large animal disease models and delivering related services, providing a reliable tool platform for biomedical R&D. In recent years, the importance of laboratory animals and animal experimentation has continued to grow, with national policies supporting the development of this sector. A small cohort of listed companies has already emerged, and more firms in this field are expected to enter the capital market in the future. As a key hub for the biomedical industry, the Greater Bay Area requires specialized enterprises like HUA TENG that focus on large animal preclinical CRO services. We look forward to HUA TENG’s rapid growth into a leading large animal CRO platform in the Greater Bay Area, empowering the biomedical industry in Guangzhou and worldwide.

Yanghe InvestmentStatement: The biopharmaceutical, medical device, and life sciences industries represent sectors worthy of long-term investment. Laboratory animals and animal experimentation are indispensable tools and means for industry development. The use of laboratory animals and animal testing in the biopharmaceutical field started earlier, giving rise to many well-known enterprises. Meanwhile, with strengthened regulatory oversight and the introduction of supportive policies, the application of laboratory animals and animal testing in the medical device sector is facing significant opportunities for growth. The HUA TENG team boasts professional expertise and extensive industry experience. The company has established a front-end platform for the breeding and husbandry of laboratory animals, a mid-end platform for disease modeling and surgical procedures in laboratory animals, and a back-end platform for clinical training and instructional guidance, all centered around the biopharmaceutical and medical device fields. This integrated approach offers substantial synergistic advantages and development potential. We believe that HUA TENG will overcome challenges, reach new heights, and become an industry benchmark in the future.

Xie Shuilin, Chairman of HUA TENGStatement: We extend our sincere gratitude to Wanlian Securities and Yanghe Investment for their trust and support! Through this round of financing, HUA TENG will continue to enhance the service capabilities of its preclinical CRO experimental platform, striving to build a high-quality R&D service platform for the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, thereby providing robust support to the biomedical sector in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Adhering to its mission and vision of “Building a New R&D Ecosystem, Serving Healthcare and Wellness,” the company is committed to delivering comprehensive, full-chain support services—including the R&D, production, and CRO services of high-standard laboratory and model animals—for preclinical research on drugs and medical devices.

Wanlian Tianze Capital Investment Co., Ltd. is a wholly-owned private equity subsidiary of Wanlian Securities, which is under the Guangzhou Financial Holdings Group. Since its establishment, it has developed an investment footprint rooted in the Greater Bay Area and extending across China, investing in a batch of innovative and outstanding enterprises in fields such as advanced manufacturing, next-generation information technology, new materials, and life sciences. Notable investment cases include CanSemi, Narui Radar (688522.SH), Jet Biofil (688026.SH), Lifang Pharmaceutical (003020.SZ), Lushan New Materials (603051.SH), and Xishan Technology (688576.SH). The investing entity for HUA TENG in this transaction is the Guangzhou Science and Technology Bureau Angel Direct Investment Fund, which is managed by Wanlian Tianze Capital under entrustment. Spearheaded by the Guangzhou Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, this fund was specifically established to support the growth of early-stage technology enterprises in the city and further promote the integrated development of science, finance, and industry. Its mission is to foster the development of early-stage projects in Guangzhou and facilitate the transformation and upgrading of the city’s industries.

Yanghe Investment, founded in 2013, is an industrial investment institution established through joint funding by several publicly listed companies in the healthcare industry. It focuses on niche sectors within the medical field, with particular emphasis on biotechnology, medical devices, and biopharmaceuticals. Since its inception, the firm has strategically invested in a portfolio of high-quality healthcare enterprises, including Vishee Medical, Mingkang Medical, Libo Pharmaceutical, Kanglu Biotechnology, Dingbang Biotechnology, Ruitong Biotechnology, Respree, Bosheng Medical, and Genenode Biotechnology.

Zhongke Yuechuang is the venture capital investment platform under Guangzhou Hedy Medical Health Industry Group, focusing on equity investments in the medical and healthcare sector, as well as the investment, construction, and operation of life science parks in the Greater Bay Area. By adopting a new model of “building bases, establishing funds, and promoting industries,” it aims to create the most influential demonstration park for innovation and entrepreneurship in the life science industry within the Greater Bay Area. The investing entity for this transaction is its affiliated fund, Foshan Fogao Yuechuang Venture Capital Partnership (Limited Partnership). This fund was jointly initiated and established by the Foshan Innovation and Entrepreneurship Industry Guidance Fund, Foshan Torch Innovation and Entrepreneurship Park Co., Ltd., Guangzhou Hedy Group, Zhongke Yuechuang, and other entities, with the aim of empowering technological innovation industries and supporting the long-term development of enterprises.