Hankem Bio Secures Tens of Millions in Series A+ Financing to Accelerate Innovative Oncology Pipeline

VCBeat recently learned that Hefei Hankemaibo Biotechnology Co., Ltd., an immunotherapy biotech company originally established as the Cell and Molecular Immunology Laboratory of the University of Science and Technology of China, secured tens of millions of yuan in Series A+ financing in the third quarter of 2023. The round was jointly participated by Guoyuan Equity Investment, Guoyuan Innovation Investment, iFlytek Venture Capital, and Shenzhen Shengzhong Investment. According to reports, the funds will be used to support preclinical and clinical studies of the company’s various pipelines in development, thereby accelerating the development and commercialization of tumor immunotherapy drugs.

Prior to this,Hefei Hankemaibo Biotechnology Co., Ltd. has secured three rounds of financing over the past three consecutive years from investors including Hefei High-Tech Investment, Anke Biological, and the China International Capital Corporation Fund of Funds, accumulating tens of millions of RMB., providing the critical prerequisites and financial foundation for the development of the company's innovative drugs.

As is well known, immunotherapy is regarded as the “third revolution” in the challenge of cancer treatment. Although there are currently few marketed drugs and most projects remain in preclinical and clinical research stages, immunotherapy has already earned the title of “miracle drug” in its initial foray.It demonstrates clear advantages over targeted therapy and radiochemotherapy in enhancing immune system resistance, overcoming cancer cell drug resistance, and enabling the treatment of different diseases with similar methods.

Hankemaibo has established three major technology platforms and developed a pipeline of more than 10 products in development, leveraging its experienced in-house team, a global advisory board of top-tier experts, and collaborations with renowned research institutions and enterprises such as the University of Science and Technology of China and Anke Biotechnology.

AI-computer-aided design platform, ISETbody bispecific antibody construction platform, and SCAPE drug screening platform are the three core platform technologies of Hankemaibo.The three platforms complement each other, delivering significant cost reduction and efficiency gains in early-stage development phases such as novel structure construction, property optimization, characteristic evaluation, and customized development.

Among the more than 10 pipelines currently under development by Hankemaibo, the HuA21 injection, which is progressing the fastest, is currently undergoing Phase Ib/IIa clinical trials smoothly.HuA21 Injection, targeting HER2, explores new effective targeted therapy regimens for patients with solid tumors such as breast cancer (previously treated with one or more therapies) and treatment-naïve gastric cancer. Existing data demonstrate that HuA21 Injection exhibits strong antigen-binding affinity, potent inhibition of tumor metastasis, and enhanced HER2 internalization, without showing cardiotoxic side effects.

Following closely is the ZG033 injection. As a 4-1BB-targeted agent, ZG033 has entered Phase I clinical trials, placing it in the first tier of development among drugs in its class. With no immune agonists targeting the same mechanism currently marketed, its prospects are promising. Meanwhile, the HK010 project, developed in collaboration with Anke Biotechnology, has received Investigational New Drug (IND) approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) and has initiated Phase I clinical trials. Additionally, several other pipeline candidates, including the HK013 project in partnership with Ruotuo Biologics, are nearing completion of preclinical studies and are poised to enter the clinical trial application stage.

Unlike conventional antibody drug developers, Hefei Hankemaibo Biotechnology Co., Ltd. has established a presence in the fields of monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and cytokine fusion proteins, empowered by its three major innovation platforms.Currently, the majority of our pipeline assets are being developed in compliance with dual-filing standards for both China and the United States. This round of financing will accelerate the clinical development of our various pipelines, thereby expediting the commercialization of our investigational drugs and facilitating value realization through integrated business models such as licensing-out.

Guoyuan Equity Investment Co., Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Guoyuan Securities Co., Ltd., specializing in private equity investment fund business. The company was registered and established in Shanghai on August 18, 2009, with a registered capital of RMB 1 billion. The cumulative investment amount of the company and its managed funds has reached billions of yuan, with dozens of successfully IPOed companies and recent IPO submissions. Its return on equity (ROE) has consistently ranked among the top in similar companies for many years, making it an "excellent investor" and leading brand in the securities firm's private investment industry, achieving good economic and social benefits.

Guoyuan Innovation Investment Co., Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Guoyuan Securities Co., Ltd., with a registered capital of RMB 1.5 billion. Featuring a diverse range of investment products and flexible investment strategies, the company’s business is divided into two major segments: fixed-income investment and equity investment. Currently, the company’s investments span strategic emerging sectors such as biomedicine, semiconductors, information technology, energy conservation and environmental protection, and new energy. Its portfolio includes listed companies such as QuantumCTek, Kewell, Rongzhi Rixin, Gonda High-Tech, Naiko Equipment, JEE Technology, Primarius Technologies, Hengshuo Semiconductor, Runze Technology, Zhenghe Ecology, Jinlv Environment, Tongyuan Environment, Yuanchen Technology, and Heyi Pharmaceutical.

iFlytek Ventures is a leading venture capital platform that upholds the investment philosophy of integrating industry, technology, and capital. Leveraging iFlytek’s industrial expertise and resource integration capabilities, it conducts enabling ecosystem investments centered on core artificial intelligence technologies.

iFlytek Ventures boasts strong industrial resources, a clear and consistent investment philosophy, a track record of successful cases backed by extensive experience, an excellent and diligent team, and efficient, standardized operational processes. It is committed to identifying future industry leaders and driving value enhancement for its portfolio companies.

Shenzhen Shengzhong Investment Development Co., Ltd., established in 2021, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Beijing Chuangye Letu Technology Group Co., Ltd. (Letu Group). Committed to becoming a world-leading enterprise in the biopharmaceutical industry, Letu Group has appointed Dr. James Watson, Nobel Laureate and the “Father of DNA,” as its Chief Scientific Advisor. By combining strategic investment and introduction with independent research and development, the Group is building an integrated biopharmaceutical industrial ecosystem that encompasses precision diagnostics (genetic testing and molecular diagnosis), precision pharmaceuticals (R&D and intelligent manufacturing of biologics), and precision medicine (medical and healthcare services). It continually strives to fulfill its mission of “A Healthy Letu, A Healthy China.”