Tyligand Bioscience Secures Tens of Millions in Series A+ Financing to Advance Clinical Development of Novel Anti-Cancer Small Molecules

VCBeat News has learned that Taili Biotechnology (“Taili Bio”) recently completed a Series A+ financing round worth tens of millions of US dollars.This funding round was led by Juming Venture Capital, with participation from Taikun Fund, Yuanfeng Capital, Shengdi Investment, and Kangxu Capital. Existing shareholders, CMS Pharmaceutical Group and Bohe Angel Fund, continued their support. The funds raised will be primarily used to accelerate the US-China clinical trials and preclinical R&D of multiple projects in Taili Biotechnology’s pipeline.

Taili Biotechnology is dedicated to the discovery and development of highly differentiated and accessible small-molecule therapies, aiming to address the lack of effective treatments and the issue of drug resistance associated with existing therapies for refractory tumors such as lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and triple-negative breast cancer.The founding team has been deeply engaged in the field of small molecules for many years, possessing extensive management and operational experience with multinational pharmaceutical companies and local R&D organizations. Guided by clinical needs and adhering to a rigorous project initiation strategy, the company creatively addresses unmet clinical demands. Built on a foundation of robust and time-tested data, it has advanced several globally leading innovative drugs into clinical development.TSN084 is a multi-kinase inhibitor,Targeting CDK8/19 and several other kinases closely associated with tumor proliferation and immune evasion, the drug is currently undergoing Phase I clinical trials simultaneously in China and the United States, and received FDA Orphan Drug Designation this May. Amidst the prevailing trend in kinase research toward highly selective single-target inhibitors, TSN084’s favorable tolerability and its capacity to launch a multi-target, multidimensional attack on tumors will bring greater therapeutic possibilities for pan-cancer indications and create more promising market opportunities.TSN222 is a first-in-class bispecific tumor immune agonist,It features a unique dual-functional synergistic effect, which not only activates the innate immune system but also achieves selective tumor killing through the sequential release of toxins. This mechanism helps establish durable adaptive immune memory, thereby controlling the generation, growth, and metastasis of distant and newly formed tumors, addressing the issue of limited durability associated with traditional immune agonists. The product has received clinical trial approval in both China and the United States and is poised to commence patient enrollment. Furthermore, Taili Biotechnology has incorporated its dual-functional tumor immune agonist as one of the core technologies for antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) payloads, applying it to the development of various antibody-drug conjugates.development, yielding excellent results and attracting collaborations with multiple companies.

Dr. Zhang Yantao, Founder of Taili Biotechnology, stated:“We extend our sincere gratitude to Juming Venture Capital and all our existing and new shareholders for their support. Amid the current capital winter, we are honored to have garnered interest from multiple funds. This not only serves as encouragement to the Taili team but also affirms the recognition of Taili Biotechnology’s differentiated pipeline, built upon its unique small-molecule design platform. We will continue to drive pipeline development with efficiency, pragmatism, and creativity, delivering innovative medicines with greater clinical value to physicians and patients.”

Juming Venture Capital stated:“We are honored to lead this round of financing for Taili Biotechnology. Innovative drugs are a key investment focus for Juming Venture Capital. We remain bullish on the oncology drug sector, which offers substantial unmet clinical needs and significant market potential, thereby providing tangible relief to patients. The core team at Taili boasts many years of comprehensive R&D and management experience, making them a highly trustworthy and proven team. The company has a clear strategic layout, strong execution capabilities, and high capital efficiency, having already completed the clinical development planning for three products. Its bifunctional immune agonist small-molecule product employs a distinct approach, demonstrating key advantages in the cancer immunotherapy sector. We look forward to seeing these products benefit cancer patients worldwide as soon as possible.”

About Taili Biotechnology

Tyligand Bioscience, established in 2018, is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of therapeutics for drug-resistant cancers. Leveraging its innovative concept of linking active ligands with secondary functional groups, along with deep insights into biological molecule phosphorylation levels and their signaling pathways, the company is committed to building a highly differentiated pipeline of innovative R&D assets. This pipeline includes novel phosphatase inhibitors, the world’s first bifunctional immune agonist platform (DATIA®), and an innovative payload platform for antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).

About Juming Venture Capital

Juming Ventures focuses on early-stage venture capital in the life sciences sector. Since its establishment in 2018, it has invested in nearly 50 startups spanning innovative drugs, biotechnology, and medical devices (including diagnostics). Juming Ventures remains grounded in China while addressing global clinical pain points, dedicating itself to partnering with outstanding enterprises by providing comprehensive services and supporting their growth.

About CMS Pharma

CMS Pharmaceutical is an open-platform enterprise that bridges pharmaceutical innovation and commercialization, exercising control over the entire product lifecycle management. It is dedicated to providing competitive products and services to address unmet medical needs. CMS Pharmaceutical focuses on first-in-class (FIC) and best-in-class (BIC) innovative products, having established a differentiated pipeline of 30 high-innovation, high-market-potential assets. The company concentrates on specialized therapeutic areas, leveraging proven commercialization capabilities, an extensive distribution network, and expert resources, with its core marketed products achieving leading academic and market positions. By deepening its development in advantageous specialized fields and expanding its boundaries, CMS Pharmaceutical aims to consolidate the competitiveness of its cardiovascular/cerebrovascular and gastrointestinal businesses. Meanwhile, it operates its dermatology/aesthetic medicine and ophthalmology businesses independently to enhance operational scale and efficiency. Furthermore, the company is expanding its business footprint into the Southeast Asian market to generate additional growth contributions, thereby supporting the Group’s high-quality, sustainable, and healthy development.

About Taikun Fund

A biomedical industry fund jointly established in 2021 by Tigermed, Hangzhou State-owned Capital Investment and Operation Co., Ltd., Hangzhou High-tech Venture Capital Co., Ltd., and Hangzhou Tailong Venture Capital Partnership (Limited Partnership). Leveraging Tigermed’s industrial layout as a clinical CRO and aligning with Hangzhou’s strategic development plan for the pharmaceutical industry, the Taikun Fund operates on a market-oriented basis. Focusing on the life and health industry, it prioritizes innovative companies in areas such as innovative medical devices, biopharmaceuticals, healthcare services, healthcare informatics, digital therapeutics, intelligent manufacturing, and nutrition and health, covering all stages of corporate development.

About Yuanfeng Capital

Suzhou Yuanfeng Capital Management Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Yuanfeng Capital”) was established in March 2020. As a policy-oriented equity investment platform under the Administrative Committee of Suzhou Industrial Park, it manages funds with a total scale of RMB 12 billion. The Industrial Investment Fund managed by Yuanfeng Capital supports Suzhou in establishing “landmark industries” and creating new heights for industrial development by introducing major domestic industrial projects or overseas projects with leading technologies, and by supporting the merger and reorganization of advantageous enterprises within the park to become industry leaders.

About Shengdi Investment

Shanghai Shengdi Private Equity Fund Management Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Shengdi Investment”) is a professional equity investment institution under Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co., Ltd. It was registered and established in Pudong, Shanghai on December 6, 2021, with a registered capital of RMB 30 million. Adhering to the principles of professionalism, focus, innovation, and growth, Shengdi Investment conducts equity investment activities centered on the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry. It places particular emphasis on innovative R&D and clinical needs in the biopharmaceutical sector, adheres to market-oriented and differentiated investment strategies, and is committed to building a cyclical, win-win biopharmaceutical ecosystem and a leading domestic innovation investment platform for the biopharmaceutical industry.

About the Mint Angel Fund

Mint Angel Fund was established in 2015 as China’s first pharmaceutical and healthcare angel investment fund dedicated to early-stage innovative R&D enterprises. It is committed to building China’s premier platform for discovering, nurturing, and incubating technology transfer projects in early-stage biotechnology. The fund’s seasoned investment team collaborates with an international “think tank” of top-tier scientists, business leaders, and entrepreneurs. It focuses primarily on the development of innovative drugs based on cutting-edge life science technologies, while also strategically investing in innovative technological solutions for precision medicine. By leveraging a deep understanding of the pathways and cycles of technology commercialization, the fund helps enhance the success rate and accelerate the growth of its portfolio companies.

About Kangxu Capital

Calor Healthcare is a healthcare investment fund under Kangxu Capital, focusing on investments in China’s biotechnology, IVD, and CRO sectors. It has already invested in numerous leading Chinese biopharmaceutical and medical device companies. Leveraging extensive capital market experience and deep industry connections in the pharmaceutical sector, the Kangxu team has participated in investments that have successfully achieved IPOs for more than twenty companies.