Eccogene Secures RMB 180 Million Series B Financing to Advance Metabolic Disease Therapeutics

Eccogene is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to developing innovative therapeutic solutions for metabolic diseases.Company. According to VCBeat, the company announced today that it has secured 180 millionRMB (approximately US$25 million) in Series B financing. The round was co-led by New Alliance Capital and Zhangkeherun.，New investors participating in this round include Lanshi Capital, Yufu Investment, Huajin Investment, and Lichen Investment; existingInvestmentDelos Global Health Fund, Yuanhe Origin, and Qingsong Capital continued to increase their investments.China Renaissance served as the financial advisor.The proceeds from the financing will be used to support the research and development of Eccogene’s clinical-stage projects, including Phase I clinical trials of ECC5004, a small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist for obesity and type 2 diabetes, as well as for NASH and lipidPhase I clinical trial of ECC4703, a fully agonistic THR-β modulator for metabolic disorders, while further advancing Eccogene’s preclinical R&D projects in metabolic and immune diseases.

Eccogene's clinical pipeline includes:

• ECC5004, a once-daily, low-dose small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA), is currently undergoing a Phase I clinical trial in the United States involving healthy participants and patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Preclinical studies have demonstrated that ECC5004 exhibits favorable efficacy and safety profiles, highlighting its potential to become a best-in-class GLP-1 RA.

• ECC4703, a full THR-β agonist, is currently undergoing a Phase I clinical trial in the United States involving healthy participants and subjects with elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. In preclinical studies, ECC4703 demonstrated advantages over the partial agonist MGL-3196 and exhibited superior efficacy in preclinical models of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and dyslipidemia.

• ECC0509, a peripherally distributed SSAO/VAP-1 inhibitor, is nearing completion of its Phase I clinical trial.

Dr. Zhou Jingye, Founder and CEO of Eccogene, stated“We are pleased that the Series B financing will enable us to advance the clinical trials of a potential best-in-class small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) for the treatment of obesity, diabetes, and related complications, and to further develop a diverse portfolio of highly differentiated products for metabolic and immune diseases. The completion of this financing brings us one step closer to delivering clinical benefits to hundreds of millions of patients worldwide affected by obesity, type 2 diabetes, and NASH.”

Lead InvestorMr. Cai Lei, Partner at New Alliance Capital“The firm stated: ‘We are delighted to participate in this round of financing for Eccogene. Metabolic chronic diseases have long been a key focus area for New Alliance, and small-molecule oral drugs with advantages in convenience and patient adherence represent another future technological trend. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a blue-ocean market with substantial unmet clinical needs. Since its inception, Eccogene has deeply cultivated the fields of metabolic and immune diseases. As one of the few innovative biotechnology companies in China to simultaneously have small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonists and THR-β agonists in clinical stages, it possesses strong global competitiveness. We look forward to collaborating with Eccogene to accelerate product commercialization and benefit a large number of patients!’”

Co-Lead InvestorMr. Gu Jiefeng, Deputy General Manager of Zhangkeherunstated: “The global patient population with metabolic diseases is vast, treatment courses are typically long, and the market value of related drugs is high, with impressive sales performance in recent years. The Eccogene team has accumulated extensive R&D experience in this field, demonstrating high project execution efficiency. Notably, with precise strategic vision, they selected an appropriate combination of targets, developed next-generation molecules to address clinical issues observed with similar drug molecules, and secured global patents. Therefore, we remain optimistic about the company’s future development and look forward to its products bringing new hope to patients.”

Shanghai New Alliance Investment Management Ltd. (New Alliance Capital) was established in 2008 as a fund management company specializing in private equity and venture capital. The firm manages multiple funds with total assets under management exceeding RMB 10 billion. Its primary investors include renowned state-owned enterprise groups, professional funds of funds, government guidance funds, and listed companies. New Alliance Capital focuses its investments on the TMT and healthcare sectors, covering all stages from early-stage to growth-stage and mature-stage enterprises. To date, it has completed over 160 investments, with nearly 40 portfolio companies achieving IPOs or listings both domestically and internationally, nurturing a cohort of industry leaders. With value-added services as its core competency, the firm’s core team members possess extensive investment and management experience in areas such as state-owned enterprise restructuring, private venture capital, and localization strategies for multinational corporations. Leveraging its unique industrial background and scientific research resource advantages, New Alliance Capital provides superior financial and strategic support to outstanding Chinese enterprises and entrepreneurs in industrial incubation and capital operations. Guided by the mission of “growing alongside great enterprises” and backed by profound industry expertise, New Alliance Capital has become the preferred partner for both investors and portfolio companies.

Pudong Biopharmaceutical Sub-Fund Phase I – “Zhangke Herun Fund” takes the Pudong Sci-Tech Innovation Fund of Funds as its cornerstone investor, introducing social capital and professional expertise to adopt a market-oriented investment and management model. The fund has a total size of RMB 3 billion, with Phase I amounting to RMB 1 billion. The biopharmaceutical sub-fund focuses on high-quality, high-growth-potential enterprises in life and health-related sectors, including innovative drugs, medical devices, and healthcare services. Zhangjiang Ke Tou, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zhangjiang Group, serves as the fund manager.

Rockbleu Capital, established in 2021, is a private equity fund dedicated to investing in the biopharmaceutical industry, founded by veterans of the capital markets. The investment team comprises professionals with extensive experience in healthcare investments and industry advisors, possessing diverse expertise in pharmacy, biotechnology, finance, and law. Rockbleu Capital focuses on investing in outstanding enterprises across the entire lifecycle of the life sciences sector, spanning biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, and healthcare services. By building platforms for capital-industry interaction and empowerment, the firm fosters a biopharmaceutical investment ecosystem that accelerates the growth of biopharma companies, helps scientists realize their aspirations, and creates value for society.

Guangzhou Yufu Investment Co., Ltd. was established in August 2018, with its business scope primarily covering investment, financing, industrial park development and operation, medical research, experimental development, and natural science research. The company invested in and constructed the Huazhen International NHP Innovation Park, a biomedical industry innovation platform in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Conghua), which covers an area of approximately 100 mu. Located at the core of the Mingzhu Industrial Park within the Conghua Economic Development Zone in Guangzhou, the project focuses on advanced industries such as biomedicine and health, animal experimentation, drug R&D, and manufacturing. It is planned to build the park into an international-level biomedical innovation platform, promoting the high-quality development of the biomedical industry in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. In the future, the company will leverage this platform as a foundation to intensify its development in key areas including biotechnology, industrial project investment and development, innovation and entrepreneurship, and fund investment.

Huajin Investment is an investment platform under Huafa Group, a state-owned enterprise in Zhuhai and one of China’s Top 500 Enterprises. With total assets exceeding RMB 600 billion, Huafa Group is the largest comprehensive corporate group in Zhuhai and has been listed among the “China Top 500 Enterprises” for seven consecutive years. In the field of industrial investment, Huafa Group focuses on new energy, semiconductors, general health, and other sectors, having invested in more than 300 industry-leading and high-growth innovative companies. Notably, in the healthcare sector, its representative portfolio companies include MGI Tech, Kintor Pharmaceutical, Mabwell Bioscience, Bailai Biotechnology, Promab Biotechnologies, GenSci Medicine, Medlinks Technology, Shengkang Pharmaceutical, Yinming Biotechnology, and Tnuva Therapeutics. Its subsidiary investment platform, Huajin Capital, has been repeatedly ranked among Zero2IPO’s “Top 50 Private Equity Firms in China.”

Lichen Investment is a specialized firm dedicated to early-stage investments in innovative biopharmaceuticals, comprised of a professional team with extensive industry and investment experience. Guided by the imperative to meet unmet clinical needs, the firm seeks to partner with enterprises and entrepreneurs possessing independent intellectual property rights and globally leading technologies. By fostering mutual growth, Lichen Investment aims to develop optimal products and solutions that deliver tangible clinical benefits, thereby serving patients and society.

China New Economy Investment Banker: A Leader in Global Health, Tech, and Consumer SectorsCCB International is a leading new economy investment bank in China, focusing on three major industries: global health, technology, and consumer goods. In addition to its investment banking services, CCB International manages one RMB-denominated fund and one US dollar-denominated fund. The company has branches in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Los Angeles, and holds a license for the U.S. securities market. The healthcare industry is a key focus area where CCB International possesses significant advantages, having been recognized as the new economy investment bank with the most healthcare industry transactions in China for six consecutive years. Furthermore, CCB International boasts the largest scale, strongest professionalism, and most comprehensive industrial chain coverage among domestic healthcare investment banks.Team.