Genius Bio Secures Tens of Millions in Series A Funding to Advance Core Enzymes and Protein Ingredients for Molecular Diagnostics

VCBeat learned that in May 2023, ATG Biotechnology Co., Ltd completed a Series A financing round worth tens of millions of RMB, with exclusive investment from CITIC Capital Ventures, a subsidiary of CITIC Capital.

The funds raised will be primarily used for the construction of R&D laboratories and high-level production workshops, the recruitment of core technical teams and management personnel, and the establishment of a nationwide marketing team. These initiatives aim to enhance the company’s competitiveness in the fields of life sciences, in vitro diagnostics (IVD), and biopharmaceuticals, while simultaneously achieving business scale expansion and growth.

Corporate Environment of ATG Biotechnology

As a rapidly growing segment of in vitro diagnostics (IVD), molecular diagnostics is applied in the detection of infectious diseases, eugenics and prenatal care, sexually transmitted diseases, cancer, and genetic disorders. Its industry applications span clinical diagnosis, epidemic prevention, food safety, animal husbandry, and more.

The COVID-19 pandemic spurred transformation in the in vitro diagnostics (IVD) industry, accelerated the development of molecular diagnostic technologies, enhanced public awareness of nucleic acid testing, and strengthened societal capabilities for medical prevention and control. Following the relaxation of pandemic restrictions, molecular diagnostic technologies have achieved breakthrough developments not only in COVID-19-related applications but also in early cancer screening, pathogen detection, food safety, and quarantine of large animals.

Core enzyme raw materials are critical to China’s life science tools, in vitro diagnostics, and biopharmaceutical industries, akin to the role of chips in the smartphone and automotive sectors. They represent a key bottleneck in China’s supply chain for upstream core raw materials. The development of core enzyme raw materials and large-scale, stable manufacturing processes remain technological barriers held by developed countries, making independent domestic development an urgent priority.

Furthermore, with economic development and improvements in living standards, there is growing public demand for early prevention and health management, alongside heightened societal expectations for enhancing healthcare quality and controlling medical costs. The independent development of core raw materials and the application of precise, rapid molecular diagnostic solutions align with current needs in public healthcare development, holding significant importance for advancing overall healthcare standards and promoting equitable access to medical services for the general population.

In recent years, as the state has continuously introduced preferential policies and guidance to encourage advanced technological innovation and the substitution of imported raw materials, ATG Biotechnology Co., Ltd. has steadily strengthened its industrial chain layout and R&D investment, achieving significant progress in molecular enzyme raw materials and molecular detection technical solutions.

ATG Biotechnology Co., Ltd. is a biotechnology enterprise dedicated to the research and development, production, and application of high-end biological enzyme preparations and related protein raw materials. Its product technologies span business sectors including life science research, in vitro diagnostics, and biopharmaceuticals.

The company has mastered upstream technologies, including enzyme gene engineering, advanced protein engineering, and post-fermentation processing for large-scale protein production. To date, it has developed and engineered over 100 core enzyme raw materials and more than 300 reagent solutions, and has established a 1,000 m² GMP-compliant production workshop for enzyme raw materials.

The company boasts a robust scientific research team and strong R&D capabilities. It has specially appointed Professor Lu Zhaoxin from Nanjing Agricultural University (Chief Zhongshan Scholar) as its Chief Scientist. R&D personnel account for 60% of the workforce, with 50% holding master’s degrees or higher.

Currently, ATG Biotechnology has laid out four major product series—P, C, R, and Q—in the life science tools sector, including various ligand-modified and engineered Taq polymerases and Proofast, which tolerates complex conditions.^®High-fidelity enzyme and the proprietary recombinase cloning reagent, CloneUFO^®, ultra-high heat-resistant reverse transcriptase and premixes, ultra-high sensitivity quantitative fluorescence kits, and other products have received consistent acclaim from the research community and other industry clients, with performance comparable to top international brands. To enable more customers to experience the company’s meticulously refined, high-quality reagent products, brand marketing and market promotion will be key focus areas for the enterprise in the future.

Meanwhile, the company has been deeply engaged in the mining and engineering of core enzyme raw materials for molecular diagnostics, the development of scalable manufacturing processes, and the innovation of molecular testing technology solutions. It has launched multiple platform series, including the “gold standard” RT-qPCR nucleic acid testing platform, the molecular rapid-testing POCT isothermal amplification platform, the precision diagnostics nuclease raw material series, the biochemical testing raw material series, and the high-performance recombinant protein series, along with integrated raw material–reagent solutions.

• RT-qPCR Nucleic Acid Detection Platform:Taq polymerase modified with multiple ligands; ultra-heat-stable reverse transcriptase, enhancing detection sensitivity and reagent stability.

• Molecular Rapid POCT Isothermal Amplification Platform:EIA（RPA）：EIA (RPA) + Multi-Nuclease Detection Solution to Address Diverse Testing Scenarios and Requirements.LAMP：Proposed two reagent schemes: Bst DNA polymerase + RNHII combined with MB probes, and Bst DNA polymerase + FEN1 combined with Flap probes, to address the frequent occurrence of false positives in LAMP.

• Precision Diagnostics Nuclease Raw Material Series:Proprietary nucleases including ExoIII, NFO, RNHII, FENI, Cas12a, and PfAgo facilitate the development of innovative nucleic acid molecular detection technologies.

• Biochemical Testing Raw Materials Series:The core enzyme raw materials for glycated albumin and glycated hemoglobin are unique.

• Recombinant Protein Series:Streptavidin protein SA is regarded by customers as a domestic product that can fully replace top international brands. The newly launched alkali-resistant recombinant protein AtRe Protein A features exceptional tolerance and affinity, earning widespread acclaim from industrial clients.

Since the emergence of COVID-19, novel mRNA vaccines have become the spotlight of the biopharmaceutical vaccine industry due to their advantages such as low dosage requirements, ease of production, low immunogenicity, and long shelf life. However, mRNA synthetases occupy a core position in the entire industrial chain. As a pioneer in molecular enzyme development, ATG Biotechnology Co., Ltd. has taken the lead in launching core enzyme raw materials for mRNA-related synthesis and modification, as well as highly efficient T7 in vitro transcription reagent solutions, thereby supporting the production and process development of mRNA vaccines in China.

To meet broader market demands, ATG Biotechnology continues to advance technological innovation by leveraging artificial intelligence databases to screen and modify protein structures, enhance the performance of enzyme raw materials, optimize production processes, and refine reagent solutions. Meanwhile, the company is strengthening the multi-product portfolio development of core specialty enzymes and recombinant proteins, striving to become a leading domestic brand in molecular enzymes, thereby supporting precision medicine and promoting accessible healthcare.

Mr. Diao Hanwen, Founder of ATG Biotechnologystated: “We extend our sincere gratitude to CITIC Capital and all sectors of society for their recognition and strong support! Over the five years since its establishment, ATG Biotechnology has gained broader social recognition from the community, customers, employees, and investors through the relentless efforts of our entire team. ATG Biotechnology welcomes extensive collaboration with industry leaders and the investment community to jointly advance the independent development and production of core molecular raw materials in China, thereby enhancing our international influence!””

Zhang Yuhan, Managing Director of the Proprietary Investment Department at CITIC Capital and Managing Partner of CITIC Venture Capitalstated: “The market for molecular diagnostic raw material enzymes in China has long been monopolized by foreign giants. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of a localized IVD supply chain. Meanwhile, the state is also encouraging and prioritizing the self-sufficiency and controllability of key raw materials for molecular diagnostic reagents at the policy level, to further resolve the ‘chokehold’ issue on raw materials.”’Issue: The domestic substitution of molecular enzyme raw materials is entering a period of sustained acceleration. ATG Biotechnology boasts profound R&D capabilities and has refined its production processes over many years. The company has long focused on the development and manufacturing of molecular enzymes for industrial and clinical applications, with product performance benchmarked against top international brands. ATG independently develops and continuously iterates multi-scenario products to meet downstream customer needs. CITIC Capital will fully support ATG Biotechnology in jointly promoting innovative development in China’s life sciences sector and creating long-term value together.

Angel Round ShareholdersYuan Mengmeng, Investment Director of Dynamic Balance Capitalstated: “The life sciences support industry boasts a vast market potential, making it a key sector for focused attention and strategic deployment by Dynamic Balance Capital. ATG Biotechnology specializes in enzyme raw materials for molecular diagnostics, addressing ‘chokepoint’’key technologies. Since the angel investment round, we have witnessed the company’s solid foundation in raw material enzyme development and its strong project execution capabilities. We look forward to Mr. Diao leading the team in continuous R&D efforts, consistently providing customers with stable, high-quality products, and contributing further to the self-sufficiency and controllability of critical raw materials in China.”

CITIC Venture Capital is an RMB-denominated fund under CITIC Capital, specializing in early-stage venture capital investments. The fund’s investors include central state-owned enterprises, as well as national, provincial, and municipal government guidance funds. CITIC Venture Capital primarily invests in early- to mid-stage science and technology innovation enterprises in the fields of medical technology, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing. In addition to ATG Biotechnology, its representative portfolio companies include Airdoc, Quicktron Intelligence, XtalPi, Yuhai Precision, Mengxin Technology, Mushroom Intelligent Connection, Huasheng New Energy, Emai Medical, Gilanding, Yuanbao Technology, Zenotech, and Longway Systems. In 2021, CITIC Venture Capital was honored with awards such as “Top 50 Venture Capital Firms Most Welcomed by Entrepreneurs in China” by 36Kr and “Top 100 Best IPO Investment Institutions” by IPO Zaozhidao. In 2022, it received further recognition from 36Kr, including “Top 50 Investment Institutions Most Welcomed by Entrepreneurs” and “Top 10 Most Promising First-Time Funds in China.”

Nanjing Dynamic Balance Investment & Management Co., Ltd. is a core enterprise of the Nanjing Jiangning Talent Group. It operates under a model featuring government equity participation, market-oriented operations, and professional management. The company manages multiple government fund-of-funds, venture capital funds, and industry funds, covering all stages from angel investment to venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE). Adhering to the mission of “enhancing the value of valuable assets,” it focuses on addressing market failures and prioritizes serving innovation and entrepreneurship, thereby creating an “Investment Plus” service model for enterprises.