ReneGene Bio Completes Nearly RMB 100 Million Pre-A+ Financing to Accelerate mRNA Pipeline Development

VBInsight has learned that in February 2023, RinuaGene completed a Pre-A+ financing round of nearly RMB 100 million. The round was led by Dr. Jiang Guangce, Chairman of Dechuan Medical Fund, a renowned investor in the pharmaceutical industry. It saw participation from various pharmaceutical-related industrial capital firms, including Chutian Investment Group (the controlling shareholder of listed company Truking Technology) and Haoping Consulting. Existing investors Xianfeng Qiyun and Chang’an Private Capital continued their support. Gelu Capital served as the long-term financial advisor.

RinuaGene, established in 2021 at the Suzhou BioBAY (Suzhou Industrial Park), is dedicated to developing innovative mRNA-based therapeutics to address significant unmet clinical needs in China and globally. RinuaGene possesses end-to-end independent R&D and clinical manufacturing capabilities for mRNA drugs, supported by three core technology platforms: linear mRNA, circular mRNA, and novel LNP-targeted delivery. Building on these foundations, the company’s proprietary AI algorithms and high-throughput screening platforms ensure efficient progress in target discovery, drug design, and delivery system development. Currently, multiple product pipelines have advanced to the IND application stage, with robust data that fully validate the core technologies related to drug design, delivery, and CMC. As its technology platforms and pipelines advance, RinuaGene has secured comprehensive independent intellectual property rights and global patent coverage in key areas, including function-oriented mRNA design optimization, LNP-related lipids and formulations, novel high-efficiency targeted delivery systems, and CMC and large-scale manufacturing.

The company has assembled a multidisciplinary, cross-functional talent team. Dr. Dong Yijie, Founder of RinuaGene, comes from Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and brings nearly 20 years of R&D and management experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Co-founder Professor Cen Shan, from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, has 30 years of experience in the development of antiviral vaccines and drugs, and has led multiple national major science and technology projects on “New Drug Creation” and “Infectious Diseases.” Dr. Zhang Weiguo, Head of the Company’s Innovation Center, is from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in biomarkers for precision oncology therapy, potential new targets, and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms. Other core team members have previously worked at multinational corporations such as The Liposome Company, Merck, Novartis, Johnson & Johnson, and AstraZeneca.

RinuaGene operates an mRNA innovation and R&D center, along with a pilot-scale cleanroom facility, at Suzhou BioBAY, providing the infrastructure for its technology platform development and product pipeline. The center supports the simultaneous advancement of at least three pipelines to Investigational New Drug (IND) application annually.

At this stage, the company is focused on the research and development of therapeutic cancer vaccines, immuno-oncology drugs, and protein replacement therapies. This round of financing will be primarily allocated to support multiple global Investigational New Drug (IND) applications filed in 2023 and subsequent clinical trials. RinuaGene extends its gratitude to both new and existing investors for their support, particularly acknowledging the trust placed by its industry partners, and looks forward to deepening collaboration with all parties in the future.

The company will continue to uphold its innovative and open corporate culture, seeking multi-faceted collaboration in technology platforms, novel delivery systems, and pipeline products to jointly advance the development of mRNA in emerging pharmaceutical fields.