Zhuhai Kairui Biotech Secures Nearly RMB 100 Million Series A Funding and Successfully Develops GIPR Monoclonal Antibody for Longpan Bio Targeting Metabolic Diseases

Recently, Amgen’s novel protein therapeutic AMG133 demonstrated outstanding performance in clinical trials for obesity, driving its stock price to surge against the market trend and reach an all-time high.^[1]Investors generally anticipate that AMG133 will emerge as a strong competitor to Tirzepatide (Mounjaro™), a novel drug approved recently. Upon market launch, its global peak sales are projected to exceed $20 billion, positioning it as the next-generation blockbuster drug, with potential expansion into the treatment of other metabolic disorders such as diabetes. Developed by Eli Lilly and Company, Tirzepatide is a dual GLP-1 and GIP peptide co-agonist. In contrast, AMG133 differs significantly from Tirzepatide in molecular structure; it is an antibody-peptide bispecific molecule comprising a neutralizing antibody against the GIP receptor (GIPR) conjugated with a GLP-1 peptide. By leveraging a novel mechanism of action distinct from that of Tirzepatide, AMG133 is expected to achieve superior therapeutic efficacy.

Commissioned by Longpan Bio (Hong Kong), Zhuhai Kairui Biotech has recently successfully completed the development of a GIPR-neutralizing monoclonal antibody and a conjugate molecule comprising a GLP-1 peptide and a GIPR antibody. The antibody development process began with the design and preparation of immunogen molecules, followed by the generation of high-activity monoclonal antibodies using mouse hybridoma technology, and concluded with molecular optimization through humanization. The newly developed antibody exhibits exceptionally high affinity and potent neutralizing activity, demonstrating excellent performance in in vivo efficacy studies in animal models, with activity comparable to that of AMG133. CHO stable cell lines for the production of this investigational drug, along with the corresponding fed-batch manufacturing processes, have been established, and the project has smoothly entered the CMC phase. As an antibody therapeutic targeting the G protein-coupled receptor GIPR, the successful completion of its early-stage development effectively validates the robust capabilities of Kairui Biotech’s technical team in the early research and development of monoclonal antibodies and recombinant protein therapeutics. Longpan Bio will continue to engage Zhuhai Kairui to conduct certain preclinical studies and establish a long-term partnership, leveraging Kairui Biotech’s comprehensive technical expertise and experience in the R&D and production of serum-free cell culture media as well as new drug development experiments, thereby providing optimal support for Longpan Bio’s multi-pipeline product development and commercial manufacturing.

Kairui Biotech, established in 2014, specializes in developing serum-free cell culture technology products at an internationally leading level. The company provides high-quality technical services to ensure the sustainable provision of comprehensive technical solutions required for the research, development, and production of biopharmaceutical products by domestic R&D institutions. Its core technical team comprises several senior scientists, including the founder and internationally recognized authority on serum-free cell culture technology, senior technical experts from major international pharmaceutical companies with over two decades of experience in new drug product development, and scientists with extensive research backgrounds at renowned international biomedical research institutions.

Kairui Biotech’s development of cell culture technology products currently focuses on four key areas: monoclonal antibodies and recombinant proteins, cell and gene therapies, precision diagnostics, and human and veterinary vaccines. The company provides serum-free cell culture technology products required for R&D and manufacturing in these four fields, including cell culture media, nutrient feeds, cell attachment factors, recombinant protein growth factors, interleukins, and other supporting reagents. Kairui Biotech’s comprehensive product portfolio ranks among the leaders in the domestic and international markets for similar technological solutions. It currently serves over 400 industrial clients and has achieved profitable growth for several consecutive years.

While comprehensively expanding its product portfolio of domestically produced serum-free cell culture technologies, the company leverages its technical team’s decades of experience in biopharmaceutical product development at major international pharmaceutical companies. Through CRO (Contract Research Organization) experimental services, it empowers clients’ product R&D by providing comprehensive experimental technical support spanning from proof of concept (PoC) for products or drug targets, to the generation of candidate drugs (including recombinant antibodies, recombinant proteins, stem cells, and immune cells), pharmacological and efficacy evaluation, and development of drug manufacturing processes. This ensures reliable technical support for the smooth initiation of projects and accurate assessment of go/no-go decisions.

Kairui Biotech has recently successfully completedRecent100 million yuanFinancing, with investors includingJuke Investment, Yanghe Investment, Gree Industrial Investment, Jet BioandDingsheng Cloud Innovationand other institutions. Leveraging its newly built 6,000-square-meter R&D laboratory and GMP-compliant production facility, the company will pursue a dual-track strategy: developing the industry’s most comprehensive serum-free cell culture reagent system, and providing CRO services for the R&D of novel antibody drugs and cell therapy products. Through this approach, it aims to establish a core biopharmaceutical technology brand with internationally advanced capabilities.

Reference Article:

1. Amgen, the big name you need to know going up against Novo, Lilly in obesity treatments. Investor's Business Daily.October 11, 2022. https://www.investors.com/news/technology/amgen-stock-the-big-name-you-need-to-know-in-the-multibillion-dollar-obesity-treatment-realm/?src=A00220