Nvwa Life Secures Tens of Millions in Pre-A Funding to Advance AI-Powered Epigenetic Screening for Assisted Reproduction

VCBeat has learned that Guangzhou Nuwa Life Technology Co., Ltd. (“Nuwa Life”), an innovative company specializing in next-generation assisted reproductive technologies, successfully closed a Pre-A financing round worth tens of millions of RMB in April 2022, following its angel and angel-plus rounds completed in 2021. This round was jointly led by Kejin Holdings, Zheyue Investment, Guoju Venture Capital, Zerun Capital, and Leimeiris.

As infertility in China becomes increasingly prevalent and the “three-child policy” is fully implemented, the assisted reproductive technology (ART) industry has emerged as one of the fastest-growing sectors within China’s healthcare industry. The prevalence of infertility in China rose from 3% in 1995 to 17% in 2020. In 2021, with the nationwide rollout of the three-child policy, the number of pregnancies among advanced maternal age women increased sharply. Coupled with policy support, this has spurred explosive growth in the ART testing market, while also presenting new challenges to the field of assisted reproductive medicine.

Through independent innovation, Nuwa Life has developed a method for AI-driven selection of high-quality embryos using DNA methylation profiles—Pre-Implantation Methylation Screening (PIMS). This technology simultaneously detects copy number variations and DNA methylation levels in embryos, and leverages AI algorithms to intelligently screen for embryonic developmental quality. PIMS introduces novel theoretical frameworks and solutions to assisted reproductive medicine, significantly addressing its technical challenges and providing robust support for improving fertility rates.

Leveraging artificial intelligence to achieve precise embryo screening and comprehensive selection. During the process of preimplantation methylation screening, Nuwa Life has increased the live birth rate of first-time single embryo transfer from 30% to 75%. Meanwhile, by utilizing methylation data from millions of specific key regions accumulated from thousands of embryos, it has achieved screening for genome-wide epigenetic diseases, particularly imprinting gene disorders. Furthermore, AI algorithms are employed to accurately predict embryonic developmental potential, ensuring the optimal selection of embryos.

Imprinting DisordersImprinting disorders are genetic diseases caused by abnormal DNA methylation, such as Angelman syndrome (characterized by maternal UBE3A gene suppression and imprinting defects) and Silver-Russell syndrome. The incidence of imprinting disorders in infants conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF) is three times higher than in natural conceptions. However, screening using Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Imprinting Disorders (PIMS) significantly reduces this incidence. This technology provides robust support for addressing key challenges in assisted reproduction, including low overall live birth rates and high rates of birth defects, thereby promoting eugenics and healthy childbirth.

Kejin Hongguang Fund, managed by Kejin Holdings, participated in the Pre-A financing round of Nuwa Life in March 2022, continuing to support the accelerated industrialization of high-quality local scientific and technological achievements in Guangzhou. Nuwa Life has pioneered the world’s first Preimplantation Methylation Screening (PIMS) technology for IVF embryos. Compared with traditional chromosomal ploidy screening methods, PIMS incorporates embryo methylation indicators to assess embryonic development, featuring characteristics and potential such as substitutability, high efficiency, and scalability. With strong momentum for the independent translation of its original technologies over many years, the company is poised to further unlock the demand for eugenics and healthy childbirth by benefiting IVF patients.

As a biomedical investment firm rooted in the Huangpu District, Guoju Venture Capital is delighted to see enterprises like Nuwa Life within the district that possess core proprietary technologies in the field of assisted reproduction and deliver tangible clinical benefits. We hope that Nuwa Life will accelerate the commercial deployment of its Preimplantation Methylation Screening (PIMS) technology, thereby benefiting a broader population undergoing assisted reproductive treatments. Furthermore, as research into the mechanisms by which methylation affects embryonic development becomes increasingly clarified, we anticipate that Nuwa Life’s PIMS technology will undergo further upgrades, enhancing embryo transfer success rates and achieving greater prominence in the assisted reproduction industry.

Yu Wenbo, Chairman of Zheyue Investment, stated: “Zheyue Investment has its own unique criteria for selecting projects in early-stage investing. We believe that investment is ultimately about investing in people. Through our understanding of the Nuwa team, we have great confidence in their exceptional capabilities. Furthermore, the assisted reproductive technology industry benefits humanity, aligns with national policies, and holds significant social and economic value. In addition, Nuwa’s technology is original and globally leading, has been preliminarily validated through clinical trials, and has a clear direction for future R&D and product development, making its prospects highly promising.”

Shi Yongjian, Chairman of Zerun Capital, stated: “Since its establishment, Zerun Capital has focused on investments in emerging technology sectors such as life sciences and semiconductors, continuously identifying high-quality equity investment opportunities with high barriers to entry and strong growth potential. Nuwa Life’s globally pioneering PIMS technology represents a breakthrough in the field of assisted reproduction, significantly increasing the live birth rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF). The highlights of Nuwa Life lie not only in the scarcity of its exclusive global patents but, more importantly, in its active response to the national three-child policy against the backdrop of China’s newborn birth rate falling below the warning threshold. By safeguarding the growth of the newborn birth rate, the company delivers substantial social and commercial value.”

Zhang Lei, Chairman of Leimeiruis Venture Capital, stated: “To promote the long-term balanced development of the population, the state has sequentially introduced the two-child and three-child policies, with various localities subsequently issuing multiple supporting measures. However, due to practical constraints such as high reproductive costs and prolonged fertility cycles, enhancing public willingness to bear children requires breakthroughs in emerging reproductive technologies, in addition to policy guidance. Guangzhou Nuwa Life Technology Co., Ltd. focuses on precision testing to reduce the number of IVF cycles required, thereby significantly improving fertility rates. Furthermore, its team’s strategic initiatives in areas such as preeclampsia and products of conception have further enhanced eugenics and optimal child-rearing practices for families. Leimeiruis has maintained a long-term focus on the reproductive health sector and looks forward to the coordinated development of related industries to elevate the standard of services for eugenics and optimal child-rearing.”