GeneWise Bio Completes Nearly RMB 100 Million Series A Financing to Drive Innovation in Proteomics and Spatial Omics

Recently, Iomics Biosciences Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “Iomics”) announced the completion of its nearly RMB 100 million Series A financing round, co-led by Yuanhe Yuandian and Xingze Capital, with Qushi Capital serving as the exclusive financial advisor. The funds raised in this round will be primarily used for the continuous research and development of the company’s series of independently innovated technology platforms in proteomics and spatial omics, as well as to accelerate the development and regulatory registration filings of its self-developed next-generation ultra-sensitive single-molecule protein detection system and related diagnostic kits for neurodegenerative disease biomarkers.

Iomics Biosciences, established in November 2019, focuses on fields such as brain science and oncology. Guided by scientific research and clinical applications, it leverages its core strengths in independent R&D and resource integration.Strategically positioned for the development of technological platforms including high-sensitivity protein detection, high-throughput transcriptomics, and spatial proteomics.and focus on early screening, early diagnosis, and companion diagnostics for neurological disorders, has successively launched a series of innovative products widely applicable to clinical testing, filling the domestic gap in this field. The company has assembled a team of management and R&D professionals with extensive experience in precision medicine and a global perspective, possessing strong capabilities in research and development, operations, and commercialization.

Founder Xu Junquan served at CapitalBio Corporation for many years, holding positions including General Manager of the Life Sciences Division, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and CEO of CapitalBio Jingdian. He also served as Chairman of Shenzhen Chipscreen Biosciences Ltd. With over 20 years of experience in scientific research and clinical diagnostics, Mr. Xu led his team to secure more than 30 Class II and Class III IVD certifications. He holds 50 authorized patents domestically and internationally (including 25 U.S. patents) and has published more than 10 high-impact SCI academic papers.

Data from the Seventh National Population Census, released in May 2021, showed that China’s population aged 60 and above reached 264 million, including 15.07 million individuals with dementia. According to World Health Organization statistics, brain-related diseases—including various neurological and psychiatric disorders—impose the greatest societal burden among all disease categories, accounting for 28%, surpassing cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

Therefore, early screening, diagnosis, and intervention for major brain disorders constitute a critical area of research in the field of brain science. During China’s 13th Five-Year Plan period, the China Brain Project was officially launched, adopting a “one body, two wings” framework. One of these wings focuses on vigorously strengthening research into the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of major brain diseases, thereby fostering the development of various novel medical industries.

After years of comparative data analysis, scientists worldwide have identified a strong correlation between the onset of neurodegenerative diseases and the deposition of associated proteins. Immunoassays for specific proteins have become widely recognized as reliable diagnostic approaches for neurodegenerative diseases. However, most commercial kits offer detection sensitivities only at the pg/mL level, which is often insufficient for detecting ultra-low-abundance proteins. Consequently, these assays typically require cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples and are unable to detect neurofilament light chain (NfL), Tau, and other neurological biomarkers in peripheral serum, thereby significantly limiting their clinical applicability.

Biotechnology companies are attempting to improve existing protein detection technologies from various angles to overcome the bottleneck in detecting ultra-low-abundance proteins. In October 2021, Quanterix’s blood-based Simoa phospho-Tau 181 (pTau-181) assay was granted Breakthrough Device Designation by the U.S. FDA for aiding in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. The hallmark of single-molecule immunoassays is their ultra-high sensitivity, which can reach the femtogram (fg) level, whereas the highest detection sensitivity of conventional labeled immunoassays (such as chemiluminescence and fluorescence immunoassays) is generally at the picogram (pg) level.

According to statistics, among the more than 40,000 known human proteins, approximately 30,000 are undetectable by conventional methods due to their low expression abundance. The critical functions of numerous protein biomarkers remain poorly defined by current technologies, much like icebergs hidden beneath sea level. Consequently, the application of protein biomarkers holds considerable promise for development in both clinical diagnostics and basic research.

Iomics Biosciences’ digital ELISA detection platform under development features femtogram (fg)-level sensitivity. The complete platform system comprises digital ELISA microfluidic chips, detection instruments, supporting software, and associated assay kits. The development of this integrated system involves multiple interdisciplinary fields, including microfluidics, automatic control, microscopy imaging, computational graphics, surface chemistry, antibody development, and protein labeling and detection technologies. Iomics Biosciences possesses profound theoretical expertise and extensive industrial experience in microfluidic chip design and fabrication, as well as in the development of detection instrument platforms. Its core team members have successfully developed and commercialized several microfluidic and microdroplet chip platform systems.

Iomics Biosciences Inc. has further licensed and commercialized from Tsinghua University a high-throughput transcriptome detection technology with independent intellectual property rights. This technology is a panoramic, high-throughput molecular functional screening and research method based on high-throughput sequencing and characteristic gene expression profiles, offering advantages such as high throughput, fully automated operation, and rapid processing.

In the future, Iomics Biosciences will leverage its comprehensive technical capabilities in microfluidic design, optical detection/system integration, high-throughput transcriptome profiling, and ultra-sensitive protein detection to advance next-generation spatial omics technologies based on transcriptomic and proteomic analysis into the fields of scientific research, diagnostics, and new drug development. The company aims to provide globally leading technologies and products for both research and clinical applications, particularly in the field of neuroscience.

For this round of financing,Mr. Xu Junquan, Founder and CEO of Iomics Biosciences Inc.Statement: We are deeply honored to have earned the recognition of investors in this funding round. The substantial capital support will enable us to attract more talent, increase R&D investment, and accelerate the industrialization of our products. Over the next two decades, China’s in vitro diagnostics (IVD) industry will be a market driven by innovation. Upholding originality as our core competitive advantage, Iomics Biosciences Inc. will continue to advance foundational technologies and testing systems, accelerate the R&D and commercialization of multi-omics technologies—including proteomics and spatial omics—and provide more innovative technologies and products for brain science research.

Dr. Hu Xiaofang, Partner at Yuanhe OriginStatement: Within living organisms, proteins are the ultimate executors of biological functions. With the rapid advancement of global proteomics, tools for screening trace protein biomarkers have matured. We believe that ultra-high-sensitivity protein detection will become a key direction for future development. The team at Iomics Biosciences combines an international perspective on innovative technologies with strong capabilities in industrialization and commercial deployment within China, enabling the rapid establishment of a comprehensive ultra-sensitive protein detection technology platform. We look forward to collaborating with Iomics Biosciences to accelerate the company’s growth and expedite the commercialization of its products.

Dr. Qiang Jing, Managing Partner at Xingze CapitalStatement: Xingze Capital is committed to fostering innovation and growth among Chinese life sciences enterprises, taking the promotion of industrial progress and social development as its mission. In vitro diagnostics (IVD) is a key area of focus for Xingze, with proteomics and spatial omics representing a particularly promising direction. Mr. Xu Junquan and his team possess extensive professional expertise and industry experience in the life sciences sector. We are delighted to partner with Iomics Biosciences Inc., joining Yuanhe Origin in supporting the company’s completion of an A-round financing totaling nearly RMB 100 million. Leveraging our team’s rich industry experience and global resource network, Xingze Capital will help Iomics Biosciences deliver greater value to human health. We look forward to the company’s significant future growth and are confident that, under the leadership of its founding team, it will become a world-leading, independently innovative technology platform company in the fields of proteomics and spatial omics.

Yuanhe Origin is a specialized early-stage equity investment platform under Yuanhe Holdings, operating on market-oriented principles. It focuses primarily on investment opportunities in start-ups and early-growth enterprises within the technology and healthcare sectors. With a total fund size of approximately RMB 5 billion, it manages both venture capital (VC) funds and regionally targeted angel funds, committed to empowering entrepreneurial ventures with growth momentum and growing alongside founders.

Xingze Capital was established in 2015. The name “Xingze” embodies the ethos of “masterful healers in the apricot grove, bringing benefits to all.” By leveraging the power of capital, we partner with radiant entrepreneurs to address significant unmet clinical needs.

The investment team at Xingze Capital comprises over 20 professionals with extensive experience in healthcare and medical industry investment, academia, and industrial operations. The firm focuses its investments on innovative biopharmaceuticals, medical devices (including life science instruments), and the innovative services value chain. Its current portfolio includes more than 50 companies, with total assets under management nearing RMB 5 billion.

Since its establishment, Xingze Capital has focused on investing in high-quality early- and growth-stage enterprises in the life sciences industry, with investment projects covering biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, and healthcare services. Its portfolio includes more than 50 rapidly growing star companies, such as Junshi Biosciences (01877.HK), Akeso (09926.HK), China Antibody (03681.HK), RemeGen (09995.HK), Venus Medtech (02160.HK), Sinovant Sciences, Liuhe Ningyuan, Innovent Biologics, TopAlliance Biosciences, Yilian Biotechnology, Qihe Life Science, Bowang Pharma, Tianze Yuntai, Shenqi Medical, Shengsheng Logistics, and PharmCube.

Qushi Capital, a subsidiary of Qushi Holdings Group, serves as the group’s boutique investment banking arm. It has provided services to dozens of top-tier enterprises and facilitated billions in financing from renowned domestic and international funds.