Zhongbo Ruikang Completes Nearly RMB 100 Million Series A Funding to Build an Internationally Leading Cell Processing Tool Technology Platform

Recently, Zhongbo Ruikang (Beijing) Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd. (“Zhongbo Ruikang”) announced the completion of its Series A financing round, raising nearly RMB 100 million. The round was led by Yuanyi Investment, with continued participation from existing shareholder Innovation Works. The proceeds will be used to expand a newly built R&D and Design Institute (comprising an R&D Center, Design Center, Testing Center, Data Center, Customer Service Center, and After-Sales Service Center) and to broaden the R&D pipeline. The company will further enhance its Shanghai production base by improving fully automated equipment, GMP-grade single-use consumables, and capacity management for liquid production at GMP and clinical testing grades. It will also expand technical services for existing products and develop customized tools and services for various cell and gene therapy drug developers. Additionally, Zhongbo Ruikang will carry out diversified marketing efforts to meet the surging demand for intelligent, automated series of single-use tools required for multi-pipeline differentiated original product development, accelerated drug regulatory submissions, and orderly capacity expansion in the cell and gene therapy sector, thereby satisfying the broad market demand for GMP-grade cell preparation.

Zhongboruikang has been continuously focused on the research and development of domestically produced tools in the field of cell and gene therapy (CGT) for many years, establishing itself as a leading Chinese brand capable of providing comprehensive solutions for cell preparation tools. Leveraging the founding team’s in-depth understanding of CGT industry R&D, manufacturing, and services, Zhongboruikang is committed to helping clients achieve industrialized cell preparation characterized by “continuity, closed-system processing, single-use disposability, consistency, scalability, automation, modularity, and compliance with medical device standards,” thereby fully promoting domestic substitution. The company has launched a serialized family of cell preparation tools covering automated cell isolation, culture, washing, programmed aliquoting, cryopreservation, and thawing. Furthermore, to address the specific requirements of different customers and pipelines, it provides GMP-compliant modular integration across various processes, enabling rapid, efficient, and differentiated standardized cell preparation at various GMP levels.

In recent years, cell and gene therapies have achieved a series of breakthroughs in oncology treatment. With the successive approvals of cell therapy drugs in both China and the United States, cell therapy has become a prominent field. Currently, domestic cell therapy drug development is attracting concentrated investment, with numerous enterprises involved, a continuous increase in the number of clinical trials, and steady progress in trial advancement, which will drive surging demand for upstream manufacturing tools. The domestic cell manufacturing tools market is predominantly dominated by foreign companies, presenting challenges such as high costs, long lead times, and delays in service response. These issues have become one of the core pain points hindering the development of China’s cell and gene therapy industry.

Zhongbo Ruikang is committed to achieving the localization of cell preparation tools. Its core team has accumulated extensive experience in the field of cell preparation tools over many years. By focusing on this specialized market, the company has built a high-quality team dedicated to the R&D of automated closed-system technologies for cell preparation, product design, systematic production, market promotion, and professional services. Currently, the company has completed product development and established a production base in Shanghai, featuring a 5,000-square-meter standalone building that houses a 3,000-square-meter GMP-compliant production center, as well as cleanroom quality control and laboratory facilities. Its flagship proprietary products—the “Xuanfeng Series” (automated cell separation and concentration) and the “Xiangyun Series” (automated cell expansion and culture)—have achieved full-scale mass production. In late 2021, the company successfully established a presence in the Chengdu Tianfu Biotechnology City, where it is developing a core R&D center aligned with its rapid growth, making it a key component of Zhongbo Ruikang’s strategic expansion and development framework.

Wei Dongbing, founder of Zhongbo Ruikang, spent 13 years at a renowned Fortune 500 company in the medical device sector before serving as the Head of Miltenyi Biotec’s China region. He has extensive experience in automated intelligent equipment and single-use consumables, particularly in the application scenarios and industrialization of multi-product, multidisciplinary cell and gene therapy development. Wei Dongbing established the Zhongbo Ruikang brand several years ago and consolidated it into “Zhongbo Ruikang (Beijing) Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd.” in 2021. Under his leadership, the Zhongbo Ruikang team has become a leading management group in China, composed of high-caliber professionals with deep insights into cell preparation tool requirements, strong commercialization capabilities, and R&D and production management experience from top-tier multinational corporations.

Zhongbo Ruikang’s cell preparation system has established collaborations with over 100 CDMO enterprises specializing in cell and gene therapy drug development. Its team and technologies have gained widespread recognition from leading companies in the field. Meanwhile, targeting the high-demand hospital application market, the company has built a diversified portfolio of cell therapy products for clinical use, which have entered the stage of applying for medical device registration certificates. The company’s production system has successively obtained multiple certifications, including ISO standards, as it continues to rapidly evolve into a provider of cell preparation tools qualified for medical device manufacturing.

Gao Ying, Head of Healthcare at YuanyiYuanyi remains bullish on the biomedical sector, viewing cell and gene therapy as a new paradigm in oncology that will deliver substantial clinical benefits to patients with major and rare diseases. Domestic cell therapy companies are poised for a surge in demand for production translation and process implementation. The Zhongbo team has long been dedicated to the R&D of cell preparation tools and committed to continuous innovation. We look forward to the Zhongbo team driving the localization of cell preparation systems, thereby bringing greater empowerment and enhancement to the industry.

Xiao Hai, Innovation WorksStatement: Following Sinovation Ventures’ angel investment in Zhongbo Ruikang, we are pleased to witness the company’s sustained rapid growth. It has taken the lead in completing the construction of its in-house production capacity, secured orders from leading domestic and international innovative cell and gene therapy (CGT) pharmaceutical companies and CDMOs, and commenced volume deliveries in December last year. The management team, led by Mr. Wei, boasts extensive industry experience and strong execution capabilities, aligning well with the current development landscape of China’s life sciences sector. We believe that Zhongbo Ruikang will soar alongside the CGT industry, and we warmly welcome Yuanyi to join us in supporting the company’s growth into a leading provider of CGT tools in China.

Yuanyi is an independent industrial investment fund primarily initiated by Far East Horizon (HK.03360) and managed by a professional team. Adhering to the core investment philosophy of “financial support plus industrial empowerment,” Yuanyi focuses on investing in high-quality growth-stage enterprises in China. The firm has deep expertise in core sectors such as advanced manufacturing, healthcare, enterprise services, and mass consumption. Post-investment, it is dedicated to helping portfolio companies access precise financial and industrial resources to enhance their value. Currently, Yuanyi manages assets exceeding RMB 5 billion and has led investments in a number of high-quality emerging industry companies in China, including Tuhu Car Maintenance, Missfresh, WM Motor, Peijia Medical, Changfeng Pharmaceutical, Zhiben Medical, Aqara, Gauss Robotics, AutoX, and Boche Wang.

Founded by Dr. Kai-Fu Lee in September 2009, Innovation Works is a leading venture capital and incubation firm in China. It focuses deeply on artificial intelligence and hard tech, robotics and automation, chips and semiconductors, enterprise software, healthcare, and other sectors. Committed to continuous exploration and innovation, the firm aims to build a comprehensive ecosystem investment service platform that integrates entrepreneurial support, funding, and post-investment services.