YueSai Bio Secures Nearly RMB 200 Million in Pre-A Financing to Accelerate Clinical Trials of iPSC-Derived Therapies

On March 14, 2022, UniXell announced the completion of its nearly RMB 200 million Pre-A financing round, led by Sherpa and co-led by CDH VGC, with participation from TF Capital, Kunlun Capital, GL Ventures, Fosun Pharma, Ruihua Capital, and Guofang Capital. The proceeds will be primarily used for R&D investment across multiple pipelines, the construction of a facility for clinical-grade cell product manufacturing, and the initiation and advancement of related clinical trials.

As the Lunar New Year ushers in a fresh start and renewal, UniXell Biotechnology, founded in June 2021, joyfully welcomes its first spring since establishment at the beginning of the Year of the Tiger. UniXell is dedicated to developing next-generation cell therapy drugs based on human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) technology. Leveraging its integrated platform for hPSC preparation, culture, differentiation, and gene editing, the company focuses on technological R&D and product development in the field of stem cell therapy. Its pipeline covers neurodegenerative diseases, rare diseases, and oncology.

As China’s population ages at an accelerating pace, the incidence of neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and stroke has risen significantly, severely affecting patients’ physical and mental health and quality of life while imposing a growing burden on society and families. Conventional pharmacological and surgical treatments have yet to provide effective cures for these conditions. In recent years, advances in cell therapy have brought new hope for treating these refractory diseases: human pluripotent stem cell technology enables the generation of specific types of neural cells (stem cell-based therapeutics) in vitro. When transplanted into the patient’s brain, these cellular therapeutics can replace the function of lost neurons, thereby facilitating repair and functional remodeling of the damaged brain and achieving therapeutic outcomes.

Dr. Chen Yuejun, founder of UniXell Biotechnology, stated that the loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons is a major pathological feature of Parkinson’s disease. By the time many patients are diagnosed, they have already lost more than 70% of their dopaminergic neurons. This neuronal loss is irreversible, and existing traditional small-molecule drugs only provide symptomatic relief without addressing the underlying cause. Only by replenishing the lost neurons through cell therapy and reconstructing their functional pathways can the problem be fundamentally resolved.

Since completing its angel financing round in August 2021, UniXell Biotechnology has focused on simultaneously upgrading and optimizing both its hardware and software infrastructure. Several hundred square meters of R&D and production laboratories have been put into operation, while construction is underway for a GMP-compliant cleanroom facility and R&D center spanning over 5,000 square meters. The company has also assembled a professional technical team with extensive experience in cell product manufacturing and stem cell technology R&D. Under the leadership of Dr. Chen Yuejun and the core CMC team, UniXell is accelerating its research and development efforts in process development, quality control, and stability studies. Currently, the company employs nearly 40 full-time staff, including 9 PhDs or postdoctoral researchers, with more than 38% of employees holding master’s degrees or higher.

UniXell’s advanced expertise in the research and development of cell therapy technologies for neurological disorders is particularly noteworthy, placing it at the forefront of international standards with a robust portfolio of patented technologies. Dr. Chen Yuejun achieved the first gene-inducible knockout in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and established a stable human pluripotent stem cell gene-editing platform based on CRISPR/Cas9 technology. He also pioneered the remote modulation of transplanted human neural cell functions, elucidating the circuit mechanisms underlying cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease. Furthermore, he discovered that transplanting specific neural cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells can precisely repair damaged neural circuits in the diseased brain and restore neural function. Dr. Chen has published these findings as first or corresponding author in top-tier academic journals such as Cell Stem Cell and Nature Biotechnology. Since the founding of UniXell, the entire team has been diligently committed to the industrial translation of research achievements, aiming to accelerate the clinical application of therapeutic drugs.

UniXell’s leading technologies and innovative R&D model have also garnered significant attention and strong interest from experts in the clinical field of neurological disorders. UniXell is actively engaging in close collaborations with top-tier domestic expert teams specializing in neurological disorders, conducting in-depth and extensive explorations into the clinical application prospects of cell therapy drugs across various modalities. The company strives to jointly promote the innovative development of the cell therapy industry and alleviate patient suffering at the earliest possible date.

Dr. Cai Daqing, Founding Partner of SherpaIt was stated that China has a large population of Parkinson’s disease patients, many of whom face significant challenges due to disease progression. There is an urgent need for new clinical treatment options, and stem cell-based therapies hold significant potential to alleviate or even cure Parkinson’s disease. Sherpa endorses UniXell’s vision of developing cell therapies to meet clinical needs and highly recognizes the UniXell team’s globally leading technical capabilities in the field of pluripotent stem cells. Sherpa is pleased to support UniXell in advancing its product development and clinical progress. Sherpa has long been optimistic about the clinical potential of innovative therapies driven by technological advancements and looks forward to UniXell becoming a pioneer in stem cell therapy in China.

Gao Jieliang, Senior Partner at CDH VGC (Venture & Growth Capital)It is indicated that induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology effectively addresses challenges related to donor sources, druggability, and ethical concerns in cell therapy. In recent years, breakthrough progress has been made in multiple fields, including neurology, oncology, and metabolism, placing the technology at an early stage of industrial translation. Neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease affect a large patient population with severe conditions and a lack of effective treatments. iPSC-based cell therapy can replace damaged nerve cells and fundamentally repair the nervous system, effectively addressing unmet clinical needs and delivering significant social value. Dr. Chen Yuejun, the founder, and his team have long been dedicated to research on stem cell therapy for neurological diseases. Their achievements in cell differentiation, gene editing, and remote regulation are internationally leading and have been published multiple times in top academic journals. We are highly optimistic about UniXell’s R&D and industrial translation capabilities in the field of stem cells and will continue to support the company’s development to benefit patients as soon as possible.

Dr. Wei Cheng, Managing Director of TF Capital, the lead investor in the angel roundstated that UniXell has made remarkable progress in just six months since its establishment, achieving impressive results particularly in technology translation and implementation, team expansion, and project advancement. We welcome the new investors, and TF Capital will continue to fully support the company’s development as always.

Kunlun Capitalstated that iPSC technology is gradually gaining validation in translational medicine and clinical practice, and we look forward to domestic companies with world-class R&D capabilities driving industry development. Over the past period of working together with UniXell, we have been pleased to witness the UniXell team’s profound scientific insights and exceptional execution capabilities, and we hope to accelerate the company’s growth alongside our new shareholders.