Aegle Stem Cell Completes Tens of Millions RMB Pre-A Financing to Advance Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapies

VCBeat recently learned that on December 23, 2021, Beijing Aiger Stem Cell Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “AegleStem”) announced the completion of its Pre-A financing round, raising tens of millions of yuan. This round was jointly invested by Jintai Yuanfeng, Jintai Yuande, Qianlang Capital, Kanghua Medical, and Yinshan Group.

Beijing Aiger Stem Cell Technology Co., Ltd. was established in December 2020, with Yingshan Group participating in its early-stage investment and incubation. The company has successfully completed the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements from Peking Union Medical College Hospital and is among the first batch of technology innovation enterprises introduced to the Beijing Daxing International Airport Economic Zone. Currently, it possesses 3,500 square meters of GMP-compliant facilities for stem cell drug research and development, and has established a comprehensive R&D and quality control system for stem cell therapeutics.

The company has deeply cultivated the field of skin and soft tissue disease treatment, with several adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell pipeline products already in development. The technology for its novel adipose-derived stem cell drug projects stems from years of clinical practice and technological development by leading domestic experts in the field. Its key pipeline products are adipose-derived stem cell therapies targeting conditions such as scleroderma, photoaged skin, and skin aging.

Compared with other mesenchymal stem cells, adipose-derived stem cells present higher technical barriers in isolation, culture, and expansion. The company has completed the development of a series of technologies, including serum-free culture, animal component-free processes, and assurance of cell stemness, and has established standard operating procedures covering the entire workflow from isolation and extraction to cryopreservation and thawing.

To date, ten mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) products have been approved for marketing worldwide. Among these, three are adipose-derived stem cell drugs, including TiGenix NV’s and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company’s allogeneic adipose-derived stem cell product Alofisel, which is approved in the EU and Japan for the treatment of complex perianal fistulas associated with Crohn’s disease. Globally, no adipose-derived stem cell therapies for scleroderma have yet been marketed. AegleStem’s first product is positioned for the treatment of scleroderma, representing an innovative and pioneering advancement.

AegleStem’s resource and technological advantages have drawn significant attention from government leaders at all levels in Beijing, the capital markets, and the pharmaceutical industry. On the morning of November 29, 2021, Cai Qi, Secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, accompanied by Wang Youguo, Secretary of the Daxing District Committee, visited the AegleStem R&D Center and engaged in discussions with the company’s research and technical staff. Secretary Cai affirmed that AegleStem’s business aligns with the industrial development orientation of the Beijing Airport Economic Zone, and expressed high expectations for the company’s commitment to developing stem cell therapeutic products for rare diseases and major refractory conditions.

The completion of this funding round will significantly accelerate AegleStem’s research, development, and regulatory filing of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapeutics, thereby supporting the rapid and healthy development of stem cell drugs in China and making a meaningful contribution to the highly competitive domestic and international biopharmaceutical landscape.