Shanghai Yaotan Pharmaceutical R&D Co., Ltd. Completes Nearly RMB 200 Million Series A Funding Round

Shanghai Yaotan Drug R&D Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Shanghai Yaotan”), a one-stop CDMO platform for global innovative drugs, recently announced the completion of its Series A financing round, raising nearly RMB 200 million. The round was led by HLC, with participation from ADDOR and Shanghai Changjiang Guohong Investment Management Co., Ltd., while existing shareholder Jieli Fund continued its support.

The proceeds from this round of financing will be used to construct Shanghai Yaotan’s manufacturing base for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and finished dosage forms, as well as to enhance its R&D system, thereby better serving global biopharmaceutical companies and meeting the growing demand for innovative drug development and production.

Shanghai Yaotan was established in October 2019. Its founding team hails from industry-leading enterprises such as Fosun Pharma, Hansoh Pharmaceutical, WuXi AppTec, and Roche Pharmaceuticals, bringing extensive experience in project R&D, industrialization, and operational management. The company has assembled a high-caliber, international professional team spanning R&D, production, quality management, and business development. Shanghai Yaotan operates an R&D center and an early-stage clinical sample production base in Shanghai, with industrialization layouts for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and formulated drugs in Suzhou (Anhui), Xianju (Zhejiang), and Heze (Shandong). Previously, the company completed its angel and Pre-A financing rounds, raising over RMB 100 million.

Liu Xuejun, Founder and Chairman of Shanghai Yaotan, stated, “We are deeply grateful to the investors in this round as well as our earlier investors for their recognition and support of the Shanghai Yaotan team and our service philosophy. By integrating resources to empower Yaotan, they have enabled us to accelerate the development and enhancement of our one-stop CDMO service platform. We are honored to have the opportunity to integrate our team’s extensive industry experience, innovative technological capabilities, production control systems compliant with international standards, and the concept of green manufacturing into China’s rapidly developing and continuously innovating pharmaceutical industry. In doing so, we aim to contribute to the improvement of China’s pharmaceutical industry chain and the acceleration of its internationalization, while also providing efficient and high-quality services to clients both domestically and internationally.”

HLC stated, “We are delighted to participate in this round of financing for Shanghai Yaotan. Shanghai Yaotan possesses the capability to provide one-stop CDMO full-process services, ranging from active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to formulations and from R&D to commercial manufacturing, along with comprehensive supply chain advantages. We are confident in Shanghai Yaotan’s long-term growth and will actively support the company in contributing to the development of China’s pharmaceutical industry.”

Shanghai Yaotan is dedicated to providing comprehensive, one-stop CDMO services for API and drug product CMC research and manufacturing to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies worldwide. Its services cover formulation and process development, quality studies, and regulatory filings for chemical APIs and drug products, as well as contract manufacturing of APIs and drug products in compliance with GMP standards for regulated markets including China, the United States, Europe, and Japan.

HLC is an asset management company dedicated to fostering technological innovation, leveraging deep industry insights as its core competency to empower key sectors such as biopharmaceuticals and consumer livelihood, thereby creating long-term value. HLC manages both RMB and USD-denominated funds and maintains offices in Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenzhen.

To date, HLC has invested in more than 90 high-quality companies, over 20 of which have been listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, Shenzhen Stock Exchange, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and Nasdaq. The investment portfolio includes: WuXi Biologics, Mindray Medical, WuXi AppTec, SMR International, Pharmaron, Tigermed, Yuwell Medical, Sansure Biotech, Jianhui Information, BrightGene, Zentalis, Singular, Nayuki’s Tea, Baiyang Pharmaceutical, Genesis MedTech, Kemei Diagnostics, and Kaiyin Technology.