Aikema Medical Completes Tens of Millions RMB Pre-A Financing to Advance Innovative Platform in Cardiac Electrophysiology

VCBeat (WeChat: vcbeat) learned at the earliest opportunity that,Recently, Suzhou Aikema Medical Technology Co., Ltd. (“Aikema”) completed a Pre-A financing round worth tens of millions of yuan. The round was co-led by Med-Fine Capital and SHC, with YuanBio Venture Capital participating as a follow-on investor. Start Point Advisors served as the exclusive financial advisor in this transaction.

Aikemai was established in November 2020, with the commitment to becoming a globally leading platform-based innovative technology company in the field of cardiac electrophysiology. Its core team hails from multinational corporations such as Johnson & Johnson, GE, Acutus Medical, and Abbott, bringing extensive experience in the research and development, regulatory registration, and commercialization of cardiac electrophysiology medical devices. Since its inception, the company has assembled an R&D team led by renowned U.S. experts in electrophysiology technology, and has received strong support from overseas-returned scientists, distinguished clinical experts, and venture capital firms. Aikemai operates R&D centers in both Suzhou, China, and the United States.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, with its primary risk being stroke; patients with AF face a more than fivefold higher risk of stroke compared to those without AF. China currently has approximately 13 million AF patients, and the incidence rate is gradually rising alongside population aging. Currently, catheter ablation based on pulmonary vein isolation remains the cornerstone of AF treatment. In 2020, nearly 100,000 AF ablation procedures were performed in China, representing a compound annual growth rate of 25%. However, the penetration rate of interventional therapy remains below 1%, lagging significantly behind countries such as the United States and Japan, where penetration rates exceed 10%, indicating substantial potential for future growth.

Currently, radiofrequency energy is the predominant ablation modality in clinical practice, with cryoablation serving as a supplementary option. However, these conventional techniques are associated with limitations such as incomplete ablation, prolonged procedural duration, high recurrence rates, and risk of phrenic nerve injury, alongside a steep learning curve that hinders rapid proficiency acquisition by physicians. Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA), as the next-generation disruptive ablation technology, offers significant advantages including enhanced safety, faster procedure times, lower requirements for catheter-tissue contact, and superior continuity and uniformity of transmural lesions. It is highly likely to become the mainstream therapeutic approach for atrial fibrillation in the future.

Aikemai has independently developed pulsed field ablation (PFA) technology. Starting with atrial fibrillation ablation, the company pioneered the development of generator systems and ablation catheters, and further expanded its portfolio to include 3D mapping and navigation systems as well as novel ancillary tools. In the future, Aikemai will extend its applications to tumor ablation therapy, aiming to create an integrated solution encompassing the R&D of active PFA devices for atrial fibrillation and tumors, along with supporting consumables.

Yu Jing, Partner at Med-Fine Capital, stated“We have long focused on innovation in the cardiovascular field and believe that atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is characterized by a large patient base, high market potential, and significant room for domestic substitution. Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA), as a next-generation product, represents an inevitable industry trend. Acupulse is an innovative ablation technology platform with strong scalability. Given the company’s excellent international team and its rich track record of success across various domains, we are confident that it will provide clinicians with simpler and more effective solutions, emerging as a leading innovator in the industry.”

Dr. Liang Weibin of SHC stated:“There is a significant unmet clinical need in the field of cardiac electrophysiology, and there remains substantial room for growth in the penetration rate of catheter ablation procedures. Pulsed field ablation is poised to achieve leapfrog development by leveraging its unique advantages in clinical safety and procedural ease. We highly recognize the extensive expertise and strategic business layout that the company’s core team has accumulated in cardiac electrophysiology. We believe that Acupulse is well-positioned to become an important emerging force in China’s cardiac electrophysiology sector, providing more effective treatment options for a broad patient population.”

Chen Jie, Founding Partner of YuanBio Venture Capital, stated“There remains a substantial unmet need in atrial fibrillation (AF) treatment in China, and catheter ablation, as a key therapeutic modality for AF, still holds significant room for market growth. Next-generation pulsed field ablation (PFA) technology is expected to substantially surpass conventional ablation techniques in terms of safety, efficacy, and broad applicability. We are optimistic about the team’s extensive industry experience in the AF field, its platform-based product portfolio, and its strong execution capabilities. The company is poised to become a leading enterprise in domestic PFA for AF, thereby benefiting a large patient population.”

Li Qiang, Managing Director of Start Point Advisors, stated“We are honored to have assisted Acumap in successfully completing this round of financing. As a rare innovator in the field of cardiac electrophysiology in China, Acumap is poised to build a comprehensive minimally invasive interventional therapy platform leveraging its global R&D capabilities. We are delighted to have witnessed Acumap’s continuous refinement and rapid growth, and we look forward to accompanying the company as it navigates the path ahead.”

Med-Fine Capital is a specialized investment fund focused on the pharmaceutical, healthcare, and life sciences sectors. The fund’s team possesses deep industry expertise, extensive sector resources, and professional investment experience in pharmaceuticals and healthcare. To date, Med-Fine Capital has invested in nearly fifty emerging companies, including Tianguangshi Biologics, Hanyu Medical, Zanrong Pharma, ImmuneOnco, Genetron Health, Linka Therapeutics, Ansong Technology, Micron Biology, Pengli Biopharma, Libang Pharmaceutical, Yehui Pharma, Zhongyi Anke, and CAS Gene. Adhering to its philosophy of “focusing on pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and life sciences, leveraging capital value, and rewarding trust,” Med-Fine Capital is committed to becoming an open, platform-oriented, internationally competitive, and widely renowned professional pharmaceutical investment fund.

SHC is a municipal-level industrial fund with a total target assets under management of RMB 50 billion, approved by the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government and initiated by Shanghai Industrial (Group) Co., Ltd. Leveraging Shanghai’s comprehensive advantages in developing the biopharmaceutical sector and relying on industrial resources, the fund aims to build an innovative investment platform for the biopharmaceutical field that is “based in Shanghai and Hong Kong, linked with the Yangtze River Delta, and oriented toward the global market.” By combining financial capital with industrial resources and integrating domestic and overseas operations, the fund focuses on key areas aligned with Shanghai’s biopharmaceutical industry development strategy, including major project sectors such as biological products, innovative chemical drugs, research and development outsourcing and services, medical devices and diagnostics, and innovative business models in the healthcare sector.

YuanBio Venture Capital is an investment firm focused on the early and growth stages of the healthcare sector. Headquartered in Suzhou BioBAY, it maintains a global reach. To date, YuanBio has invested in over 140 outstanding companies in the life and health sectors, covering four key areas: novel drug development, medical devices, in vitro diagnostics and precision medicine, and healthcare services. The firm has achieved substantial investment returns, with 12 of its portfolio companies listed on capital markets such as the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the STAR Market. YuanBio has been repeatedly recognized as one of the Top 10 venture capital funds in China’s healthcare sector and as one of the most active healthcare investment institutions in China. By bringing together seasoned professional investors and a team of world-class scientific advisors, YuanBio possesses extensive experience in entrepreneurship, venture capital, and corporate operations within the biopharmaceutical industry and beyond. Leveraging its professionalism, focus, and rich industry resources, YuanBio is committed to becoming one of the most successful healthcare and pharmaceutical venture capital funds in China.

Start Point Advisors, established in 2020, is a financial advisory firm specializing in the healthcare and medical sector. As one of the most active emerging healthcare financial advisors in the Chinese market in recent years, Start Point Advisors has successfully completed more than 20 landmark transactions with a total value exceeding RMB 4 billion since its inception. The team at Start Point Advisors comprises professionals from renowned industry institutions, bringing extensive practical experience. The company currently maintains offices in Beijing, Suzhou, and Guangzhou.