Guoke Bio Secures Tens of Millions in Series A+ Funding to Advance into Birth Defect Prevention Market

Recently, Beijing Fruit Shell Biotechnology Co., Ltd., a provider of population genomics research and application services, completed an A+ round of financing worth tens of millions of yuan. This round of funding will continue to be used to strengthen Fruit Shell Biology's leading advantage in the field of population genomics research and applications. This round of financing was led byMaccura Biotechnology Co., Ltd.(300463.SZ) andChengdu Huiling Changxi FundJoint Investment.

Fruit Shell Biotechnology is committed to the synergistic development of “government, application, industry, academia, and research” in the field of population genomics. By continuously investing in and innovating across the upstream, midstream, and downstream segments of the technology chain, the company achieves seamless integration and coupling with its users, sustaining its momentum in the population genomics sector. Leveraging its gene chip platform, Fruit Shell Biotechnology has independently developed the ASA-CHIA chip and the GUOKE 50K chip. These products are widely applied in clinical new drug development, scientific cohort studies, genetic disease screening, and personal genetic testing and health data management. While empowering scientific research, the company remains market-oriented and user-centric, facilitating the practical implementation and commercialization of more genomics-based products.

Within a mere four months, Beijing Fruit Shell Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (“Fruit Shell Biotech”) successfully completed two consecutive rounds of financing. This achievement not only reflects investors’ confidence in the company’s team but also demonstrates their recognition of the broad application prospects of population genetics. Committed to becoming an in vitro diagnostics (IVD) enterprise that proactively assumes social responsibility, Fruit Shell Biotech adheres to its mission of “preventing birth defects and safeguarding life and health.” Guided by the product development and production philosophy of “public benefit and inclusiveness,” the company is progressively expanding its presence in population genetics applications, with a primary focus on the prevention and control of birth defects. Fruit Shell Biotech will further broaden its product pipeline to cover all stages of screening, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The infusion of new capital will significantly accelerate the implementation and execution of the company’s industrialization strategy.

Two consecutive rounds of financing have further solidified Fruit Shell’s strategic direction for corporate development. In the early stages of the birth defect prevention and control services market, holding capital meant that Fruit Shell Biotechnology possessed the leverage to gain a first-mover advantage. “Speed” is not the ultimate goal of Fruit Shell Biotechnology; rather, it is the external manifestation of the company’s strong inner drive to change the world and its cultivated core competencies. From its inception, Fruit Shell Biotechnology has tightly integrated clinical and consumer needs into its DNA, as exemplified by its first IVD-grade product, “Lexin Screen.”^®”, its original R&D intent was to address the practical pain points of clinicians and consumers, representing Fruit Shell’s initial exploration in the birth defect prevention and control service market based on genetic carrier screening application scenarios.

Mr. Ma Yukun, President of Fruit Shell Biotechnology, stated: “China is a country with a large birth population. Under the three-tier prevention linkage system, more than 3% of newborns still suffer from birth defects each year. This not only imposes heavy economic and psychological burdens on families but also runs counter to the national policy of eugenics and healthy childbearing. As one of the earlier entrants into this market, Fruit Shell Biotechnology aims to build a series of domestically produced products and systems focused on the field of birth defects. We are committed to providing practical solutions that combine in vitro diagnostic (IVD) products with laboratory-developed test (LDT) services to address the pain points faced by clinicians and consumers. This is the core DNA and foundation of Fruit Shell Biotechnology.”

Mr. Shi Wei, Investment Director at Maccura Biotechnology, stated that Fruit Shell Biotechnology, as a company specializing in population genomics and the prevention and control of birth defects, has accumulated its own data and expertise in the B2B sector. Its multi-disease combined screening solution, built on a gene chip detection platform, better meets the clinical demands for “high throughput and cost-effectiveness.” Through indirect participation in the Series A financing round and leading the current Series A+ round, Maccura Biotechnology aims to synergize resources from both parties and facilitate the clinical commercialization of Fruit Shell’s products.

Mr. Zhou Mi of Puhua Capital stated: “Fruit Shell Biotechnology is the first portfolio company of our Chengdu Guosheng Puhua Maccura Industrial Guidance Fund, and it also serves as a case study in facilitating deep collaboration between established and emerging IVD companies. This month, Zhongke Natai, another portfolio company under our Puhua Capital Shaoxing Fund, also received capital support from Jiuyang Bioengineering (300406.SZ), a well-established IVD enterprise. We are eager to see exciting outcomes from the collaboration between Fruit Shell Biotechnology and Maccura Biotechnology, which will shed light on the development opportunities arising from the synergy between new and traditional IVD companies.”