AlphaLife Sciences Completes Series C Financing of Several Hundred Million RMB to Advance Global iPSC Pipeline

VCBeat has learned that recently, a global leading platform enterprise in iPSC therapyHELP Therapeutics Announces Completion of C-Round Financing Worth Hundreds of Millions of YuanThis round of financing was led by Juming Venture Capital, with participation from Fenxiang Investment, Beisen Medical Fund, and Jinyu Maowu. Existing shareholder Ziniu Fund provided additional support, while Haoyue Capital served as the exclusive financial advisor for this round. The funding will help the company advance and complete its R&D pipeline with fully independent intellectual property rights——Clinical Trial of iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocyte Injection, and will initiate clinical research on immune cell therapy based on iPSC technology within the next year.

HELP Therapeutics

As the first company in China to leverage induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology for the research, development, and production of cell therapies, HELP Therapeutics remains dedicated to the fields of heart failure and tumor immunology, developing off-the-shelf cell therapy products to meet clinical needs.

Dr. Wang Jiaxian, the company’s founder, holds a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Hong Kong and completed postdoctoral training at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in the United States. While working as a cardiologist, Dr. Wang observed that the number of heart failure patients in China had exceeded ten million, with approximately three million patients suffering from severe heart failure awaiting heart transplantation each year. However, only about 600 individuals were able to find suitable heart donors annually. This substantial gap has become a significant challenge for the entire medical community. In 2010, Dr. Wang chose to enter the field of iPSC cell therapy, firmly believing that induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology represents a groundbreaking advancement in human medicine, and he aimed to leverage this innovative frontier technology to save patients with heart failure. After years of development, the company has established multiple product pipelines based on iPSC technology, mastering advanced iPSC reprogramming techniques while possessing capabilities for large-scale automated production of iPSC-based therapeutics and rigorous cellular quality control.

HELP Therapeutics has established multiple R&D pipelines focused on disease areas such as heart failure and tumor immunity. Among these, its iPSC-based therapy for the treatment of moderate-to-severe heart failure has been introduced into numerous authoritative centers across China to conduct large-scale randomized controlled human clinical trials. HELP Therapeutics has accumulated extensive expertise in cellular therapy for heart failure: In 2020, Nature reported the world’s first human study on iPSC cell therapy for end-stage heart failure, jointly conducted by the company and Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital. Follow-up data over 24 months for three patients in this clinical trial showed thatHELP Therapeutics’ iPSC-derived cardiomyocyte therapy demonstrates excellent efficacy and safety in the treatment of severe heart failure.

The company has secured the first national clinical trial filing for heart failure cell therapy based on iPSC technology, approved by China’s National Health Commission. It is also actively preparing for clinical registration submissions in both China and the United States for its heart failure treatment pipeline. Following clinical trials, this product is poised to become the first iPSC-based cell therapy drug for moderate-to-severe heart failure in China and potentially worldwide, carrying immeasurable social and commercial value.

With the development of the cell therapy industry, there are increasingly precise and higher demands for both the quantity and quality of cell culture, whether from the perspective of clinical needs or R&D exploration. Currently, manual cell culture for cell therapy products faces industry bottlenecks such as lengthy operation times, significant batch-to-batch variability, and limited scalability for large-volume production. Consequently, the cost of cell-based drugs and their end-user prices remain prohibitively high, preventing widespread accessibility for patients. Therefore, achieving commercial-scale mass production of cells has become a core focus for the development of cell therapy companies.

HELP Therapeutics stands at the global technological forefront in large-scale cell manufacturing and quality assurance. Its independently developed, fully automated production line has achieved international leadership, significantly reducing production costs while ensuring the uniformity and stability of cell product quality.The annual output of a single production line can meet the medication needs of 100,000 patients., contributing to the widespread adoption of cell-based products; the company’s fully automated production line was selected for inclusion in the National “13th Five-Year” Science and Technology Innovation Achievement Exhibition.

HELP Therapeutics operates China’s first induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) biobank authorized by the Ministry of Science and Technology for the preservation of human genetic resources. Entrusted by the National Human Genetic Resources Sharing Service Platform, and as the only officially recognized iPSC rare disease cell bank under the 14th Five-Year Plan (Approval No. BC0022 [2021] from the National Office of Human Genetic Resources), HELP Therapeutics bears the significant responsibility of safeguarding human genetic materials. It is fully committed to advancing China’s iPSC technology platforms and facilitating R&D and treatment for rare diseases, providing high-quality and diverse biological samples to research institutions and enterprises, accelerating rare disease research and orphan drug development, and driving the rapid growth of the iPSC cell industry.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) represent one of the most significant discoveries in biology in recent years, identified by Japanese researcher Shinya Yamanaka in 2006.Methods for Reprogramming Adult Cells into Pluripotent Stem Cells, and was awarded the Nobel Prize just six years later (in 2012).

iPSC cell therapy offers significant advantages for diseases that respond poorly to existing pharmacological treatments, such as heart failure, presenting substantial room for development and attracting attention from international biopharmaceutical giants. For instance, in 2021, Novo Nordisk invested in Heartseed’s iPSC-based cell therapy pipeline for dilated cardiomyopathy. In Europe, Dr. Zimmerman, a renowned German expert in cardiology and pharmacology, initiated a multicenter Phase I/II clinical trial of iPSC-derived cell therapy for heart failure in February 2021.

Dr. Wang Jiaxian, Founder of HELP TherapeuticsHELP Therapeutics, as a first-tier player in China in leveraging iPSC technology for cell therapy development, has remained committed to deepening its iPSC pipeline and vigorously advancing clinical studies, with confidence in achieving favorable outcomes. In the early years following the market launch of cell therapy drugs, China’s cell therapy market is highly likely to be predominantly out-of-pocket. From the patient’s perspective, HELP Therapeutics’ technological and manufacturing capabilities represent the most effective means to reduce the cost and pricing of cell therapies. We are confident that more patients will benefit from the cell therapy industry.

Dr. Shi Yongling, Partner at Juming Venture CapitalIt was stated that induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold immense application value in the fields of drug screening, disease modeling, and cell therapy. HELP Therapeutics integrates innovative technologies, manufacturing processes, clinical resources, and team expertise, and its iPSC-based cell therapies have already achieved commercial viability. The company’s first product has ushered in a new chapter in the treatment of heart failure, positioning HELP Therapeutics to become the leading enterprise worldwide in this field. As a company focused on the entire iPSC workflow—including reprogramming, cell preparation, storage, differentiation, and expansion—HELP Therapeutics is also laying out its product pipeline in other iPSC application areas. In the future, Juming will continue to closely monitor HELP Therapeutics and provide support for its corporate development.

Mr. Huang Fanzhi, Partner at Shareholding Investmentstated that it is highly optimistic about the future prospects of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) therapy. Since its invention by Yamanaka in 2006, iPSC technology has developed rapidly and boasts broad market application potential. The team at HELP Therapeutics is leveraging iPSC technology to research treatments for end-stage heart failure, maintaining a leading position in both technological advancement and pipeline progress. Clinical trial results of their iPSC-derived cardiomyocyte drug for the treatment of severe heart failure have also demonstrated favorable outcomes. HELP Therapeutics’ independently developed automated cell production and quality control system ensures the stability of cell preparation required for clinical cell therapy, providing controllability and scalability. Cell therapy is also a key innovative technology focus for Fenxiang Investment. Investing in HELP Therapeutics’ stem cell therapeutic drugs represents another strategic move by Fenxiang Investment under its precision medicine investment logic.

Ms. Liu Ying, Partner at Beisen Medical FundIt was stated that induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) therapy, as a global technological hotspot, is witnessing rapid clinical application development and boasts broad market prospects. The Chinese government has continuously issued policies to encourage its clinical validation and development. The founding team of HELP Therapeutics started early in iPSC technology research and heart failure treatment, with robust experimental foundations. The R&D and clinical progress of its heart failure candidate drugs are among the global leaders, and the scientific clinical trial results of the world’s first iPSC-derived regenerative cardiomyocyte therapy for heart failure have been favorable. In particular, the company’s independently developed fully automated cell production and quality control system enhances the stability of cell preparation, truly enabling the accessibility and scalability of clinical cell therapies. We have tracked this niche segment for over a year, and HELP Therapeutics aligns well with Besen Medical Fund’s investment philosophy and preference for hard-core technologies and early-stage innovations.

Mr. Wang Dong, Partner at Jinyu MaowuHELP Therapeutics is a first-tier enterprise in China leveraging iPSC technology to develop cell therapies. By relying on its self-developed, fully automated cell production platform, the company has effectively addressed the druggability challenges associated with cell-based medicines. Furthermore, HELP Therapeutics has a well-structured R&D pipeline; its drug candidate for heart failure is poised to enter clinical trials in both China and the United States, while the development of multiple other candidates, including Car-NK therapies, is progressing steadily. Jinyu Maowu holds strong confidence in HELP Therapeutics’ sustained R&D capabilities and will continue to provide support and services for the company’s growth, believing that it will evolve into a cell therapy enterprise with international influence.

Dr. Yu Bo, Executive Director of Purple Cow Fundstated, “Congratulations to HELP Therapeutics on the successful completion of its latest financing round. Our fund has demonstrated its support for the company through continued increased investment. We are firmly optimistic about the application prospects of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in the treatment of degenerative diseases and regenerative medicine. At the same time, we firmly believe that iPSCs, as a foundational technology platform, will expand their applications in fields such as tumor immunotherapy, cell therapy, and gene therapy, leveraging their pluripotency and high programmability. Since its establishment, Dr. Wang Jiaxian has led the team with exceptional execution capabilities and resilience, driving the company to advance the iPSC industry from pipeline R&D toward large-scale manufacturing. We will continue to support the company’s future development and facilitate collaboration and industry positioning between HELP Therapeutics and other cell therapy portfolio companies within our fund.”

Mr. Yang Zhenjun, Partner at Haoyue CapitalWe are honored to serve as the financial advisor for HELP Therapeutics in this round of financing. As one of the most heavily researched technologies in the current biopharmaceutical landscape, iPSC technology can address challenges that traditional drugs cannot, fundamentally enabling cellular regeneration and representing a groundbreaking advancement. As a leader in iPSC technology, HELP Therapeutics has achieved pioneering results in treating conditions such as moderate-to-severe heart failure. We look forward to seeing HELP Therapeutics leverage capital support to scale up, accelerate the development of its pipelines in heart failure and tumor immunotherapy, and emerge as a global leader in the iPSC sector.

Juming Venture Capital is a venture capital firm focused on the life sciences sector. Since its establishment in 2018, it has invested in nearly 40 startups in the fields of innovative drugs, biotechnology, and medical devices (including diagnostics). Rooted in China and addressing global clinical pain points, Juming Venture Capital is dedicated to partnering with outstanding enterprises, providing comprehensive services, supporting entrepreneurs’ growth, and creating value and realizing dreams.

Founded in 2007, Fenxiang Investment is one of China’s earliest professional venture capital firms structured as a limited partnership. Headquartered in Shenzhen, the firm boasts a professional investment team of over 50 members, has invested in more than 200 companies, and currently manages assets exceeding RMB 10 billion. The founding team of Fenxiang Investment brings extensive entrepreneurial experience and deep industrial expertise, with the “entrepreneurial mindset” serving as the company’s consistent cultural DNA. Committed to long-term development, Fenxiang Investment collaborates closely with leading research institutes, professional associations, and entrepreneurial communities to build robust cooperation platforms. While establishing a high-quality project sourcing system—known as the “Encounter System”—for its funds, the firm also cultivates a rich resource ecosystem for entrepreneurs, constructing an “interchange” that connects industry, academia, and founders to facilitate their continuous upgrading and evolution. Fenxiang Investment also emphasizes entrepreneurial responsibility and long-term value creation. Guided by an entrepreneurial approach to investment and partnering with outstanding entrepreneurs for the long haul, the firm remains steadfast in its original mission: to deliver sustained value to its investors.

Baison Medical Fund was established in 2017 and is managed by Zhongtong Rongjin Fund Management Company. It focuses on investing in advanced technologies in the fields of original research drugs, cell therapy, high-end medical devices, and precision medicine. Guided by its core investment philosophy of early-stage venture capital, hard-core technology, and value enhancement through clinical application, Baison Medical Fund allocates 70% of its investments to Series A–B rounds. Leveraging the team’s extensive industry resources and operational expertise, the fund provides post-investment services to portfolio companies, generates superior returns for investors, and promotes technological innovation and industrial upgrading in China’s healthcare sector. Portfolio companies include Mingfeng Medical, Zhuokai Biotechnology, Xunuo Pharmaceutical, Runxin Biotechnology, Hanmei Technology, Yida Biotechnology, and Wanling Pangu.

Jinyu Maowu manages equity investment funds with a total scale exceeding RMB 12 billion, all invested in emerging industries, having invested in more than 220 companies to date. It has directly participated in or facilitated the domestic and overseas listings of nearly 30 enterprises, while also generating substantial returns for its investors. Jinyu Maowu’s core investment focus lies in strategic emerging sectors such as new materials and intelligent manufacturing, new energy and ecological environment, innovative pharmaceuticals and general health, semiconductors and cutting-edge technologies. Leveraging support from listed companies, industry associations, research institutes, alliance members, and industrial park governments, and drawing on Jinyu Maowu’s extensive management expertise, the firm effectively integrates resources across various stakeholders to provide value-added services to portfolio companies and deliver the safest and maximized returns for entrusted funds. For seven consecutive years, Jinyu Maowu has been ranked among China’s Top 50 Venture Capital Firms and Top 10 Clean Technology Investment Institutions by Zero2IPO Research and CVSource, and has been honored as a Leading Brand Enterprise in Jiangsu Province’s Venture Capital Industry, an Outstanding Venture Capital Team in Jiangsu Province, and one of Nanjing’s Top 10 Venture Capital Firms.

Purple Cow Fund is an early-stage equity investment fund jointly established in 2016 by Fu Sheng, Chairman of Cheetah Mobile, and Zhang Quanling, the former renowned CCTV host. It currently manages two RMB-denominated funds. The fund primarily invests in the healthcare, consumer, and education sectors. Its mission is to identify “purple cows” at the forefront of emerging trends, leverage technology and business innovation to address critical societal pain points, and support outstanding early-stage startups, with investments ranging from the angel round to Series A. Purple Cow Healthcare focuses on identifying innovative business models driven by essential needs and technological breakthroughs, concentrating on innovative diagnostic and therapeutic solutions in three major disease areas: malignant tumors, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and infectious diseases.

Haoyue Capital, established in January 2014, is dedicated to serving as a bridge connecting China’s healthcare industry with capital. Its research and transaction coverage spans multiple sub-sectors, including biopharmaceuticals, innovative medical devices, in vitro diagnostics (IVD) and precision medicine, healthcare services, and smart healthcare. The Haoyue Capital team comprises senior investment bankers with extensive experience in China’s healthcare sector. By closely monitoring market dynamics and investment trends in healthcare over the long term, the firm releases weekly healthcare investment updates and thematic research reports, offering Haoyue’s perspectives on new policies and emerging frontiers.