WuJiaHe Gene Technology Completes Tens of Millions RMB Series A Financing to Advance Viral Vector CDMO Leadership in Gene Therapy

VCBeat (WeChat: vcbeat) has learned that Beijing Wujiahe Gene Technology Co., Ltd. (“Wujiahe Gene”) has officially announced the completion of its tens-of-millions-of-yuan Series A financing round. The round was jointly invested by Huaiji Investment and Aopeng Investment. WinX Capital served as the exclusive financial advisor to the company.

Wujiahe Gene and its core team have dedicated nearly three decades to the research, development, and manufacturing of viral vectors for gene therapy. As one of the inventors of the three internationally recognized adeno-associated virus (AAV) packaging systems, the company is a pioneer in viral vector-based gene therapy in China. Core team members participated in establishing quality standards for clinical-grade AAV gene therapy products in China. The AAV8-HBV1.3 mouse model of hepatitis B, invented by the company, has been widely used by major global pharmaceutical companies for over a decade, accelerating the development of novel hepatitis B therapeutics and marking a watershed achievement in the industry. The company completed the entire process—from conceptual design to construction and biological preparation—of China’s first ophthalmic gene therapy drug, enabling researchers to achieve breakthrough success independently. It also facilitated the clinical trial application approval of T3011, China’s first novel oncolytic virus. For many years, it has provided clinical-grade novel recombinant adenovirus products for adoptive immune cell therapy protocols treating more than 5,000 patients with malignant tumors at top-tier (Grade III Class A) hospitals across China. In 2021 alone, the company supported multiple R&D teams in completing several Investigational New Drug (IND) applications for gene therapies.

After more than a decade of rigorous market tests in the domestic and international cell and gene therapy industries, and alongside the global cell and gene therapy CDMO sector’s annual high-speed growth of nearly 30%, Beijing Wujiahe Gene Technology Co., Ltd. (Wujiahe Gene) has remained focused and unwavering, emerging as a leading company in China’s viral vector gene therapy CDMO industry. Recently, Sartorius, an internationally leading provider of comprehensive bioprocessing solutions, announced a strategic partnership with Wujiahe Gene to jointly develop and optimize an efficient, cost-effective, GMP-compliant production platform for gene therapy viral vectors. This collaboration aims to reduce costs and enhance efficiency for clients, raise industry standards for gene therapies, empower the local gene therapy sector, accelerate the commercialization of gene therapies in China, and ensure that more patients benefit sooner—making gene therapies both effective and affordable.

Mr. Dong Xiaoyan, Co-founder and Chairman of Wujiahe GeneStatement: Beijing Wujiahe Gene Technology Co., Ltd. has been deeply engaged in the field of viral vectors for many years, possessing a robust core technology platform with independent intellectual property rights and a strong team. It is one of the very few enterprises in China today that offers integrated CDMO, CMC, and CMO services, covering the entire spectrum from the design and construction of viral vector systems and gene therapy drug development to the manufacturing of clinical-grade recombinant viral gene products and clinical trial applications for gene therapies. There is a vast patient population for gene therapies in China, with “lack of available treatments” and “prohibitive costs” being the primary challenges faced by patients. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that gene therapies are accessible and affordable for the general public in China, delivering not only effective treatments but also cost-effective solutions.

Investors in this round: Huaiji Investment, Aopeng InvestmentStatement: Novel therapies, such as gene therapy and viral therapy, represent a rapidly evolving sector with substantial future growth potential. We firmly believe that these emerging therapeutic modalities will unlock new frontiers and provide more effective treatments and solutions for diseases that currently lack cures. Beijing Wujiahe Gene Technology Co., Ltd. is the company in China with the most extensive development experience and the most comprehensive technological reserves in adeno-associated virus (AAV) process development within the CDMO space. It not only provides essential support for gene and viral therapies but also offers robust capabilities for cell therapy, antiviral drug development, and vaccine R&D. As a core player in gene and viral therapies, we are strongly bullish on the future of Beijing Wujiahe Gene Technology Co., Ltd. We also hope that the company will help domestic and global gene therapy firms develop superior drugs, contribute to overcoming more diseases, and make greater contributions to global human health.

Dr. Zou Guowen, Founder of WinX CapitalStatement: We are honored to have assisted Beijing Wujiahe Gene Technology Co., Ltd. in completing this round of financing quickly and efficiently. Gene therapy has become a key R&D focus for biotechnology companies worldwide, with adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy drugs accounting for over 70% of the global pipeline. However, only a handful of enterprises in China possess comprehensive capabilities spanning from AAV vector construction to industrial-scale manufacturing. Professor Dong is one of the few scientists in China who has dedicated nearly 30 years to AAV research and development. He has established Wujiahe Gene’s comprehensive R&D technology platform, served numerous clients, and earned recognition from Sartorius, a globally renowned enterprise. Through our collaboration with Professor Dong and the senior management team, we have been deeply impressed by Wujiahe Gene’s commitment to technical excellence and its pragmatic, science-driven approach. Looking ahead, we believe Wujiahe Gene will facilitate the clinical development and regulatory approval of more gene therapy drugs. We look forward to working with all stakeholders to support Wujiahe Gene in becoming a globally leading Chinese CDMO brand in the field of gene therapy.

Beijing Wujiahe Gene Technology Co., Ltd. is committed to its mission of “developing high-quality gene therapies that are affordable for the general public.” Its core technologies and team originate from the Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, and the State Key Laboratory of Viral Genetic Engineering. The company has long been dedicated to the innovation and R&D of viral vector technologies and the industrialization of gene therapy drugs. It has received a series of recognitions, including designation as a Zhongguancun High-Tech Enterprise, inclusion in the Zhongguancun Collaborative Innovation Platform for High-End and Precision Industries, and accreditation as a Pilot Scale Base in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area.

The company’s technical team has achieved a series of significant accomplishments, including: inventing a novel AAV vector packaging system based on herpes simplex virus (HSV) helper viruses and cell lines; participating in the establishment of quality standards for AAV vector-based gene therapies in China; preparing gene therapy products for China’s first ophthalmic gene therapy clinical trial; and, as the first domestic team to provide CDMO services for HSV oncolytic viruses, successfully manufacturing HSV products that meet IND submission requirements in China, the United States, and Australia, with the first drug approved by the NMPA for clinical trials in July 2019. The team has repeatedly undertaken and participated in national-level scientific research projects, including two projects under the National High-Tech Research and Development Program (863 Program) for key technologies, one Major National Science and Technology Project, one National Key Technology R&D Program project, two projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and one project funded by the Beijing Natural Science Foundation.

The company’s business spans gene drug manufacturing for early-stage R&D and pre-IND clinical trial applications, providing comprehensive, integrated CDMO solutions to clients in the gene therapy sector. These solutions cover process development, small-scale trials, pilot-scale production, and clinical sample manufacturing. Currently, the company has established multiple advanced, clinical-grade viral vector production lines totaling 4,000 square meters at the Daxing Biomedical Industrial Park. These facilities support mainstream viral vectors, including adeno-associated virus (AAV), adenovirus (ADV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), and lentivirus (LV).

Hangzhou Huaiji Investment Management Co., Ltd. was established in April 2015 as an investment firm specializing in the biopharmaceutical and information technology sectors. Currently, it manages assets totaling nearly RMB 1 billion and collaborates with close to 50 enterprises. The company comprises a team of professionals and advisors with extensive expertise in investing in healthcare, information technology, and related fields. It continues to invest in the biopharmaceutical and IT sectors, seizing industry opportunities and empowering portfolio companies. Guided by its original mission, Huaiji Investment pools professional expertise, adheres to long-term industrial investment, deepens the integration of industry resources, assists enterprises in establishing broader collaborative partnerships, and builds a more professional investment platform. Through focused fundamental research and mapping out industrial development pathways, the company continuously identifies and creates value, working hand-in-hand with enterprises to drive industrial upgrading.

Hangzhou Aopeng Investment Management Co., Ltd. was established in 2015 and registered in the Xianghu Financial Town of Hangzhou. Guided by the philosophy of “identifying niche market leaders and serving high-end talent,” the firm is an investment institution jointly founded by seasoned professionals from the healthcare and financial industries, with a focus on supporting sectors such as healthcare, intelligent manufacturing, and artificial intelligence. It boasts extensive resources, including domestic and international universities and research institutions, financial institutions, third-party consulting firms, state-owned enterprises, listed companies, industrial (M&A) funds, and government guidance funds. The company has already invested in well-known healthcare enterprises both domestically and abroad, such as Iron Technology (688329), Shimai Pharmaceuticals, and Baiyinuo. It aims to further expand its portfolio with more high-quality companies in this sector, fostering their long-term growth.

WinX Capital is a leading investment bank in China’s healthcare and wellness sector. Five members of its founding team hold Ph.D. degrees in Global Finance from the PBC School of Finance, Tsinghua University, while its frontline team boasts an average of over 10 years of experience in management, investment, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A), with cumulative transaction values exceeding RMB 30 billion. Headquartered in Beijing and Shanghai, WinX Capital serves more than 3,000 active institutional investors and industrial groups. In 2020, it was ranked among the “Top 5 Most Promising Emerging Investment Banks in China” by 36Kr’s WISE 2020 list, and named one of the “Top 4 Best Financial Advisory Firms in Healthcare” by Qiming Technology & Xinsheng Chuangfu.