UniXell Biotechnology Secures Tens of Millions in Angel Funding to Advance iPSC-Derived Cell Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease

Recently, UniXell Biotechnology (UniXell), a leading enterprise in the field of pluripotent stem cell drug development, announced the completion of its angel financing round amounting to tens of millions of yuan. This round was led by TF Capital, with participation from Kunlun Capital and GL Ventures. The funds will be used to establish UniXell’s production and R&D center, support the assembly of its team, and initiate safety evaluations and Investigational New Drug (IND) application preparations for UniXell’s first Parkinson’s disease cell therapy pipeline, UniXell DA001.

Shanghai UniXell Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (UniXell), founded in 2021, is a company dedicated to developing next-generation cell therapy drugs based on human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) technology. Leveraging its proprietary technology platform for hPSC preparation, culture, differentiation, and gene editing, UniXell is committed to technological research and product development in the field of stem cell therapy. Its R&D pipeline covers neurodegenerative diseases, rare diseases, and oncology. With substantial expertise in cell therapy technology development, particularly achieving world-class standards in cellular therapies for the nervous system, UniXell holds multiple patents.

Dr. Chen Yuejun, founder of UniXell, earned his degree from Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, where he studied under Professor Ma Lan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Dean of the Institute of Brain Science at Fudan University. He completed his postdoctoral training at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the United States, the birthplace of human pluripotent stem cell research, under the supervision of Professor Su-Chun Zhang, a world-renowned authority on neural differentiation of stem cells. After returning to China in 2016, Dr. Chen joined the Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, where he established his own research team and received support from multiple national talent programs.Dr. Chen possesses extensive experience and a strong academic background in the neural differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (including hESCs and hiPSCs), stem cell therapy for neurological diseases, and gene editing of human pluripotent stem cells. He was the first to achieve inducible gene knockout in human pluripotent stem cells and established a stable CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing platform for these cells. He also pioneered the remote modulation of transplanted human neuronal cell function, elucidating the circuit mechanisms underlying cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease. Furthermore, he discovered that transplantation of specific neural cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells can accurately restore damaged neural connectivity structures and functions in the diseased brain. These achievements have been published in top-tier academic journals such as Cell Stem Cell and Nature Biotechnology, with Dr. Chen serving as first or corresponding author, and he has filed multiple national invention patents.

Protocol for Treating Parkinson’s Disease with Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Technology

In 2021, Dr. Chen Yuejun founded UniXell Biotechnology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., with the aim of translating scientific achievements into practical applications and advancing the clinical use of stem cell therapies for neurological disorders. Headquartered at the Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone No. 1 Life Science and Technology Industrial Park in Shanghai, the company has assembled a core team with extensive experience in CMC manufacturing of cellular products and R&D capabilities in stem cell technology. A production and R&D center featuring over 1,000 square meters of high-standard GMP cleanroom facilities is currently under construction. The company’s lead product candidate for Parkinson’s disease cell therapy, UniXell DA001, has demonstrated remarkable therapeutic efficacy in animal models of Parkinson’s disease. This round of financing will be primarily dedicated to advancing the safety assessment and Investigational New Drug (IND) application for this pipeline product, thereby comprehensively enhancing UniXell’s overall capabilities and accelerating its industrialization process.

Dr. Chen Yuejun, Founder of UniXellMany neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and spinal cord injury, lead to the loss and death of neurons in the brain, resulting in neurological dysfunctions including bradykinesia, tremors, dementia, and paralysis. Currently, there are no effective curative treatments for these conditions in clinical practice, causing significant suffering to patients and imposing a heavy burden on families and society. Human pluripotent stem cell technology enables the generation of specific types of neural cells (stem cell therapeutics) in vitro. When transplanted into the patient’s brain, these cellular therapeutics can replace the function of lost neurons, thereby achieving repair and functional remodeling of the damaged brain and fulfilling therapeutic objectives. Beyond neurological disorders, human pluripotent stem cell technology has demonstrated immense potential in treating other diseases, including tumors, heart failure, diabetes, and hematological disorders. Many countries, including China, the United States, European nations, and Japan, have initiated clinical trials of stem cell therapeutics based on human pluripotent stem cell technology. Since 2012, China has implemented the National Major Scientific Research Program for Stem Cell Research (part of the 12th Five-Year Plan special project), strategically advancing research and translation in stem cell technology. This eleven-year sustained effort has significantly propelled the development of stem cell research in China. Within the foreseeable next ten to twenty years, stem cell therapeutics are poised to become the new generation of pharmaceutical formulations, following small-molecule and large-molecule drugs, serving as an important complement to traditional therapies.UniXell was founded during a period of vigorous growth in China’s stem cell industry. The company holds multiple core patents with independent intellectual property rights and possesses a world-leading stem cell technology platform. Adhering to the philosophy of benefiting patients, the UniXell team applies cutting-edge stem cell technologies to clinical practice, providing new therapeutic strategies and methods for neurological disorders that currently lack curative treatments, thereby alleviating patient suffering. We sincerely appreciate TF Capital, Kunlun Capital, and GL Ventures for their recognition and support of UniXell. The UniXell team is committed to refining its technology and advancing project development with professionalism and innovative vitality, ultimately delivering tangible results.

Immunofluorescence Staining of Human Neuronal Cells

Dr. Wei Cheng, Managing Director of TF CapitalIt was stated that after more than a decade of development, the applications of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are beginning to shine, with rapid progress made particularly in the niche fields of iPSC-derived neuronal cell replacement therapy and natural killer (NK) cell therapy. Leveraging profound insights into various types of neural cells, as well as sophisticated mastery of stem cell differentiation and gene editing technologies, Professor Chen Yuejun founded UniXell Biotechnology. The company has established core technology platforms with independent intellectual property rights and has achieved world-leading results in non-human primate trials, demonstrating significant development potential. TF Capital is pleased to lead the angel round financing for UniXell Biotechnology. By integrating TF Capital’s industrial resources and industry expertise, we aim to support UniXell’s growth, accelerate breakthroughs in treating intractable diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, and ultimately benefit humanity.

Zhu He, Managing Director at Kunlun CapitalKunlun Capital stated its commitment to collaborating with scientists to explore the possibilities of translating discoveries “from lab bench to clinic,” leveraging its years of experience in incubating healthcare companies. We are optimistic about the substantial clinical application potential of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) after more than a decade of foundational scientific research, and we are excited by Professor Chen Yuejun’s world-class achievements in stem cell biology and neurodevelopment. We firmly believe that UniXell Biotechnology can achieve “first-in-class” breakthroughs in areas such as iPSC-derived neural cell therapy through efficient technological translation, bringing greater therapeutic hope to patients.

TF Capital focuses on venture capital investments in the life sciences sector, encompassing biotechnology, novel drug development, medical devices, and healthcare services. The firm primarily invests in high-potential early-stage and growth-stage companies. Through a diversified and strategic investment approach and by selecting high-quality partners, TF Capital aims to capitalize on opportunities arising from the rapid development of China’s life sciences industry. The investment team brings years of experience and extensive industry resources in these fields. It employs a professional and prudent approach to deal selection, actively participates in portfolio company management, and maintains long-term partnerships. Beyond capital, TF Capital provides additional support and assistance in operational strategy, efficient management, regulatory and financial compliance, and technical resources. By aligning companies with appropriate strategic industry resources, the firm facilitates their rapid growth. TF Capital seeks portfolio companies that demonstrate professional insight and judgment in the life sciences sector, possess highly competitive core technologies, and are led by resilient entrepreneurial teams. These companies should be capable of developing a pipeline of innovative products that address significant unmet clinical needs and exhibit strong market growth potential, while securing their own intellectual property rights.

Kunlun Capital, founded in 2015, specializes in investing in technology-driven innovative enterprises and operates with a dual-currency model in both US dollars and Renminbi. Centered on user value, Kunlun Capital focuses on innovative business models driven by technology, products, and data. By selecting leading companies in niche sectors, it seeks out entrepreneurial teams with global potential and local execution capabilities. In recent years, Kunlun Capital has invested in companies such as Inke, Dada, Zhuyun Technology, Pony.ai, Keya Medical, Edigen, Cytek Biosciences, PingCAP, Obio Technology, Leyan Technology, and Xunshi Technology.

GL Ventures is Hillhouse’s venture capital fund dedicated to early-stage innovative companies, with a focus on key sectors including software and hard tech, biopharmaceuticals and medical devices, consumer internet and technology, and emerging consumer brands. Biopharmaceuticals and medical devices have long been central to Hillhouse’s investment strategy; over the past decade, Hillhouse has invested in more than 200 leading enterprises in biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, and healthcare services. We aim to partner with companies as “friends of time,” jointly driving innovation and development in the broader health sector to benefit more patients.