Youwe Biotech Secures Tens of Millions in Series A Funding to Advance Soluble Microneedle Transdermal Drug Delivery Platform

VCBeat has learned that Youwei (Zhuhai) Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (“Youwei Bio”), a platform company specializing in soluble microneedle transdermal drug delivery technology, recently announced the completion of its tens-of-millions-yuan Series A financing round. Led by Source Code Capital, the proceeds will be used to expand the company’s business operations and enhance its talent pool in the biopharmaceutical and medical aesthetics sectors, continuously broaden the application of its platform technology across multiple fields, and further solidify Youwei Bio’s industry influence.

Youwei Microbiology is a high-tech enterprise centered on the R&D and industrialization of soluble microneedle transdermal drug delivery technology. Founded in 2017 by a group of post-80s overseas-returnee PhDs, its founding team hails from internationally leading microneedle transdermal research laboratories and possesses extensive expertise in soluble microneedle process development, application scenario exploration, and industrial translation. Focusing on innovative process development and industrial implementation of soluble microneedles, the company has pioneered internationally first-of-their-kind technologies, including a low-temperature one-step rapid microneedle molding process, free-form shaping technology for microcrystal microscopic structures, and segmented precise quantitative drug-loading technology. It has established a highly integrated R&D, design, pilot-scale, and industrialization technology platform with strong technical barriers, and built China’s first efficient and stable fully automated non-standard production line based on its proprietary processes.

Soluble microneedle transdermal drug delivery systems, as a focal point of international R&D in the field of novel transdermal technologies, have seen more than ten innovative microneedle formulations enter clinical trials in Europe, the United States, Japan, and South Korea. Their development is gaining momentum in the general health and medical aesthetics sectors, representing the future trend of drug administration. As a novel transdermal delivery method, it combines the advantages of subcutaneous injection with those of conventional transdermal delivery. In certain application scenarios, it can replace needles and injectable drug administration using a painless patch similar to a band-aid. Rapid progress has been made in the improvement and innovation of drug formulations for vaccination, controlled-release pain management, and the treatment of neurological diseases. A microneedle drug patch, only the size of a coin, can easily, painlessly, and effectively deliver medication, significantly reducing patient discomfort while enhancing safety and convenience. This technology breaks through the limitation of traditional transdermal patches, which are restricted to delivering only small-molecule drugs.

Imagine if vaccination could be achieved by simply applying a band-aid, eliminating the need for injections and enabling drug administration in a more convenient and effective manner. For beauty-conscious consumers, this technology allows for the efficient, painless transdermal delivery of active ingredients through daily skincare routines. Free from preservatives and additives, these patches can serve as an alternative to injectable treatments to some extent, not only reducing discomfort but also significantly enhancing skincare efficacy, thereby enabling users to enjoy medical-grade skincare experiences at home.

Dr. Leng Gang, Founder and CEO of Youwei Micro, stated: “Youwei Micro has always focused on ‘foundational technological innovation’ in the field of dissolving microneedles, taking it as its mission to evangelize dissolving microneedle technology. With innovative R&D at our core, we adhere to a long-term mindset. We recognize that the journey from the emergence of an emerging technology to its market application is a prolonged and continuous process. We hope that our efforts will promote the sustainable, healthy development of dissolving microneedle technology in China and its application across multiple fields. The basis for Youwei Micro’s long-term mindset lies in our recognition that dissolving microneedle technology can create enduring, tangible value for humanity, and our firm belief that this technology can benefit consumers in various sectors, including innovative drug formulation, general health and wellness, and medical aesthetics and skincare.”

“We are recruiting globally for talent in the biomedical sector, including pharmaceutical formulation, preclinical research, and regulatory affairs, as well as marketing and operations professionals in the medical aesthetics and general health industries. This initiative aims to accelerate the advancement of our soluble microneedle technology R&D pipeline in biomedicine and speed up its technological adoption in the broader health sector. We sincerely appreciate the recognition and support from our clients and renowned investment institutions, as well as their encouragement of our innovation and transformation in emerging technologies. Through our human-centric products, we embody the philosophy that ‘technology changes lives,’ creating tangible value for our customers.”

As an innovation-driven R&D enterprise, Youwei Micro has established a highly integrated industrial technology platform in just over three years. This platform supports and advances the application of dissolving microneedle transdermal drug delivery technology across multiple sectors, including new drug development, medical devices, general health, and medical aesthetics and skincare. Its growth rate significantly surpasses the industry average as well as that of companies in Japan and South Korea. The company has already entered into strategic cooperation agreements with numerous renowned pharmaceutical companies, leading global cosmetics corporations, emerging brands in the cosmetics industry, and several key universities in China.

Sun Tong from Source Code Capital, the lead investor in this round, stated: “The medical aesthetics and pharmaceutical industries are inherently vast and continuously demand superior technological and product innovation. Microneedles are at the outset of an incremental market. Youwei demonstrates clear leadership in soluble microneedle transdermal drug delivery technology; its consumer-facing products have already been commercialized, and its progress in the pharmaceutical sector is highly promising. We hope this team, emerging from a top-tier laboratory, will continue to expand its frontiers and create efficient production lines and high-precision drug-loaded products in the broader health industry.”