Guoke Bio Secures Tens of Millions of RMB in Series A Funding to Strengthen Leadership in Population Genomics Research and Applications
Beijing Fruit Shell Biotechnology Co., Ltd., a provider of population genomics research and application services, has recently completed tens of millions of RMB in Series A financing. The proceeds from this round will be used to further strengthen Fruit Shell Biotechnology’s leading position in the field of population genomics research and applications. Chengdu Guosheng Puhua Mike IVD Industry Fund served as the sole investor in this round, marking Fruit Shell Biotechnology as the fund’s first investment. As the first strategic market-oriented industrial investment fund for in vitro diagnostics (IVD) established by the Chengdu High-Tech Zone, it was jointly formed by Chengdu High-Tech Zone Bio-City Company, Puhua Capital, and Maccura Biotechnology in accordance with market principles, with a total scale of RMB 1 billion.
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 chip-based platform, Fruit Shell Biotechnology has independently developed the ASA-CHIA chip and the GUOKE 50K chip. These products are widely applied in areas such as 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, driving the practical implementation and commercialization of more genomics-based products.
Population genomics research and multi-omics big data are playing a leading role in the prevention, diagnosis, and new drug development for major chronic diseases, cancers, and genetic disorders, driving transformative changes in personalized precision health management and disease diagnosis and treatment. In recent years, the super-exponential decline in sequencing costs beyond Moore’s Law, coupled with the diversification of detection platforms, has made population genomics research increasingly accessible.
Currently, multiple large-scale research-grade genomic databases have been established worldwide. China, the United States, and Europe have implemented numerous medical population genomics research initiatives based on large-scale cohorts, including the ChinaMAP project, the GSRD-100KWCH project by the Institute of Rare Diseases at West China Hospital of Sichuan University, the UK Biobank, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) program, and the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program, yielding a series of landmark achievements with profound implications.
In recent years, medical testing and screening products based on population genomics have continued to emerge. From 23andMe’s GHR (Genetic Health Risk) test—a personal genomic service assessing risk for 10 conditions, including Parkinson’s disease and late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, as well as breast and ovarian cancer in women—receiving FDA approval, to GRAIL, a leading liquid biopsy company, obtaining U.S. FDA clearance for its multi-cancer early detection test, medical testing and screening products grounded in population genomics are experiencing robust growth.
As sequencing costs decline, population genomics research and development have gradually unlocked new frontiers in 21st-century life sciences, particularly in healthcare, wellness, and pharmaceutical R&D centered on fundamental biological sciences. Currently, the entire medical industry is converging from multiple dimensions toward digital and personalized medicine. Data from population genomic testing serves as the foundational infrastructure for precision medicine, with each data point bearing strong individualized and personalized markers, making it unique. The accumulation of massive genomic datasets not only enables personalized precision health management for individuals but also offers boundless possibilities for national precision medicine initiatives.
In healthcare settings, the application of genetic data is inevitable. When linked with clues related to family history, diseases, and lifestyle, it creates a "chain-network" relationship, where data integration generates new insights and continuously enhances overall value. Domestic and international population genomics companies have already made diversified attempts in various integrated application scenarios, such as "genetics + insurance," "genetics + health screenings," "genetics + medication," and "genetics + nutrition," leveraging genetic testing and data to drive richer extensions of the health and medical industry.
In addition, major Chinese internet companies—including Huawei, Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent, and ByteDance—have also made strategic moves into the biopharmaceutical sector. They are focusing on population genomics data analysis for applications in drug development, clinical research, and personalized therapy, thereby fully tapping into the potential market value of genomic data.
Mining and application of population genomic data constitute a critical component of digital healthcare, with significant value and economic output that cannot be underestimated. We have reason to believe that the future will see the flourishing development of an out-of-hospital internet-based healthcare system built upon and centered around population genomic data. This system will undoubtedly serve as an important complement to the existing healthcare framework, further facilitating the reform of the national healthcare system and the implementation of national-level strategies such as “Healthy China 2030.”
Mr. Zhou Mi, Executive Partner of the Chengdu Guosheng Puhua Mike IVD Industry Fund, stated: “The business model exploration by Fruit Shell Biotechnology in the B2B sector of population genomics demonstrates remarkable tension and resilience. We admire the team’s courage to press forward and pioneer new frontiers. In the vast and promising future of precision medicine, we are confident that Fruit Shell Biotechnology will secure its place.”
Mr. Wang Wei, Chairman of Zhengtang Jiaye, stated, “We are extremely optimistic about the central role of population genomics in the future precision medicine ecosystem. Guoke Biology’s business model is highly similar to those of Apple, Tesla, and Xiaomi; once its installed base of hardware users breaks through the bottleneck phase, its software revenue will demonstrate strong compounding growth potential. We look forward to the arrival of that day.”
Beijing Fruit Shell Biotechnology Co., Ltd. was established in July 2017. In May 2018, it secured RMB 10 million in angel-round investment from Beijing Zhengtang Jiaye Investment Management Co., Ltd. The company built a central laboratory characterized by high standards, strict compliance, and cost-effectiveness, and achieved rapid expansion by leveraging its B2B population genomics business. It has collaborated with research-grade population genomics projects at institutions such as the Kunming Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, and Beijing Anzhen Hospital. Additionally, it has established large-scale partnerships with leading companies in the consumer-grade population genomics sector, including WeGene and Anwo Genetics, driving substantial revenue growth. Following this round of financing, Beijing Fruit Shell Biotechnology will continue to strengthen its B2B supply chain service capabilities, increase investments across the upstream, midstream, and downstream segments of the technology value chain, and optimize its products and services. Guided by the principles of greater speed, quality, and safety, the company aims to empower population genomics projects with enhanced qualifications and capabilities, thereby promoting technological and product innovation.
Chengdu Guosheng Puhua Maccura IVD Industry Fund was established in 2020 as the first strategic, market-oriented industrial investment fund for in vitro diagnostics (IVD) launched by the Chengdu High-Tech Industrial Development Zone. The fund, with a total size of RMB 1 billion, was jointly established by Chengdu High-Tech Bio-City Company, Puhua Capital, and Maccura Biotechnology in accordance with market-based principles. It aims to screen and introduce high-quality IVD projects globally, leverage fintech to foster the development of the biopharmaceutical ecosystem, accelerate the integration of the entire value chain within the biopharmaceutical functional zone, and enhance the cluster effect and ecological synergy of the IVD industry.