Chuanxin Bio Completes Nearly RMB 100 Million Series A Financing Led by China Renaissance Capital to Advance RNA Therapeutics Commercialization

VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) has learned that Chuanxin Biopharmaceuticals (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. (“Chuanxin Bio”) announced today the completion of its angel financing round, raising nearly RMB 100 million. The round was led by Huagai Capital, with participation from YuanBio Venture Capital. The proceeds will be used to advance the company’s pipeline in development and to build an RNA drug production platform.

Dr. Chen Jianxin, Founder of Chuanxin Bio

Dr. Chen Jianxin, founder of Chuanxin Bio, possesses extensive industrialization experience in the field of nucleic acid drug delivery. He spearheaded the development of MC3, the key delivery technology for Patisiran, the world’s first siRNA drug. Dr. Chen is also one of the core founders of Acuitas Therapeutics, a globally leading company specializing in lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery technologies. The LNP delivery vehicle ALC-0315, used in the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines from BioNTech and CureVac, was developed by Acuitas Therapeutics.

In December 2020, the U.S. and EU regulatory authorities granted emergency use authorization for Pfizer/BioNTech’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, BNT162b2, making it the first coronavirus vaccine and the first mRNA vaccine to be marketed in human history. Phase III clinical data for BNT162b2 demonstrated a vaccine efficacy of up to 95%, and subsequent real-world evidence showed that its effectiveness against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection reached 94% after two doses. The mRNA vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna have gradually become widely used COVID-19 vaccine products in developed countries across Europe and America.

As new mutations of the novel coronavirus continue to emerge, the protective efficacy of existing vaccines, including mRNA vaccines, may decline. In response, numerous companies both in China and abroad have initiated the development of next-generation vaccines targeting these mutant strains. Chuanxin Biosciences is developing multivalent mRNA vaccines designed to elicit stronger and broader immune responses and neutralizing antibody protection, thereby enhancing vaccine efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 variants. The company leverages globally leading, clinically validated lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery technology to accelerate its product pipeline, while simultaneously constructing a large-scale manufacturing platform in Suzhou to rapidly address the shortage of COVID-19 vaccine production capacity.

Dr. Chen Jianxin, Founder of Chuanxin Biologics, stated, “We extend our sincere gratitude to Huagai Capital and YuanBio Venture Capital for their recognition and support in this financing round. The Chuanxin team will firmly seize the historic opportunities in the development of nucleic acid therapeutics, leverage current trends to continuously enrich our product pipeline and strengthen our core technologies, and work hand in hand with industry peers and investors to create value.”

Zhang Yi, Managing Partner of the Huagai Medical Yangtze River Delta Fund, stated, “The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly accelerated the development of mRNA technology. The successful R&D and large-scale deployment of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines within such a short timeframe have made history in human vaccine development, while also demonstrating the immense future potential of mRNA technology. Nucleic acid therapeutics are poised to become the next frontier in new drug discovery.” Wang Dewen, Designated Director of Chuanxin under Huagai Southern, remarked, “The Chuanxin team, led by Dr. Chen Jianxin, possesses profound expertise and extensive industrialization experience in the field of nucleic acid drug delivery technologies. The mature delivery platform with clear intellectual property rights mastered by the Chuanxin team represents a scarce resource in China’s current nucleic acid therapeutics R&D landscape.”

Dr. Li Guochun, Partner at YuanBio Venture Capital, stated, “Chuanxin Bio is dedicated to the commercial development of RNA therapeutics. The company employs a clinically validated, mature lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery system, whose delivery efficiency and safety have been thoroughly demonstrated in real-world settings, thereby reducing the risks associated with clinical product development. Dr. Chen Jianxin, the founder, is the originator and core developer of LNP delivery technology centered on MC3. His prior industry experience and technical expertise in nucleic acid delivery have laid a solid foundation for the company’s future development of next-generation delivery technologies. I am highly optimistic about the company’s future prospects.”

Chuanxin Bio, established in April 2021, is dedicated to the commercial development of RNA therapeutics. By introducing globally leading LNP delivery technology, the company has built a comprehensive R&D and large-scale manufacturing system for mRNA drugs, enabling the rapid development of novel mRNA vaccines for infectious diseases and cancer. In the future, it will develop next-generation nucleic acid delivery technologies to expand the application of RNA therapeutics in areas such as targeted therapy and protein replacement therapy.

The company has established a relatively comprehensive R&D team, with core members covering multiple areas including target biology, RNA structural biology, mRNA process development and manufacturing, and LNP process development and manufacturing, thereby ensuring the rapid advancement of the company’s pipeline products.

Huagai Capital, established in 2012, is a private equity investment firm co-founded by professionals from renowned domestic and international investment institutions. With the vision of “becoming the most trusted capital partner for entrepreneurs and investors,” the company focuses on three key sectors: healthcare, TMT (Technology, Media, and Telecom), and digital innovation, committed to fostering the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises into industry leaders. Currently, the firm manages assets totaling approximately RMB 20 billion, with 15 portfolio companies successfully listed.

YuanBio Venture Capital is a healthcare-focused investment firm specializing in early-stage and growth-stage enterprises. Headquartered at Suzhou BioBAY, it maintains a global reach. The firm currently manages approximately RMB 6 billion in assets and has completed investments in over 100 high-quality projects, primarily spanning new drug development, medical devices, in vitro diagnostics (IVD), and healthcare services. These investments have yielded substantial returns. YuanBio has been repeatedly recognized as one of the Top 10 Venture Capital Funds in China’s healthcare sector and as one of the most active healthcare investment institutions in China.Bringing together a team of seasoned professional investors and world-class scientific advisors, YuanBio possesses extensive experience in entrepreneurship, venture capital, and corporate operations within the biopharmaceutical industry and related fields. Leveraging its focused strategy and rich industry resources, YuanBio is committed to becoming one of the most successful healthcare and pharmaceutical venture capital funds in China.