Youer Pharmaceuticals Completes Series A Funding to Expand R&D Team and Strengthen Pediatric Drug Pipeline

VCBeat has learned that Pediatrix Therapeutics, a Chinese pharmaceutical company focused on pediatrics, has announced the completion of its Series A financing round. Co-founded by Vertex Ventures China (Sto Capital), F-Prime Capital, and Hongyuan Capital, Pediatrix Therapeutics aims to address unmet clinical needs in China’s pediatric medication market. The company is dedicated to developing and introducing effective, clinically validated pediatric drugs, providing high-quality and affordable treatment options for Chinese children and their families. The funds raised in this round will be used to expand the R&D team and strengthen its product pipeline centered on pediatric medicines.

It is understood that although the growth rate of China’s pediatric drug market exceeds that of the overall pharmaceutical market, it remains characterized by a scarcity of specialized products, a lack of age-appropriate dosage forms, and a limited number of manufacturers. While corporate attention to this sector is high, actual R&D intensity remains low. Among drugs approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), only 2% have pediatric indications. It is reported that among the more than 6,000 pharmaceutical manufacturers in China (including traditional Chinese medicine producers), only slightly more than ten focus exclusively on pediatric drugs, and merely over 30 companies have dedicated pediatric drug production departments. Dosage forms specifically designed for children are severely lacking, leaving sick children often facing the dilemmas of “no available medications” or “inappropriate medication use.” Pediatric drug therapy typically involves administering adult medications at reduced doses calculated based on age or body weight.

In recent years, relevant authorities have successively introduced a range of policy measures to encourage the research, development, and production of pediatric drugs. The Outline of the “Healthy China 2030” Plan emphasizes that the goal of pediatric drug development is to provide child patients with medications that are safe, effective, quality-controlled, and suitable for use across different age groups. As related policies and market demand continue to improve and grow, Pediatrix Therapeutics has identified significant development opportunities in the pediatric drug market. Leveraging the industry experience of its management and expert teams, as well as the resource networks of its investors, the company is committed to developing and introducing high-quality, clinically validated pediatric medicines, and to building a specialized pediatric ecosystem to address the substantial unmet clinical needs in the Chinese market.

Zhang Cheng, CEO of Pediatrix Therapeutics“The health of children determines the quality of life for an entire family. In clinical practice, we observe that treatment options for many common pediatric diseases are limited, and drug administration methods often fail to align with the growth characteristics and lifestyle habits of modern children. The medication experience is neither convenient nor user-friendly, which adversely affects clinical outcomes and medication safety, leads to higher home care costs, and increases the workload and complexity for pediatric healthcare professionals. The founding mission of Pediatrix Therapeutics stems from recognizing these unmet needs. We are committed to providing high-quality therapeutic options for Chinese children and their families by developing and introducing effective, affordable medications, coupled with innovative business models.”

Lin Rui, Senior Partner at Stone Capitalstated: “For a long time, Steward Capital has been committed to making a profound and positive impact on society while supporting corporate growth. This is precisely why we jointly invested in and incubated Pediatrix Therapeutics. With the support of our investors’ robust resource networks, we believe that Pediatrix Therapeutics can become a leading enterprise in China’s pediatric treatment sector, effectively narrowing the clinical gap with global markets and tangibly addressing children’s medication needs.”

Xu Chong, Executive Director at F-Prime Capitalstated: “We are honored to co-found Pediatrix Therapeutics, supporting the company and its team in addressing the significant unmet needs in pediatric treatment in China. F-Prime Capital is committed to supporting and building companies with the potential to improve healthcare and lives around the world. We believe that Pediatrix Therapeutics is poised to become a leader in the field, bringing safer, more reliable, and more accessible medicines to children and families in China.”

Zhu Qingsheng, Founding Partner of Hongyuan Capitalstated, “We partnered with Stora Enso and F-Prime to establish Pediatrix Therapeutics in response to the significant unmet needs in China’s pediatric clinical landscape and the scarcity of pharmaceutical companies dedicated to this specialty. In China, there is a limited availability of pediatric-specific medicines and age-appropriate dosage forms that incorporate specialized considerations for safety and ease of use. We firmly believe that, under the leadership of its management team, Pediatrix will grow into China’s leading pediatric pharmaceutical company.”

Pediatrix Therapeutics is a Chinese pharmaceutical company focused on the pediatric sector, co-founded by Vertex Capital, F-Prime Capital, and Hongyuan Capital. It is dedicated to researching, developing, and introducing effective, clinically validated pediatric medicines, providing high-quality and affordable treatment options for children and families in China. Leveraging the extensive global experience of its founding investors and management team in drug development and commercialization, Pediatrix Therapeutics holds a unique advantage in delivering substantial benefits to Chinese children and their families.

Fidelity Growth Partners is a global proprietary investment institution backed by Fidelity Investments. Leveraging its unique capital structure, Fidelity Growth Partners flexibly deploys capital to support innovative companies in disrupting or leading their markets, helping entrepreneurs realize their ambitions. Currently, together with affiliated funds under Fidelity Investments, Fidelity Growth Partners ranks among the top ten venture capital firms globally. Our global ecosystem continuously provides portfolio companies with access to an extensive talent pool and deep local expertise, supporting their business growth. With over 25 years of venture capital experience in China, Fidelity Growth Partners has invested in more than 110 companies in the healthcare and technology innovation sectors. Over the past decade, we have invested nearly $6 billion in startups worldwide.

F-Prime Capital is a global venture capital firm focused on the life sciences, healthcare, and technology sectors. Since 1969, F-Prime has worked closely with entrepreneurs and academics to deliver innovative solutions to some of the most significant challenges in healthcare and technology worldwide.

Creacion Ventures is a venture capital fund focused on life sciences and medical technology, founded by Dr. Li Wei and Dr. Zhu Qingsheng. Creacion Ventures focuses on early-stage investment opportunities, and its team consists of professionals with extensive experience in early-stage investment and incubation within the life sciences, biopharmaceuticals, and medical device industries. Over the past decade, the team has successfully invested in or incubated several leading Chinese biopharmaceutical companies, including Innovent Biologics (HKEX: 1801), CStone Pharmaceuticals (HKEX: 2616), Ocumension Therapeutics (HKEX: 1477), TCR2 Therapeutics (TCRR), and Kymera Therapeutics (KYMR). Adhering to a highly differentiated early-stage investment strategy, Creacion Ventures is committed to cultivating its portfolio companies into leaders in their respective niche sectors.