TopLead BioSecures Tens of Millions in Angel Funding to Advance Preclinical Development of Small Molecule Therapeutics for Autoimmune Diseases

VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) has learned that Beijing Tuoling Botai Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Tuoling Botai”) has completed an angel round of financing amounting to tens of millions of yuan,This round of financing was led by the Beijing Hetang Life Sciences Original Innovation Fund, with co-investment from the Beijing Life Science Park Innovation Investment Fund.To support Tuoling Botai in the research and development of a first-in-class novel drug for autoimmune diseases, the company has completed candidate drug screening and druggability studies for the relevant projects under investigation.

Recently, Tuoling Botai announced a collaboration with Medicilon to officially launch preclinical research on its rheumatoid arthritis program within its development pipeline, thereby accumulating formal data for subsequent clinical trial applications.

TopLead BioTherapeutics was established in April 2020, focusing on the research and development of novel drugs for autoimmune diseases. The company holds multiple patents for small molecules that regulate innate immunity, with patent coverage spanning major global pharmaceutical R&D countries and regions. Professor Hang Yin, the company’s founder, has conducted extensive research into the immunoregulatory mechanisms of autoimmune diseases over more than a decade of scientific inquiry. He has developed several series of small-molecule candidate drugs targeting novel pathways and mechanisms in autoimmune diseases, and has carried out comprehensive druggability assessments on these candidates. As a result, the company has established and is rapidly advancing multiple drug development pipelines focused on autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and scleroderma.

Currently, the company has established a core team with complementary professional expertise. Key members include a National Distinguished Expert with significant achievements in the field of immune regulation, a Chief Physician from the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology at Peking Union Medical College Hospital with extensive clinical research experience, and several technical backbone staff who have obtained Ph.D. degrees from Tsinghua University. The team is fully committed to advancing the preclinical and clinical studies of the company’s projects under development. In terms of R&D platforms, Tuoling Botai leverages the pharmaceutical technology platform of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Tsinghua University. This platform features essential drug development infrastructure, including a drug screening library containing millions of small-molecule compounds, as well as platforms for drug analysis, cellular testing, and in vivo animal studies. These resources provide substantial support for the company’s continuous development of new projects and patents.

There remains a substantial unmet need for autoimmune disease therapeutics worldwide. Currently marketed drugs are generally plagued by low patient response rates, prohibitive costs, and significant adverse effects. Tuoling Botai’s investigational projects focus on the development of first-in-class novel drugs targeting new pathways and mechanisms for autoimmune diseases. These initiatives will serve as a critical complement to the existing autoimmune disease market, address the shortcomings of current therapies, drive rapid growth in the pharmaceutical market, expand the overall industry scale, provide genuine solutions for patients, and inject new vitality into the research and development of national Class 1 innovative drugs.

Zhang Tao, Investment Director of the Beijing Hetang Life Sciences Original Innovation FundIt is indicated that there remains a substantial unmet need in the field of autoimmune diseases, both in China and globally, currently and in the foreseeable future. In particular, current treatment modalities are still dominated by injectable biologic agents, which have certain limitations in terms of drug cost, treatment convenience, and patient compliance. Therefore, the development of novel small-molecule oral drugs holds significant clinical value. Professor Yin Hang, founder of TopAll Therapeutics, possesses extensive expertise in the mechanisms of autoimmune diseases, especially in the research area of Toll-like receptors (TLRs). His research achievements have attracted attention and fostered collaborations with renowned global pharmaceutical and life sciences companies. The company has developed a pipeline of multiple candidate drugs targeting TLRs, including specific inhibitors and agonists, all of which are first-in-class new molecular entities worldwide. These candidates have demonstrated favorable safety and efficacy profiles in various preclinical animal models, indicating high potential for successful clinical development and substantial therapeutic value in the future.

Xue Yuan, Partner at Beijing Life Science Park Innovation Investment FundStatement: There is a significant unmet clinical need in autoimmune diseases, which constitute a key therapeutic area of focus for the Life Park Venture Capital Fund. Drawing on over a decade of fundamental research findings and profound insights into immunotherapy, Professor Yin Hang from the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Tsinghua University founded TopLead BioTherapeutics, guided by the philosophy of integrating academia with research to benefit society and improve public health. Starting from novel immune mechanisms and targets, the company is developing a pipeline of first-in-class innovative drugs to provide more and better treatment options for autoimmune diseases. We firmly believe that TopLead BioTherapeutics possesses strong scientific research capabilities and high translational value. It is our honor to have witnessed and participated in the company’s establishment and robust development. We are confident that TopLead BioTherapeutics will continue to advance its pipeline, ultimately benefiting patients and their families.

Gao Meng, Technical Director of Tuoling BotaiThe company stated, “Tuoling Botai is actively responding to the national call for the development of Class 1 innovative drugs. We are focusing on autoimmune diseases within the chronic disease spectrum that most significantly impact patients’ quality of life. Addressing the urgent unmet needs in this therapeutic area, and leveraging Tuoling Botai’s substantial R&D advantages, we are vigorously advancing the development of small-molecule drugs targeting novel targets and mechanisms. We will integrate resources from across society to accelerate preclinical and clinical studies of our key products, further expanding our product portfolio and pipeline to address health challenges faced by a broad patient population. At the same time, we extend our sincere gratitude to Hetang Fund, Life Science Park Venture Capital Fund, and other distinguished industry investors for their recognition and support. We look forward to collaborating with elites from all sectors of society to achieve one milestone after another in the field of autoimmune disease therapeutics.”

It is reported that Tuoling Botai will launch its next round of financing in mid-2021 to support clinical studies of novel small-molecule drugs for autoimmune diseases. Investors are welcome to follow this opportunity.

Hedao Venture Capital Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Hedao VC”) was founded in 2001. It has long adhered to its goal of investing in technology-driven innovative enterprises, with a focus on high-tech, high-growth companies possessing core competitiveness during their start-up and growth stages. Hedao VC specializes in incubating and investing in the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements from Tsinghua University, covering fields such as information technology, life sciences, and clean technology. As an integral part of Tsinghua University’s innovation ecosystem, Hedao VC serves as the investment management platform for the university’s technology transfer and achievement commercialization efforts. The Hedao series of funds currently managed by Hedao VC includes the Hedao Exploration Fund, Hedao Innovation Fund, and Hedao International Health Fund, which respectively focus on the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements, regional industrial upgrading, and the healthcare industry. Throughout its development, Hedao VC has gained recognition from domestic and international investors. Its fund investors include national and local provincial/municipal government guidance funds, financial institutions such as insurance companies and banks, state-owned enterprises, foreign-invested enterprises, private enterprises, and high-net-worth individuals.

Beijing Life Science Park Venture Capital Fund is a specialized fund led by Zhongguancun Development Group’s Lingchuang Investment and Zhongguancun Capital. With the Beijing Science and Technology Innovation Center and Zhongguancun Life Science Park as its primary incubation bases, the fund serves the entire country, focusing on investment and financing services for technological innovation. Guided by the vision of “discovering scientists and entrepreneurs who change the world and jointly creating tangible social value,” the fund leverages the extensive resources of Zhongguancun Development Group. While concentrating on the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements from major national and Beijing-based research institutes and universities, it also invests in early-stage and growth-stage high-tech, high-growth enterprises across society. Its investment portfolio covers biopharmaceuticals, high-end medical devices, life information technology, synthetic biology, and premium healthcare services.