SeekGene Biosciences Secures Over RMB 100 Million Series A Funding to Advance Commercialization of Single-Cell Transcriptome Library Preparation Kits

VCBeat has learned that on January 8, 2021, SeekGene announced the completion of its Series A financing round, raising over RMB 100 million. The investors were Boyuan Capital and Chende Capital. The funds from this round will be used to further develop the company’s single-cell sequencing platform products and facilitate their clinical translation, promote the application of single-cell sequencing technology and data in drug development, and accelerate the domestic commercialization of its independently developed products.

Previously, SeekGene completed its angel round of financing, invested by ZhenFund, in October 2018, and closed a tens-of-millions-yuan Pre-A round, invested by Delian Capital, in October 2019.

SeekGene focuses on single-cell immune profiling-based diagnostic and therapeutic solutions, specializing in the research and development as well as clinical application of various single-cell detection technologies. In 2020, the company entered a phase of rapid growth.The single-cell high-throughput library preparation kit, SeekOne® MM, has been successfully launched.The product’s various indicators have reached a leading level. The company alsoPreliminarily completed the establishment of the SeekPair® immune single-cell receptor-antigen matching platform, entering the validation phase. In addition, the company has also launched“SeekOne® Human Single-Cell Annotation Baseline Project”, aiming to establish a foundation for single-cell annotation and provide effective tools for future single-cell exploration efforts.

Since its debut in 2009, single-cell technology has been widely applied in basic scientific research and clinical studies, demonstrating significant potential in drug development and clinical diagnostics. The market outlook for single-cell technologies is promising; within the scientific research sector alone, the scale of the single-cell technology market in China’s research services industry has experienced multi-fold growth for several consecutive years. Consequently, both enterprises and investment institutions are continuously increasing their investments in the single-cell industry.

“SeekGene boasts substantial technical reserves in the single-cell domain and has assembled a team of outstanding talents in scientific research, clinical practice, and healthcare. Its diversified product portfolio is highly beneficial for the future development of translational medicine. We are confident that, as an industry leader, SeekGene will be able to advance the R&D and market launch of its products rapidly and steadily, thereby driving the development of China’s single-cell industry,” said Li Zongwen, Founder of SeekGene.

SeekOne® MM, a high-throughput single-cell transcriptome library preparation kit, is a newly launched product from SeekGene.

Currently, high-throughput single-cell library preparation requires expensive specialized instruments, which limits the widespread implementation of single-cell projects. SeekGene’s independently developed SeekOne® MM offers advantages such as flexibility, efficiency, precision, and cost-effectiveness.The entire process, from single-cell capture to transcriptome library construction, can be completed without the need for expensive instruments.Equipped with SeekOne®Tools, a single-cell data analysis software, it provides a one-stop solution for single-cell transcriptomics.

SeekOne®MM is based on microwell technology and utilizes the SeekOne®Chip microfluidic chip for single-cell capture. It employs nucleic acid-modified beads to molecularly label mRNA from different cellular origins, ultimately constructing high-throughput single-cell transcriptomic libraries compatible with Illumina sequencers. This system can be applied to research in oncology, immunology, cell development, viral infection, medication guidance, and target drug screening.

Extensive testing results demonstrate that all performance metrics of SeekOne®MM have reached international leading levels. Its product performance is comparable to similar foreign products, while offering a significant price advantage.

Following the successful market launch of SeekOne®MM, SeekGene will prioritize the commercialization of this product and further refine its supporting equipment and reagents.

Precision oncology largely relies on tissue-level understanding to guide personalized therapy, thereby overlooking critical information regarding cell types, cellular states, and cell–cell interactions. Extensive exploratory research has demonstrated that single-cell technologies enable us to re-examine molecular and genetic processes, offering new research perspectives and solutions for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other diseases.“Single-cell technologies are poised to play a pivotal role in the future of precision oncology.”

Li Zongwen candidly stated that, at present, 10x Genomics products remain the mainstream in the global single-cell technology research services market, and SeekGene is still in a “follower” position. However, the company has already taken a leading position in certain differentiated sectors. For instance, regarding its SeekOne® single-cell assay product pipeline, the company has established a comprehensive product portfolio; in addition to 3′ single-cell transcriptomics, SeekGene5′ Single-Cell Full-Length VDJ and 5′ Single-Cell Transcriptome Developed Based on Microwell Chips; Under the patented magnetic bead modification strategy, the company will alsoCreateThe World's Only Single-Cell Whole Transcriptome Product, truly achieving full-transcript detection at the single-cell level. “The company will leverage these differentiated product offerings to achieve breakthroughs.”

Li Zongwen also noted that, with the continuous investment by domestic companies in recent years, China’s single-cell technology is gradually approaching international standards, and the market is beginning to show signs of fragmentation. ““The focus of future market competition will converge on translational medicine, including clinical-grade diagnostic products and prognostic monitoring products, where domestically produced products are expected to gain a competitive advantage.”

Moving forward, SeekGene will leverage SeekOne® as the foundation for commercial expansion, explore diverse possibilities in translational medicine, and accelerate pharmaceutical drug development through the SeekPair® platform.

SeekGene believes that drug development is a more suitable application scenario for single-cell technology at this stage. The company will focus on genetic and immune diseases, collaborating with numerous pharmaceutical companies in drug R&D to fully leverage the unique advantages of single-cell technology.

Regarding the clinical application of single-cell technologies, Li Zongwen remains highly cautious. He stated, “Although numerous studies have highlighted the significant role of single-cell assays in individual clinical cases, medicine is a rigorous science. Before entering clinical practice, it is essential to accumulate extensive data and conduct prospective experimental studies to establish the feasibility of clinical application. SeekGene will consider entering the clinical market only after completing substantial preclinical research.”