FireGen Biomedicals Secures Tens of Millions in Series B1 Funding to Advance Integrated Nucleic Acid Testing Chip and POCT Devices into Clinical Use

Recently, FireGen Biomedicals, a developer of rapid diagnostic reagents and instruments, announced that it had previously completed a tens-of-millions-of-yuan Series B1 financing round led by Qingfeng Zichuang, the investment arm of the Medical Consortium Capital, and Tianjin Science and Technology Innovation Investment. This funding will further accelerate the clinical application of FireGen’s globally innovative, integrated, fully enclosed detection chip, FireChip, and its point-of-care testing (POCT) devices, while also advancing the company’s strategic M&A activities to extend its supply chain.

It is reported that this marks the second round of financing completed by Fanzhi Medicine in 2020. Previously, the company adopted a “small steps, fast pace” strategy to swiftly close four rounds of funding, garnering favor from specialized healthcare investment funds such as CCB Medical Growth Fund and Hairong Capital. This underscores the principle that “the strong grow stronger,” even amidst a capital winter.

Fanzhi Medicine is a globally operating biopharmaceutical company founded by a team of overseas-returned scientists with 30 years of senior executive experience at top-tier global pharmaceutical companies. It is dedicated to building an R&D platform for next-generation nucleic acid rapid diagnostic instruments, chips, and reagents targeting major diseases, aiming to establish an internationally advanced brand in next-generation rapid diagnostics. The company currently holds over 100 patents, and its products have entered 30 countries.

As a national high-tech enterprise, FanZhi Medicine has received strong government support and attracted significant attention from relevant investment institutions since its establishment. It has been honored with titles such as “Suzhou Gusu Leading Talent,” “Most Investment-Worthy Enterprise,” and one of the “Top 100 Chinese Sci-Tech Innovation Enterprises” in 2020.

The integrated, fully enclosed FireChip detection chip is the core advantage of Fanzhi Medicine.The application of FireChip can significantly reduce the requirements for laboratories and operators, enabling rapid deployment to small and medium-sized cities and achieving rapid diagnosis of various diseases (such as COVID-19).It can even enable universal screening in areas heavily affected by epidemics, reducing the backlog of suspected cases and effectively controlling outbreaks or major diseases.

In 2020, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, FanZhi Medicine achieved leapfrog development, making significant technological breakthroughs in SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing, genetic testing, and biopharmaceutical R&D. These advancements broke multiple import monopolies and laid a crucial foundation for filling the gap in the rapid testing market at the primary healthcare level.

Leveraging its own precision medicine and antiviral nucleic acid R&D support platform, FanZhi Medicine has successfully developedNovel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) Nucleic Acid Detection Lyophilized Powder Kit. Compared with the currently widely used conventional nucleic acid test kits for novel coronavirus, this product exists in a lyophilized powder form while ensuring accurate detection performance,Eliminating Constraints Imposed by Cold Chain Storage and Transportation Conditions, enabling the rapid extension of epidemic prevention and control measures to remote and impoverished areas, thereby achieving “all-weather” operations in virus containment.

Currently, multiple products of the company, including the lyophilized powder kit for nucleic acid detection of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), have obtained EU CE certification and been included in the white list of the Ministry of Commerce of China.

In addition to the freeze-dried powder kit for novel coronavirus nucleic acid detection, Fanzhi Medicine has also developed multiple breakthrough kits, achieving extensive import substitution.

The company has developed for high-throughput screening in new drug research and developmentCell RNA Hands-Free Direct Amplification Kit, eliminating the need for RNA extraction and purification; cell lysates can be prepared within minutes and used directly for reverse transcription (RT) and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis.This product features a disruptive designAchieved the same detection sensitivity, linear range, and specificity as traditional RNA extraction protocols., widely applicable to gene expression detection, mutation detection, and more,Capable of strongly substituting for imported products.

Developed by the companySpecialized Kit for RNA Extraction and Purification from Paxgene Blood RNA Tubes, ingeniously employing magnetic bead-based methods to replace imported spin-column kit reagents, not only enables high-efficiency extraction of high-purity, high-quality RNA from PAXgene blood samples but also facilitates high-throughput processing when integrated with automated instruments, making it widely applicable for molecular diagnostics based on peripheral blood RNA.

It is reported that FanZhi Medical’s dozens of products, including cell RNA extraction kits, FFPE RNA/DNA extraction kits, and plasma cell-free DNA extraction kits, cover the vast majority of high-end nucleic acid purification applications and have received widespread acclaim from customers both domestically and internationally.

By the end of December, Fanzhi Medicine’s high-standard GMP production and R&D center, featuring internationally advanced capabilities, is scheduled to be completed.The establishment of this center will further facilitate the clinical adoption of the company’s cutting-edge technologies, accelerate import substitution, and expedite the regulatory registration and mass production of integrated nucleic acid testing products. Moving forward, the company will remain committed to its core value of “Safeguarding the Ordinary with the Extraordinary,” striving to enable early diagnosis and treatment of major diseases for the general public. By providing precise, convenient, and rapid integrated nucleic acid testing instruments, chips, and diagnostic products, the company aims to simplify disease diagnosis and treatment for the public, establishing itself as a leading Chinese brand in rapid nucleic acid-based diagnostics for major diseases and a globally recognized national pharmaceutical brand.