Sinogene Secures Tens of Millions in Series B1 Funding Led by Shunqi Fund and Followed by Xinuo Hengtong

Beijing Sinogene Biotechnology Co., Ltd. specializes in animal gene technology, driven by technological innovation. From genetic testing and gene editing to cell therapy and animal cloning, the company achieves a closed-loop management of the animal life cycle. It is the first commercial pet cloning enterprise in China with fully independent intellectual property rights.

The company has established multi-species (canine, feline, equine, porcine, and bovine) animal cloning and gene editing technology platforms. It has pioneered the development of a series of genetically edited canine disease models, built a cell bank for genetic disorders, and provides preclinical animal testing services primarily based on genetically edited model animals. By supporting biomedical R&D, the company offers ideal model animals and a robust platform for investigating the mechanisms of human diseases, as well as for drug screening and evaluation.

In 2019, the company deepened its engagement in the pet market, rapidly advancing its businesses in pet cloning, genetic testing, and cell preservation. Its research services, including customized development of gene-edited model animals and animal experimentation based on model organisms, were gradually launched and gained market recognition. The company achieved remarkable results, with annual market revenue reaching tens of millions of yuan.

Amid the rapid development of China’s pet industry, Beijing Sinogene Biotechnology Co., Ltd. leverages its canine somatic cell cloning technology to collaborate with over 600 high-quality veterinary hospitals across China. By establishing designated Sinogene Pet Cloning Centers, the company promotes services including pet dog cloning, cell preservation, and genetic testing.

In July 2019, “Garlic,” China’s first cloned cat developed using proprietary technology by Sinogene, was successfully born, attracting widespread attention from media outlets and pet owners alike. Subsequently, Sinogene successfully expanded its cloning, cell preservation, and genetic testing services into the pet cat market.

In September 2019, Sinogene signed its first international order for cloned dogs from a Japanese pet owner, marking the expansion of its pet cloning services beyond China and their growing recognition among pet owners worldwide.

To date, Sinogene has received nearly 100 orders for dog and cat cloning, earning a solid reputation in the pet market.

Working dogs (including police and military dogs) are essential tools for counter-terrorism, emergency response, criminal investigation, and disaster rescue. Currently, China’s working dog breeding technology fails to meet the demand for high-quality working dogs. The application of cloning, gene editing, and genetic testing technologies will significantly enhance the level of working dog breeding in China.

Sinogene is actively advancing the domestic market for cloned working dogs and has reached cooperation intentions with multiple police dog bases. In March 2019, the delivery of “Kunxun,” China’s first cloned police dog, was completed, marking significant progress in the application of cutting-edge biotechnology in the field of police dog technology.

In August 2019, six cloned police dogs were born as part of the “Core” Technology for Precision Breeding of Police Dogs project, a police-enterprise collaboration between the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau and Beijing Sinogene Biotechnology Co., Ltd. The birth of four cloned police dogs in a single litter marked a world first. At the induction ceremony for the six cloned police dogs on November 6, the clones, aged just over three months, had already reached the performance levels of six-month-old police dogs in terms of physical fitness, obedience, retrieval ability, and courage, demonstrating superior potential for police work. At the scientific and technological achievement evaluation meeting, the expert panel unanimously concluded that “the project’s overall level is internationally leading, with broad application prospects and value, and recommended its promotion and application across China’s working dog sector.”

Gene editing technology is currently the hottest and fastest-growing application area in biotechnology, and one of the most direct and effective methods for studying gene function in the genomics era.

Beijing Sinogene Biotechnology Co., Ltd. has been dedicated to developing a series of gene-edited canine disease models that mimic human clinical conditions. The company has established model animals covering multiple fields, including brain science, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, and rare diseases. It provides model animals and animal experimentation services for mechanism research, drug efficacy evaluation, drug screening, and non-pharmacological therapeutic efficacy assessment to numerous domestic research institutions, medical facilities, and biopharmaceutical enterprises.

In November 2018, Sinogene and the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences jointly established the “Joint Laboratory for Canine Research,” creating a large-animal experimental platform and behavioral assessment system using domestic dogs as models.

In September 2019, the Company entered into a strategic cooperation with the Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders to jointly establish the “Large Animal Model and Drug Evaluation Center,” building a base for large animal model development and experimentation, thereby providing a platform for model animals to support the Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders.

In December 2019, Beijing Sinogene Biotechnology Co., Ltd., in collaboration with the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, the Institute of Biophysics, the Kunming Institute of Zoology, and Peking University—five institutions in total—jointly applied for and was awarded a special project under the Ministry of Science and Technology’s National Key R&D Program on “Key Scientific Issues in Transformative Technologies,” titled “Biological Basis and Translational Research on Social Behavior and Emotions.” Project Title: Elucidating the Biological Basis of Social Behavior and Emotions Using the Domestic Dog as a Model.

Sinogene’s Proprietary Gene-Edited Canine Models: Paving the Way for New Research Directions and Driving Industrial Growth in Basic and Translational Life Sciences

With the rapid development of technology and the economy, the role of horses is being actively adjusted to adapt to the globalized landscape. The quiet rise of the equestrian and horse racing industries has made the development of high-quality domestic horse breeds a fundamental cornerstone for the growth of China’s equestrian industry. In 2019, Beijing Sinogene Biotechnology Co., Ltd. was invited to participate in the “14th Five-Year Plan” for the seed industry, contributing technological expertise and constructive recommendations to the conservation and breeding of horses.

In January 2019, Beijing Sinogene Biotechnology Co., Ltd. partnered with the China Horse Industry Association to jointly establish the “China Equine Genetic Testing and Research Laboratory.” Leveraging cutting-edge biotechnological advances, the laboratory preserves germplasm resources of premium horse breeds—including tissues, frozen semen, embryos, cells, and genes—and establishes a genetic database and a germplasm resource bank.

As a form of asexual reproduction, cloning technology enables the replication of high-quality individual horses and the rapid, large-scale expansion of superior populations, representing a cutting-edge scientific approach to germplasm conservation and breeding. Currently, the cloned horse independently developed by Beijing Sinogene Biotechnology Co., Ltd. is expected to be born in July.

2020 was a year of immense challenges, but also a year of rapid ascent for Sinogene. Professional investment institutions, including PICC Qidi Fund, CCB Medical Growth Fund, and Shunqi Fund, successively invested in the company, demonstrating their recognition of Sinogene and underscoring its corporate value. With capital support, Beijing Sinogene Biotechnology Co., Ltd. will achieve rapid development by deepening its presence in the pet market and expanding into the biomedical sector, thereby realizing its strategic vision for the comprehensive health industry.

Beijing Shuncheng Equity Investment Fund Management Co., Ltd. is a specialized fund management company established with the support of Zhongguancun Equity Trading Services Group. Focusing on new technologies as its primary investment direction, the company concentrates on the broader health sector, particularly medical devices. It maintains close collaborations with the Beijing Equity Trading Center and multiple technology parks to facilitate the incubation and development of medical device enterprises. By pursuing high-growth value investments, the company has achieved outstanding returns. Its portfolio companies, including Pumen Technology, Aierbo Nuode, and Ketuohengtong, have already listed or are poised to list on the STAR Market and the ChiNext Board.

CCB International Healthcare Growth Fund is a venture capital fund under CCB International, operating on a market-oriented basis and focusing on investments in growth-stage healthcare enterprises. The fund is led by CCB International and jointly established with high-quality institutions such as Kun Gaoxin Group.

The Fund leverages the comprehensive strengths of CCB International, including its extensive project sourcing capabilities, synergy with investment banking services, and a professional investment team specializing in the healthcare sector. By integrating high-quality industry resources from its investors, the Fund precisely identifies technology commercialization projects within the healthcare industry to accelerate the cultivation of innovative tech enterprises. Drawing on its rich experience in investment and management, as well as its deep industry connections, the Fund provides comprehensive post-investment value-added services to its portfolio companies. The Fund is committed to achieving mutual growth alongside both enterprises and investors.

CCB Medical Fund is a series of equity investment funds established by CCB International to deploy in the domestic healthcare industry. The funds under management include CCB Medical Fund Phase I, CCB Medical Growth Fund, and Jianxing Medical Fund.

Tus-PICC Fund is an industry-finance integration investment fund jointly established by PICC and Tsinghua University in response to the national call for “financial services supporting the real economy” and “promoting technological innovation and entrepreneurship.” Leveraging PICC’s insurance industry chain resources and capital advantages, as well as Tsinghua University’s technological industry resources and innovation network, the fund focuses on venture capital, private equity, and M&A opportunities in sectors such as healthcare, information technology, and energy conservation and environmental protection. Tus-PICC Fund (Phase I) was launched in 2016.