BendGen Therapeutics Secures Tens of Millions RMB in Pre-A Financing to Advance mRNA-Based Gene Therapy Programs into Clinical Application

VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) has learned that Shanghai Bendao Gene Technology Co., Ltd. (“Bendao Gene”) has announced the completion of its tens-of-millions-of-yuan Pre-A financing round, exclusively invested by the renowned high-tech venture capital firm KeyTone Ventures. The proceeds will be used to advance the clinical pipelines associated with Bendao Gene’s core technology platforms, BDmRNA and BDlenti.

Shanghai Bendao Gene Technology Co., Ltd. was founded in 2018 by frontline gene therapy researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, together with experts in drug toxicology and industry professionals. The company has now established a complete core team covering project R&D, preclinical studies, CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls), and regulatory submission. A 600-square-meter standard new drug process development center is also nearing completion. Bendao Gene’s mission is to “treat major diseases that were previously untreatable with the best delivery technologies.” Dr. Yuja Cai, co-founder of the company, studied at Shandong University, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, and earned his Ph.D. in gene therapy from Aarhus University in Denmark. He returned to China in 2017 to serve as a professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, where he actively conducts fundamental research on gene therapy and promotes its industrialization. Dr. Cai has long been engaged in research on viral vectors for gene therapy and gene-editing delivery technologies, dedicated to ensuring that patients truly benefit from advances in gene therapy.

▲ Professor Cai Yujia of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Founder of Bendao Gene

“The primary challenge in gene editing lies in delivery. Bendao Gene’s patented BDmRNA delivery technology is at an internationally advanced level, enhancing the safety of gene editing for in vivo gene therapy,” stated Dr. Cai Yujia, Co-founder of Bendao Gene. “Currently, preclinical studies across multiple pipelines based on this technology have achieved significant progress. Animal studies for gene-editing therapies targeting viral keratitis (BD111) and macular degeneration (BD121) have been completed, demonstrating the efficacy and safety of the technology. We are systematically advancing the toxicology and safety assessments required for clinical trials.”

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing the drawbacks of traditional attenuated or inactivated vaccines—such as lengthy R&D and production cycles, low success rates, and high safety risks—Dr. Cai Yujia’s team at Shanghai Jiao Tong University leveraged their core Virus-like Particle (VLP) mRNA delivery technology to develop a VLP mRNA candidate vaccine against coronaviruses. They were the first worldwide to release animal data for an mRNA vaccine, garnering widespread attention from domestic and international media and academic institutions, including Dragon TV and the Oxford University Immunology Society.

Lai Zhigang, Partner at KeyTone Ventures, stated that gene therapy technology holds immense potential for future growth. Compared with traditional drugs such as small molecules, gene therapy offers broader application scenarios and has the potential to address significant unmet clinical needs, including those of various rare diseases. The team at Shanghai Bendao Gene Technology Co., Ltd. possesses internationally leading technologies, particularly its two core technical platforms: lentiviral vectors and novel mRNA delivery systems. During the recent pandemic, the team’s rapid response in developing COVID-19 vaccines has further reinforced our belief that Shanghai Bendao Gene can leverage its technological innovations to expand the range of indications for gene therapy.

New drug development is a long and arduous journey. Following this round of financing, the team led by Dr. Cai Yujia will continue to pursue their vision with determination, overcoming obstacles to develop gene therapy innovations made in China. In the future, Bendao Gene will continue to expand the indications for gene therapy through technological innovation, bringing benefits to more patients.

Bendao Gene is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of innovative gene therapies. It possesses an mRNA delivery and gene editing platform, a fourth-generation lentiviral vector platform, and an oncolytic virus platform, primarily targeting conditions such as diabetic macular degeneration, wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD), and hereditary hematopoietic disorders. The company’s mission is to advance “the best delivery technologies for treating major diseases that were previously untreatable.”

KeyTone Ventures, established in 2008, is one of China’s premier high-tech venture capital funds. Deeply rooted in the high-tech sector, KeyTone Ventures is dedicated to identifying high-potential technology enterprises in their early-to-mid and growth stages. The firm continuously uncovers investment opportunities in key strategic emerging industries, with a primary focus on the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, smart hardware, and advanced healthcare. Backed by extensive technical industry experience and a solid foundation in the high-tech sector, the team has accumulated substantial investment expertise and demonstrated the ability to navigate market cycles. Furthermore, the team is committed to building and refining a robust ecosystem for technology and industrial investment, empowering entrepreneurs with rich experience, global perspective, and valuable resources.