YuceBio Secures Nearly RMB 300 Million Series C Financing to Advance Integrated Precision Immuno-Oncology Solutions

VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) has learned that Shenzhen Yuce Biological Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Yuce Bio”) recently announced the completion of its Series C strategic financing, amounting to nearly RMB 300 million.Led by Yuanzhi Technology Medical, with follow-on investment from Puhua Capital, and Probe Capital serving as the exclusive financial advisor. The proceeds from this round of financing will be primarily used to expand market coverage, advance regulatory approval for the large-panel TMB testing product, and establish a market-oriented clinical research service platform for pharmaceutical companies specializing in tumor immunotherapy.

Yuce Bio was founded in 2015, dedicated to addressing unmet clinical and pharmaceutical industry needs in the field of tumor immunotherapy. The company boasts world-classNeopeptide Detection and Identification Platform, professionalTumor Immuno-bioinformatics Interpretation Database, the largest in ChinaReal-World Study Database for Tumor Immune Diagnosis and Treatment, leveraging internationally high-standard research and production quality systems as well as an experienced management and operations team, to provide clinically accessible medication guidance testing products for cancer patients, and to offer high-quality diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target development services for pharmaceutical companies.

Tumor immunotherapy is currently a hot topic in cancer treatment research. As of August 2019, there were 5,166 clinical trials related to immunotherapy underway globally. These primarily include immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) represented by PD-1, adoptive cell therapies represented by CAR-T and TCR-T, and personalized tumor vaccines. However, in real-world clinical practice, there remains a significant unmet need in tumor immunotherapy.

Dr. Gao Zhibo, Founder of Yuce Bio

Dr. Gao Zhibo, founder of Yuce Bio, stated, “The average response rate to PD-1 monotherapy is less than 30%. How to rationally design the thousands of ongoing studies on PD-1 combination therapies, and how to identify high-quality vaccine targets, among other issues, have become urgent clinical and research challenges.” Committed to enhancing the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy, Yuce Bio has steadfastly deepened its expertise in this field, continuously refining its technologies and products, and has forged a proven and effective path forward.

In clinical operations, Yuce Bio adheres to“Three Primary and Three Auxiliary”’s product and market strategy: focusing on immunodiagnostics as the primary offering, with targeted testing as a supplement; prioritizing next-generation sequencing (NGS) while complementing it with multi-platform assays such as pathology and cytology; concentrating on lung cancer, supplemented by other PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-approved indications including gastrointestinal tumors. This approach has garnered widespread acclaim from clinicians over the past three years. Yuce Bio’s core productsYuceOne Plus^®Assess the beneficiary population of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) from the perspective of tumor immunogenicity, while accommodating extensive targeted gene testing, and identifying personalized cell therapies and tumor vaccines for patients who have exhausted standard treatment options.potential, assisting physicians in formulating optimal treatment plans. Currently, this product has entered the critical stage of IVD registration certification.

In its pharmaceutical business, Yuce Bio focuses on the diagnostic and target development needs during clinical trials, centering on tumor genomics and the immune microenvironment. It has established a comprehensive tumor immunology research technology platform covering NGS, cellular assays, and pathology, providing pharmaceutical companies with complete diagnostic biomarker solutions and industrial-grade neoantigen therapeutic target development services.We have established collaborations with more than 20 companies, including multiple projects that have entered the clinical stage, one joint IND filing collaboration, and one co-development partnership for shared neoantigen targets.。

Dr. Gao Zhibo believes that as research deepens, tumor immunotherapy is moving toward precision and personalization, which cannot be achieved without the support of high-quality big data for precise diagnosis and treatment. Yuce Bio isThe First Institution in China to Join the Tumor Neoantigen Screening Alliance, leveraging international collaborative innovation to jointly participate in the formulation of standards for neoantigen prediction and validation. In 2017, Shenzhen Yuce Biological Technology Co., Ltd., in collaboration with Academician Zhan Qimin, initiated the“China Anti-Cancer Ladder Program”It is the first real-world study initiative in China specifically launched for tumor immunotherapy, having accumulated a tumor immunotherapy diagnosis and treatment database comprising nearly 10,000 cases that cover tumor genomics, the immune microenvironment, and clinical information. This initiative has enabled Shenzhen Yuce Biological Technology Co., Ltd. to develop multiple competitive services and products.

Yuce Biology 5th Anniversary

Regarding the investment in Yuce Biological,Yuanzhi Technology Medical Co-CEO Shi Tao“It stated: ‘Smart healthcare and precision medicine are key sectors in which Pearl River Investment has made deep strategic investments. Tumor immunotherapy is a disruptive cancer treatment technology, and we are highly optimistic about its market prospects in China. As a pioneer in China’s tumor immuno-diagnosis and treatment market, Shenzhen Yuce Biological Technology Co., Ltd. benefits from the founder Gao Zhibo’s world-class international vision, as well as his unwavering determination and resilience in achieving goals. The company keenly anticipated the advent of the tumor immunotherapy era, proactively securing regulatory approvals for large-panel immune diagnostics and developing neoantigen therapeutic targets, thereby gaining a first-mover advantage and achieving phased milestones. We believe that, with the systematic support of Yuanzhi Technology’s medical ecosystem and under the leadership of its excellent management team, Yuce Bio will advance more rapidly, steadily, and sustainably, becoming a major pillar in China’s precision immuno-diagnosis and treatment sector.’”

Yang Mohan, Investment Director of Yuanzhi Technology Medical“It was stated: ‘Following the NASDAQ listings of Burning Rock Biotech and Genetron Health, the competition in the tumor NGS testing industry has entered its second half. Companies must clarify their positioning and advantages to stand out. Yuce Biological has established a clear strategic position and development path, deeply cultivating the field of tumor immuno-diagnosis and treatment. By leveraging neoantigens, it seamlessly bridges immuno-diagnosis with immunotherapy, gradually building the most comprehensive tumor immunity research platform in the industry, and providing integrated solutions for tumor immuno-diagnosis and treatment to clinical and pharmaceutical clients. We are firmly optimistic about Yuce Biological’s development prospects and are committed to working with the company to accelerate the implementation of precision cancer immunotherapy in China, enabling more cancer patients to benefit from advanced diagnostic and therapeutic technologies.’”

Li Yang, Investment Director at Puhua CapitalHe stated, “Puhua Capital has long been highly optimistic about the significant opportunities in the field of tumor immunotherapy and diagnostics. Since its inception, Yuce Bio has been deeply committed to developing products in this area that align with clinical needs and maximize patient benefits. When we first engaged in 2016, the niche sector of tumor immunodiagnostics was not yet a hot spot, and biomarkers such as Tumor Mutational Burden (TMB) and their associated companion diagnostics faced considerable skepticism both domestically and internationally. Fortunately, we reached a consensus on many strategic directions. We are eager to see Yuce Bio leverage patient big data and advanced analytics to their fullest potential, delivering high-quality products for personalized and precision diagnosis and treatment. We are also bullish on the development of neoantigens in immunotherapy. Therefore, Puhua Capital has chosen to participate again in this funding round.”

Zhujiang Investment Group was established in 1993. With the goal of promoting sustainable social development, it has continuously expanded its business portfolio across urban renewal, energy and infrastructure, commerce, industry, residential real estate, education, healthcare, culture, technology, and finance. Committed to serving and giving back to society, creatively addressing social challenges, and providing forward-looking solutions, Yuanzhi Technology is a newly developed, diversified smart technology industrial ecosystem platform under Zhujiang Investment.

Established in 2004, Puhua Capital has deeply cultivated its industrial layout in the healthcare sector. It has successfully invested in renowned enterprises and listed companies such as Hu Qing Yu Tang, MicroPort Scientific Corporation (688029), Genor Biopharma, Huatong Medicine (002758), and Quanyuantang (833409). The firm conducts comprehensive and systematic investments and industrial deployment across the broader healthcare industry, with a particular focus on medical devices and IVD, biopharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence and robotics, healthcare services, and insurance, having supported more than 100 high-tech healthcare enterprises both domestically and internationally. Puhua Medical Fund has consistently ranked among the top in authoritative industry rankings over the years, including being named to Zero2IPO’s Top 10 and Top 20 Healthcare Investment Institutions in China for 2019, 2018, and 2017; CVSource’s Top 20 Best Medical Device Investment Institutions of 2019; and CVSource’s Top 10 Best Medical Device Investment Institutions in China’s Healthcare and Health Services Industry for 2016.

Founded in 2017, Probe Capital is among the first boutique investment banks in China to focus on the global healthcare and life sciences industries. It completes double-digit private equity financing and M&A transactions annually, continuously supporting the growth of scientists and entrepreneurs in this field. Leveraging extensive healthcare industry experience and diverse professional expertise, Probe Capital’s team provides clients with efficient and diversified post-investment and advisory services. This approach enhances fundraising efficiency for startup teams and serves as an external think tank for founders, offering full-cycle advisory services throughout enterprise development. As of August this year, Probe Capital has helped multiple companies, including Shenzhen Yuce Biological Technology Co., Ltd., secure cumulative financing exceeding billions of yuan.