Immunophage Biologics Completes Nearly RMB 100 Million Pre-A Financing Round; Dr. Jianfei Wang, Former GSK Translational Medicine Expert, Joins as CSO

VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) has learned that Dr. Wang Jianfei, a senior expert in translational medicine, has recently joined Nanjing Aimeifei Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Aimeifei Biopharma”) as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO). Prior to joining Aimeifei Biopharma, Dr. Wang served as Director of Integrated Biosciences at GlaxoSmithKline (hereinafter referred to as “GSK”) and was a key leader on GSK’s global translational medicine platform management team.

Dr. Wang Jianfei

Jianfei Wang earned a Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Medicine from Nanjing Agricultural University, obtained licensure in Comparative Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania in the United States, and received a Ph.D. in Molecular Cytology from the University of Calgary in Canada. He subsequently conducted postdoctoral research at Harvard Medical School in the United States. Since 2006, he has served as Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Canada.

Dr. Wang Jianfei returned to China in 2008 to serve as Director of Preclinical R&D Technology at the GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) China R&D Center. In 2015, he was promoted to Director of the Integrated Biology Platform within the Research Department and was concurrently designated as a GSK Global Senior Fellow, the highest academic title at GSK. In this capacity, he oversaw the Integrated Biology Science and Technology Department at the GSK China R&D Center, encompassing platforms for laboratory animal science, pathology, toxicology and safety assessment, and blood-brain barrier biotechnology. He also joined the global management team of GSK’s Integrated Biology Department as a key leader. During his tenure at GSK, Dr. Wang participated in preclinical research for dozens of new drug development projects and successfully advanced multiple candidates into clinical trials.

As a seasoned biologist, comparative medicine specialist, drug development expert, and senior professor, Dr. Wang Jianfei possesses profound expertise in oncology, immunology, microbiology, and molecular biology. He has published more than 70 high-impact research papers in prestigious international journals and contributed over ten book chapters, while also holding several invention patents. “Dr. Wang brings extensive experience in leading new drug development teams at global pharmaceutical companies. He enjoys a strong reputation in the field of new drug development and excels at resource integration. Dr. Wang’s appointment will significantly strengthen Aimeifei’s R&D capabilities in oncology and other therapeutic areas. We are delighted to welcome him to Aimeifei,” remarked Dr. Fan Guohuang, Chairman and CEO of Nanjing Aimeifei Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd.

It is reported that Dr. Wang Jianfei will oversee the preclinical development of all projects at Nanjing aimeifei Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd. He will specifically direct pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and toxicology studies for all projects, manage clinical trial applications, and participate in external business development initiatives.

Double Good News: Meanwhile, Nanjing Aimeifei Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd. recently completed a Pre-A financing round of nearly RMB 100 million, led by Jinfang Hongrui Investment. Five institutions participated as co-investors: Nanjing Enran Ruiguang Health Industry Investment Partnership (Limited Partnership), Zibo Jinfang Hengjian Equity Investment Fund Partnership (Limited Partnership), Qingdao Zhongtai Huiyin Investment Management Partnership (Limited Partnership), Nanjing Yangzi Technology Venture Capital Equity Investment Fund, and Phase I of Nanjing New Rural Yangzi Modern Agricultural Industry Development Fund. The proceeds will be primarily used to advance the Investigational New Drug (IND) clinical trial applications for its two core pipelines and to support the early-stage development of more than two new drug projects.

Aimeifei Biotechnology was established in 2016. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, Anmengde Pharmaceutical Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (Aimeifei’s R&D center), is located in the Lingang Pujiang International Science and Technology City in Shanghai. The company primarily focuses on malignant tumors, autoimmune diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases, initiating new drug development from aspects such as immunomodulation, and has already established several R&D pipelines.

In the anti-cancer drug market, the oncology immune checkpoint inhibitor market is growing steadily. In response to the currently identified immune targets for cancer therapy, too many pharmaceutical companies have followed suit in R&D, leading to an increasingly obvious clustering effect. This has resulted in a crowded field and severe product homogenization. For the PD-1 target alone, there are over 100 domestic R&D enterprises, creating an unsustainable situation.

“For drugs in overly crowded therapeutic areas and those with high homogeneity, their prospects are highly concerning. Since the National Healthcare Security Administration launched the volume-based procurement (VBP) program in 2018, only three to six companies’ similar drugs are allowed to be included in the national reimbursement list, leaving little room for market survival for the rest,” said Dr. Fan Guohuang, founder of Aimeifei Biopharma. “As a relatively young biopharmaceutical company, Aimeifei must leverage its deep expertise in major disease areas, pursue source innovation, and develop novel targets not yet addressed in the market to secure significant future growth opportunities. We place greater emphasis on target innovation and gaining new insights into diseases.”

All of Aimeifei’s pipeline projects demonstrate distinct competitive advantages and unique characteristics, with every oncology asset featuring dual or multiple anti-tumor mechanisms. One investigational product, IPG1094, not only inhibits tumor growth but also suppresses target-mediated formation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), thereby reversing the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Another investigational product, IPG7236, not only inhibits tumor metastasis but also reduces infiltration of tumor-associated regulatory T cells, thus reversing the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. In addition to its robust anti-tumor efficacy, IPG1094 shows excellent potential in treating autoimmune diseases by modulating macrophage phenotypes and overcoming target-mediated resistance to corticosteroids. The aforementioned projects have entered the Investigational New Drug (IND) application stage.

Dr. Fan Guohuang revealed, “Based on existing preclinical study data, IPG1094 as a monotherapy can achieve a tumor inhibition rate of 70%, which can exceed 96% when used in combination therapy.”

Aimeifei Biologics' Partial Clinical Pipeline

In addition to its fast-progressing small-molecule R&D projects, Nanjing aimeifei Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd. has also established a pipeline of monoclonal antibody and bispecific antibody anticancer drugs, all of which are independently developed Class 1 novel drugs. In terms of indications, the company has corresponding pipeline reserves for multiple myeloma, solid tumors, and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, and will advance these projects through a tiered pipeline strategy.

Behind the commitment to “First-in-class” innovation is the support of a robust team. Dr. Fan Guohuang, founder of Nanjing aimeifei Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd., is a recipient of the National Natural Science Award of China. With 25 years of research experience in major diseases such as malignant tumors, autoimmune disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases, he has served as a tenured professor at prestigious universities and research institutions in both the United States and China. He previously managed new drug R&D teams at GSK’s China R&D Center, leading multiple drug development projects that yielded significant scientific achievements. Dr. Fan has published more than 50 high-impact research papers in prominent international journals and holds over 10 invention patents.

Dr. Fang Jianchao, Vice President of Medicinal Chemistry at Nanjing Aimeifei Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd., brings over 20 years of experience in medicinal chemistry research from Pfizer (USA) and leading Chinese pharmaceutical CROs. He has long been responsible for drug molecule design, as well as the planning and management of R&D projects, with multiple novel drug development programs he participated in advancing into clinical trials. Dr. Fang excels in coordinating and organizing work across related scientific disciplines, including medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical analysis, and drug metabolism. He is particularly adept at managing multiple concurrent projects and consistently achieving project objectives. He has published dozens of research papers in prestigious international academic journals and holds eight invention patents.

Aimeifei also boasts a core team of mid-level research and management professionals with profound expertise in pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacokinetics, and preclinical and clinical R&D. The company’s Senior Advisory Board features a stellar lineup of entrepreneurial leaders, including Dr. Zang Jingwu, CEO of I-Mab Biopharma; Dr. Zheng Biao, CSO of GenFleet Therapeutics; Dr. Wang Liqun, CEO of Fosun Kite; and Dr. Wang Hao, President of the China National Pharmaceutical Industry Institute, who collectively constitute Aimeifei Biomedical’s Senior Advisory Team.

Aimeifei Biomedical’s robust capabilities empower the company to pursue source-innovative new drug development with greater confidence. The company aims to bring one to two innovative drugs to market within five years and advance several other novel drug candidates into clinical trials.

Jinfang Hongrui Investment, also known as Ningbo Meishan Bonded Port Area Jinfang Hongrui Investment Management Co., Ltd., is a professional financial services institution specializing in mergers and acquisitions, equity investment, financing, and advisory services within the pharmaceutical, healthcare, and broader health industries. Its core investment team members all possess 10 to 30 years of experience in pharmaceutical and healthcare enterprise management and investment, backed by extensive industry resources and a wide network of partners.

Jinfang Hongrui maintains close collaborations with numerous publicly listed pharmaceutical companies and their upstream and downstream industry chains, providing integrated services in industrial M&A integration, business upgrading, and investment and financing for these listed companies, while also ensuring robust exit pathways for fund investment portfolios.