Qunfeng Health Files IPO Prospectus: Pioneering IVD-Grade Precision Nutrition with Proprietary 16S-FAST Microbiome Testing Technology

“A ruler regards the people as his heaven, and the people regard food as their heaven.” Food has always been an indispensable component of a healthy lifestyle. How can we eat correctly and healthily? This question has garnered increasing attention amid the broader historical trend of consumption upgrading. The growing public focus on dietary health signals the presence of a vast market behind it—the medical nutrition market.

Since stepping down from the board of directors at Jiabaorenhe, Feng Tao has been actively seeking new industry breakthroughs externally. An expert in reproductive genetics, Feng holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Peking University and an MBA from the National School of Development at Peking University. As one of the first professionals in China to work in gene sequencing and bioinformatics, he brings 16 years of accumulated expertise and scientific insight in the field of genomic sequencing.

Feng Tao, Founder of Qunfeng Health

Following the genetics and oncology markets, what will be the next major trend for NGS? This is a question Feng Tao has been pondering for years. Drawing on his extensive experience in the industry, he believes that one of the emerging opportunities in the precision medicine market lies in the field of microbiology, while another resides in immunology. Through self-directed study of relevant knowledge and with the support of his former university classmate, Dr. Wang Ye, a food expert at COFCO Group, Feng Tao naturally embarked on an entrepreneurial journey in the microbiology sector. “The gut microbiome represents the next major trend in precision medicine following genetic testing. This historic leap is akin to the transition from the internet era to the mobile internet era,” said Feng Tao.

After deciding to enter the microbiome sector, Feng Tao visited numerous medical nutrition companies in China, participated in industry conferences related to foods for special medical purposes (FSMP), and attended the annual meeting of the Diabetes Branch of the Chinese Medical Association. Initial research revealed that China’s medical nutrition market was still in a very early stage, with the segment for chronic disease management being nearly nonexistent.

“China’s nutritional supplement market lacks established brands. It is not that consumers distrust nutritional supplements per se, but rather that they lack confidence in domestically produced ones,” Feng Tao candidly stated. He noted that the market currently remains largely untapped. At this juncture, Qunfeng Health has entered the space with a development strategy of “nutrition first, precision later,” aiming to first cultivate the nutritional supplement market through clinical applications, and gradually integrate precision nutrition based on gut microbiota testing.

As is well known, the “first 1,000 days of life” represent a critical window of opportunity for growth and development. Qunfeng Health aims to establish the concept of the “golden decade before aging” as the strategic window of opportunity for health management.

Health management typically focuses on three dimensions: diet, exercise, and sleep. Qunfeng Health targets the question of how to “eat right.” The company’s core R&D team is primarily divided into two parts: the Food Team, which oversees “eating,” and the Microbiome Team, which ensures it is done “right.” Leveraging precision nutrition based on gut microbiota testing, the company provides users with personalized dietary recommendations and functional intervention foods.

“While analyzing the gut microbiota is undoubtedly important, only by identifying and addressing pain points that align with clinical needs can the field truly establish a solid foothold,” Feng Tao admitted. Qunfeng Health has chosen to focus on individuals with the “four highs” (hypertension, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and hyperuricemia), initially entering the market through diabetes care. The company primarily focuses on the gut microbiota of four populations: those with diabetes, prediabetes, gestational diabetes, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), striving to develop blockbuster diagnostic applications comparable to NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing).

Multiple studies currently being advanced by Qunfeng Health are based on the 16S-FAST™ gut microbiota testing technology. Its principle involves utilizing the Illumina platform for single-molecule sequencing, followed by assembly of short-read sequences to obtain full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences.

16S refers to 16S rDNA (or 16S rRNA). The 16S rRNA gene is the gene that encodes the small subunit of prokaryotic ribosomes. It is approximately 1,542 base pairs in length and comprises nine variable regions and ten conserved regions. The sequences of the conserved regions reflect phylogenetic relationships among species, while the sequences of the variable regions reveal differences between species.

In most prokaryotes, rDNA exists in multiple copies, with identical copy numbers for 5S, 16S, and 23S rDNA. However, due to its high abundance (accounting for approximately 80% of bacterial RNA content) and moderate molecular size (approximately 1.5 kb), 16S rDNA not only reflects differences among bacterial genera but also allows for relatively easy sequence acquisition through sequencing technologies. Consequently, it has become the most useful and commonly used molecular clock in bacterial systematic classification studies, often referred to as the "bacterial fossil."

16S sequencing refers to the selection of one or several variable regions of the 16S rDNA, the use of universal primers to perform PCR amplification on microorganisms in environmental samples, followed by high-throughput sequencing of the PCR products. The resulting sequencing data are then compared and analyzed against existing 16S rDNA databases to investigate microbial taxonomy, abundance, differential characteristics, and phylogenetic evolution.

The primary advantage of Qunfeng Health’s 16S-FAST™ technology lies in its ability to accurately characterize microbial species in samples with high reproducibility. This establishes the core technical foundation for clinical-grade testing, enabling broad applications in early disease prediction and nutritional intervention assessment. It is poised to become the industry-standard technique for microbiome testing in these fields.

Developing such a technology is by no means an easy task. Feng Tao told VCBeat, “From the initial primer design and intermediate library construction to the subsequent bioinformatics analysis, we encountered numerous pitfalls. Developing an IVD-grade detection technology requires solidifying every technical detail. Furthermore, as a quasi-industry-standard technology, 16S-FAST™ necessitates extensive data validation. For instance, it must be determined whether 5,000 or 10,000 full-length reads are more appropriate for microbiota detection. This question must be answered with evidence supporting each step.”

In July 2019, Qunfeng Health completed the development of its 16S-FAST technology; the technology was finalized in September, and its first major upgrade was completed in December. Feng Tao also stated that the company’s primary focus in the early stage remained on the development of the 16S-FAST technology, while data for personalized dietary recommendations are being gradually accumulated.

In September 2019, Qunfeng Health entered into a strategic partnership with Wanbang Pharmaceutical to jointly promote the medical nutrition market for patients with chronic diseases. In November, it successfully participated in a multicenter clinical study on precision intervention for prediabetes, led by Director Zeng from the 301 Hospital (Chinese PLA General Hospital). In December, it established strategic collaborations with Shenzhen Unknown Biotech and the COFCO Nutrition and Health Research Institute to jointly advance fecal microbiota transplantation matching and precision nutrition intervention. Also in December, it formed a strategic partnership with Professor Wang Xin’s team at Hangzhou Hailu Medical to jointly promote the clinical translation and application of precision prebiotics and dietary fiber.

Qunfeng Health’s team is currently based at the COFCO Nutrition and Health Research Institute, a location with distinct geographical advantages. Notably, the company’s collaboration with Wanbang Pharmaceutical has entered the initiation phase of clinical observation, and sales have already been generated among some users with prediabetes.

“By examining Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre data alongside standardized meal plans, we can already observe inter-individual variability in glycemic responses to the same food, as well as the reproducibility of glycemic responses within the same individual. Predictive modeling using deep learning based on gut microbiota data has indeed yielded promising results across nearly one hundred test cases,” said Feng Tao. “We have developed our own functional food product, Tangjing (SugarClean). Through gut microbiota testing, we can clearly see that patients with more significant improvements in their gut microbiome achieve better blood glucose control.” Regarding the company’s goals, Feng Tao stated, “We aim to carve out a distinct path for Chinese nutrition brands. Our vision is that, over the next 5, 10, and 20 years, whenever people think about nutrition, they will think of Qunfeng.”

It is reported that Qunfeng Health was established in October 2018. The company has currently launched its angel round of financing, with the proceeds primarily allocated to refining data models and promoting clinical adoption.