RoosterBio Secures $15 Million Series B Funding to Advance Its Mesenchymal Stem Cell Manufacturing Platform

On August 7, 2019, VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned from foreign media reports that biotechnology company RoosterBio announced the completion of a $15 million Series B financing round. The round was led by Dynamk Capital (Dynamk).

RoosterBio will use the proceeds from this financing round to expand its operations, accelerate the development of advanced cell manufacturing technologies, and enhance its mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) production platform.

It is reported that RoosterBio had previously completed four rounds of financing. Among these, the company closed a $6 million Series A round in March 2017 and a $250,000 seed round in February 2014.

RoosterBio, established in 2012 and headquartered in Maryland, USA, is a biotechnology company. The company is dedicated to developing advanced cell manufacturing technologies and supplying mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to healthcare institutions and research institutes. RoosterBio drives the sustainable development of the biopharmaceutical industry through its expertise in synthetic biology and regenerative medicine.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are the most commonly used cell type in regenerative medicine research, capable of differentiating into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, myocytes, and adipocytes. Clinical trials have demonstrated that MSCs are not attacked by the human immune system due to their lack of MHC class II antigens. Furthermore, this cell population can modulate the immune system and promote tissue and organ regeneration.

According to a report by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), there are currently more than 900 clinical trials involving mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) underway worldwide. However, in the traditional cell manufacturing industry, very few cells are available for sale as research reagents. Scientists can only purchase small quantities of cells and must culture them in media for weeks to months until sufficient cell numbers are obtained before experiments can begin.

RoosterBio has achieved large-scale cell production. Leveraging advanced technologies, the company produces large quantities of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with consistent phenotypes, offering higher production efficiency and lower costs compared to traditional MSC suppliers. This breakthrough will enable scientists to conduct experiments rapidly and accurately, ensuring that experimental results are not confounded by cell-related variables.

RoosterBio’s current flagship products are high-quality, cost-effective human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HMSCs) with robust physiological activity, along with highly optimized cell culture media. HMSCs serve as a critical raw material for many regenerative medicine products and represent a scarce resource. These cells can be utilized in the development of cell therapies, as well as in research on cell engineering and tissue engineering. By simplifying and standardizing the production, procurement, and use of stem cells, RoosterBio significantly reduces the R&D time and costs for research institutions.

“Dynamk co-founder Daniella Kranjac stated, ‘We aim to help researchers develop disease therapies more efficiently and bring innovative pharmaceutical products to market. RoosterBio’s pioneering biotechnology platform is driving advancements in regenerative medicine, exploring therapeutic avenues for diseases that are currently difficult to cure. We hope RoosterBio will scale up its operations and promote the widespread application of its technology across the healthcare industry.’”

Margot Connor, CEO of RoosterBio, stated, “RoosterBio’s mission is to advance regenerative therapies by integrating innovative technologies and business models. We are delighted to have the support of investors such as Dynamk Capital.”

Dynamk, founded in 2016 and headquartered in New York, USA, is a venture capital firm. The company boasts an experienced investment team that primarily focuses on the life sciences, innovative technologies, and pharmaceutical industries. Dynamk provides funding and strategic guidance to tech startups, helping them develop disruptive technologies to drive the advancement of the healthcare industry.

(Compiled by Xu Xiaoxue)