Shunxi Regenerative Medicine Leverages Capital Strength and Leading-Edge Research for Breakthrough Growth in China's Stem Cell Industry

The application of stem cells in medicine began in 1968, when the world’s first successful bone marrow transplant was performed to treat a patient with severe combined immunodeficiency. In recent years, the Chinese government has vigorously promoted the development of stem cell technologies. In October 2016, the “Healthy China 2030” Planning Outline proposed the advancement of frontier medical technologies, including omics technologies, stem cells and regenerative medicine, novel vaccines, and biological therapies. In 2017, the National Health and Family Planning Commission, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the China Food and Drug Administration issued multiple documents concerning the filing and regulation of stem cell research, translational studies, and clinical trials.

In China, the stem cell industry chain is gradually expanding from upstream collection and storage to downstream areas such as new stem cell drug development, medical aesthetics, and anti-aging. However, deficiencies in product and technological innovation capabilities, long return-on-investment cycles, and insufficient social capital have, to some extent, hindered the development of the stem cell industry.

Since its establishment in 2012, Shunxi Regenerative Medicine has been dedicated to addressing health challenges in traditional healthcare through cutting-edge biotechnology. VCBeat interviewed Jiang Xiaofeng, General Manager of Yunnan Shunxi Regenerative Medicine, who stated, “By commercializing stem cell technologies from Monash University in Australia within Yunnan Province, Shunxi has forged comprehensive collaborations with numerous Grade A tertiary hospitals across China. We are conducting research on the use of stem cell products for treating immune disorders, solid tumors, pulmonary fibrosis, and medical aesthetic anti-aging applications, while evaluating the safety and efficacy of stem cell therapies in the medical market. Currently, most of these initiatives have entered the clinical trial phase.”

Shunxi Regenerative Medicine is the first founding member of the China region of the Global Cord Blood Alliance. It holds three invention patents, nine utility model patents, and one software copyright, and was recognized as a National High-Tech Enterprise in 2016.

Shunxi Group was founded in 2012, when stem cell research in China was still subject to government regulation, making the company’s development an arduous endeavor.

Consequently, Shunxi turned its attention overseas, identifying the leading stem cell research team in the Southern Hemisphere—the Stem Cell Research Centre at Monash University in Australia. Through equity investment, Shunxi integrated this distinguished team and established a full-floor Shunxi-Monash Laboratory for Immune Regeneration and Neuroscience in Australia. This marks Monash University’s first collaboration with a Chinese enterprise, making Shunxi the only company outside Australia authorized by Monash University to commercialize its stem cell technologies globally.

Professor Alan Trounson of Monash University serves as the Chief Scientist at Shunxi. In 2013, he was recognized as one of the ten most influential scientists worldwide in the field of stem cells and oversees a $3 billion research budget dedicated to stem cell research. The scientific team at Shunxi also includes Professor Richard Boyd, an Honorary Professor at Beijing’s 301 Hospital and Professor Emeritus at Tokushima University in Japan, who enjoys international renown for his expertise in immunology and stem cell research.

In 2012, Shanghai Meinian and Shenyang Dajiankang merged to establish the Meinian Onehealth Healthcare Industry Group. Subsequently, Shunxi strategically joined Shanghai Meinian Onehealth, as both parties shared a common vision for developing the healthcare industry and jointly explored the health market.

At that time, joint market research revealed that the health checkup industry in Yunnan was virtually untapped. Seizing this business opportunity, the two parties established Meinian Onehealth’s first flagship store in Yunnan, which then boasted the largest built-up area of over 5,000 square meters. The facility introduced cutting-edge medical equipment such as capsule endoscopy, MRI, and CT scanners, committing to delivering premium services through a top-tier team. Subsequently, Shunxi established an industrial fund dedicated to investing in Meinian Onehealth and the Meizhao Medical Platform, becoming one of Meinian Onehealth’s core shareholders.

Shunxi Regenerative Medicine Technology Team

“Meinian Onehealth’s flagship store in Yunnan is widely favored by customers, serving as a bellwether for Meinian Onehealth’s development in the health checkup industry,” said Jiang Xiaofeng in an interview. Currently, Meinian Onehealth operates nearly 600 centers across 150 cities in China. Listed on the stock exchange in 2015, the company acquired “Meizhao” and “Ciming” in 2016 and 2017, respectively, becoming a publicly listed company with outstanding market capitalization and influence in the medical and broader healthcare sectors.

Shunxi’s investment layout in the health industry primarily comprises three major sectors:

Invest in Meinian Onehealth, China's leading professional health checkup and medical services group; Shunxi is its core strategic partner.

Investing in the genetic testing industry, Shunxi established a national-level demonstration center for genetic monitoring technology—Shunxi Medical Laboratory—to provide health checkups and genetic testing services to the public. Shunxi International, its wholly-owned subsidiary in Australia, has partnered with Monash University to co-establish a laboratory. Through this joint laboratory, Professor Richard Boyd, a renowned expert in immunology at Monash University, and his team have developed a personal immune system health screening system. This system offers comprehensive and detailed assessments to help clients fully understand their immune status. The technology is already in use in Australia and will soon be implemented in China through the Shunxi Kunming Translation Center.

Investing in the industrialization of stem cell research, Shunxi has partnered with Monash University to localize its technologies in Yunnan Province, establishing the Yunnan Provincial Stem Cell Bank and the Yunnan Provincial Ethnic Minority Sample Bank. In recent years, the National Health Commission, in conjunction with the China Food and Drug Administration (now the National Medical Products Administration), has issued filing certificates for clinical stem cell research institutions to 102 Grade A tertiary hospitals. Shunxi has collaborated with many of these hospitals. Notably, its clinical research project on “Stem Cell Therapy for Pulmonary Fibrosis,” conducted in partnership with Zhongshan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University, passed the preliminary review of the National Key Science and Technology Special Projects administered by the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2017, becoming one of only two stem cell projects nationwide to receive this designation at the time.

Yunnan Provincial Stem Cell Bank

Stem Cell Preparation

Since 2012, Shunxi has embarked on a global expansion strategy in Australia and the United Kingdom. It established its wholly-owned subsidiary, Shunxi International, in Australia, entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Monash University, and invested in founding the Shunxi-Monash Laboratory for Immune Regeneration and Neuroscience. Currently, Shunxi International is collaborating with Professor Alan Trounson, the current Director of the Monash University Centre for Translational Research, to conduct translational research on stem cell-mediated immune system remodeling for cancer treatment and next-generation CAR-T technologies for solid tumor therapy. Clinical trials are expected to commence in 2019.

Furthermore, Shunxi holds equity in UK Shunxi and collaborates with the University of Oxford, Swansea University, Loughborough University, and other institutions to jointly develop fully automated stem cell expansion technology.

“With one hand on scientific research and the other on industrial implementation, Shunxi is striving to become a pioneer in the commercialization of regenerative medicine,” said Jiang Xiaofeng. “Our current clinical study results demonstrate that regenerative medicine will reshape the trajectory of life. Coupled with policy guidance, we believe that regenerative medicine will soon benefit the general public and improve the well-being of every individual.”