Eccogene Secures RMB Hundreds of Millions in Series A Funding to Advance Metabolic Small Molecule Drug Pipeline

Shanghai Chengyi Biopharma Co., Ltd. (“Chengyi Biopharma”), a novel drug development enterprise, recently announced the completion of its RMB 100 million Series A financing round, led by Sinopharm Capital, with participation from Mifang Capital and Taifu Capital. Chengyi Biopharma was co-founded by Dr. Zhou Jingye, former Head of the Chemistry Department at Eli Lilly’s China R&D Center, and Dr. Xu Jianfeng, former Chief Scientist at Eli Lilly’s China R&D Center. The company focuses on the research and development of small-molecule drugs for metabolic diseases, engaging in early-stage drug discovery and ultimately pursuing activities such as patent licensing, patent assignment, collaborative development, and drug commercialization.

Chengyi Biopharma was founded with the original aspiration to innovatively address unmet clinical needs through deep understanding and insights in the fields of metabolism and immunology, while providing high-quality, affordable medicines to the vast majority of patients in future society. Dr. Zhou Jingye, one of the founders of Chengyi Biopharma, maintains an unwavering passion for small-molecule novel drug development and possesses extensive experience in R&D and industrialization. During his tenure at startup biopharmaceutical company Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, as well as at multinational pharmaceutical giants GSK and Eli Lilly’s China R&D Center, he participated in and led multiple small-molecule novel drug development projects.

Dr. Xu Jianfeng, another founder of Chengyi Biopharma, possesses profound understanding and insights into the pathogenesis of various metabolic and immune-related disorders, as well as the biological pathways governing metabolic switch regulation. During his tenure at Eli Lilly’s China R&D Center, he oversaw the development of multiple novel metabolic drugs, accumulating extensive experience across the entire development spectrum—from preclinical target discovery to clinical translation. The Chengyi team is committed to establishing a novel and differentiated R&D pipeline from a globally leading perspective, thereby developing high-quality therapeutics that truly address unmet clinical needs.

The founding team of Chengyi Biologics has worked together for many years. This team possesses complementary expertise, combining strong academic backgrounds in chemistry and biology with extensive team management experience, and fully integrates patient and clinical needs into its early-stage R&D strategy. Building on internal R&D capabilities, the Chengyi team will also leverage external resources to establish broad and deep strategic partnerships, thereby strengthening its product pipeline.

The proceeds from this financing round will be used to support Chengyi Biopharma’s new drug research, including the establishment of new drug screening and R&D platforms, filing of relevant patents, formation of an innovative drug R&D team, and advancement of key pipelines. Dr. Zhou Jingye, Chairman of Chengyi Biopharma, stated, “We are deeply honored to have earned the trust of multiple top-tier investment institutions in the industry. This support will enable us to leverage our accumulated capabilities in innovative drug development across several major disease areas, accelerate the build-out of our innovative product pipeline, and initiate a series of development collaborations.” While actively strengthening its R&D pipeline, Chengyi Biopharma champions a biotech corporate culture characterized by the pursuit of dreams, a strong sense of responsibility, adherence to its original mission, and relentless progress.

About Sinopharm Capital:

Sinopharm Capital Management Co., Ltd. was established in January 2012 as a professional equity investment institution focused on the pharmaceutical and broader healthcare sector, initiated by China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm). Its management team comprises professional investors from both within and outside Sinopharm, organized under market-oriented mechanisms. With profound insights into the development of the medical and health industry, industrial operations, and capital management, the firm effectively integrates industry resources and capital strengths from both within and outside Sinopharm. It currently manages approximately RMB 6.5 billion in assets. In the field of innovation, it has invested in nearly 20 domestic and international biopharmaceutical and technology enterprises, including Allist Pharmaceuticals, Yifang Biopharma, Ambrx, Ativa Medical, Aier Eye Hospital Group’s subsidiary Aibo Nuode (Aier Bio-Medical), Qigong Medical, and Semma Therapeutics.

About Mifang Capital:

Mifang Capital focuses on investments in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, and life sciences sectors. Headquartered in Shanghai, it is a founding member of the Biopharmaceutical Professional Committee of the Beijing Venture Capital Alliance and the Shanghai Life Health Industry Investment Alliance. The fund’s management team possesses deep expertise in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries along with extensive venture capital experience. Mifang Capital has completed investments in more than a dozen emerging biopharmaceutical companies, including TianGuangShi (antibody drugs), Jingzhun Medical (molecular diagnostics), Bohui Ruijin (biomaterials), Sainowei (surgical instruments), Hanyu Medical (cardiac interventional devices), Ansong Technology (orthopedic devices), Jiajian Medicine (gene sequencing), Weituo Biology (assisted reproduction), Qiuzhen Medicine (genetic testing), Lingke Pharmaceutical (new drug R&D), and Zanrong Pharma (new drug R&D). Mifang Capital has diligently established the “Me-fund Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Capital Hub,” which gathers numerous listed companies, experts, executives, and investment institutions from the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, effectively facilitating resource matching and rapid growth for its portfolio companies.

About Taifu Capital:

Taifu Capital focuses on investments in the life sciences sector, primarily targeting high-potential early-stage companies. Through strategic investments and strong partnerships across key areas, Taifu aims to seize opportunities in China’s rapidly expanding life sciences market. Taifu’s investment team leverages extensive industry experience and resources to support its portfolio companies.