NuoValve Medical Secures Tens of Millions of Yuan in Series A Funding to Accelerate Development of Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Replacement and Repair Devices

VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) has learned that Neopulse Medical recently announced the completion of its tens-of-millions-yuan Series A financing round, led by Lize Capital and participated in by Taihao Ventures.

Shanghai Neopulse Medical Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Neopulse Medical”) was established in March 2015 and is located at Yigu PLUS, Pudong New Area, Shanghai,Dedicated to the research, development, and industrialization of minimally invasive mitral valve replacement and repair devices at an internationally advanced level.

Following its establishment, the company rapidly assembled a senior R&D team with extensive experience in the medical device industry, established project-based collaborations with multiple universities and Grade 3A hospitals, secured angel investment from seasoned angels in China’s medical device sector, and raised tens of millions of RMB in Pre-A financing from Zhangke Lingyi in January 2016.

To date, Nuomai Medical has successfully filed more than 50 patents. In 2016, it received support from the National “13th Five-Year” Key R&D Program and the Shanghai “Science and Technology Innovation Action Plan” for science and technology support projects in the biomedical field, and secured third place in the enterprise category of the biomedical industry at the 5th China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition.

Adhering to the principles of professionalism, safety, and efficiency, the company is committed to collaborating with top experts in the field of cardiovascular disease in China to scale new heights in medicine and jointly write a new chapter in transcatheter heart valve therapy. Guided by its mission of “Innovation for the Benefit of Life,” Nuomai Medical is dedicated to developing more innovative medical products to fill domestic gaps in products and technologies, thereby benefiting patients.

NewPulse Medical’s flagship product is designed to replace diseased mitral valves within the heart. It features minimally invasive delivery, suture-free implantation, and eliminates the need for cardiopulmonary bypass or open-chest surgery. Currently, this technology represents a domestic first in China and holds a leading position internationally.

Minimally invasive mitral valve replacement and repair devices, as a revolutionary therapeutic approach, are increasingly gaining recognition among experts, with clinical demand projected to experience explosive growth in the foreseeable future.

This novel product will significantly simplify the heart valve replacement procedure, substantially reduce treatment risks, and markedly improve success rates, while also lowering surgical costs for patients and shortening postoperative recovery time. Upon market launch, it will bring new hope to millions of patients with mitral valve disease, enabling more individuals to access treatment by making the risks and costs of surgery more affordable.

Yu Qifeng, CEO of Nuomai Medical, stated: “The original mission behind the founding of Nuomai Medical was to develop breakthrough mitral valve products and medical solutions addressing the urgent clinical needs of patients worldwide. Our vision has received strong support from top-tier investors in the biopharmaceutical industry.”Upon the completion of this round of financing, Nuomai Medical will further strengthen its product R&D, establish a product portfolio for minimally invasive mitral valve replacement and repair devices, accelerate commercialization, and bring more innovative medical products to clinical application to benefit patients.”

Zhangke Lingyi Fund is a local venture capital fund in Zhangjiang, focusing on early- to mid-stage investments in the life sciences sector within the Zhangjiang High-Tech Park. As the first pilot initiative for Zhangjiang Sci-Tech Investment’s reform of state-owned venture capital mechanisms, Zhangke Lingyi was jointly established by Zhangjiang Sci-Tech Investment, Zhangjiang Torch Venture Capital, and private social capital.

The fund operates under a model guided by state-owned capital, controlled by private entities, and run on market-oriented principles. It has invested in multiple early-stage projects, including ImmuneOnco, Nuomai Medical, Yinuo Pharmaceutical, Zhuowai Medical, and Luoqi Biologics.

Zhang Ke Ling Yi will leverage the high-quality enterprise, talent, and expert resources of the Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park to invest in early- to mid-stage companies with growth potential in the life sciences sector. Simultaneously, by capitalizing on its unique advantages, it will assist these companies in their development, achieving mutual benefits for all stakeholders.

Lize Capital is a specialized fund dedicated to investing in China’s pharmaceutical and healthcare industry, with total assets under management in both USD and RMB funds exceeding RMB 2 billion. Guided by the investment philosophy of “integrating knowledge with action, upholding integrity while pursuing innovative excellence,” the management team invests globally in outstanding entrepreneurial talent, high-quality assets, and cutting-edge technologies. Leveraging the team’s extensive management experience and domestic and international industry resources, Lize Capital provides value-added services to its portfolio companies.

Regarding the rationale behind investing in Nuomai Medical, Mr. Ye Weitao, Managing Partner at Lize Capital, stated that transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), as emerging minimally invasive therapeutic technologies, offer advantages over traditional valve replacement surgery, including minimal invasiveness, avoidance of thoracotomy, and no need for cardiopulmonary bypass. These technologies provide new treatment hope for patients with valvular heart disease who are unable to tolerate surgical intervention, thereby holding substantial market potential. The technology has been increasingly accepted by experts both domestically and internationally and has become a focal point of research and development in the field of cardiac valves in recent years.

“As a leading domestic enterprise in this field, particularly in the area of transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR), Nuomai Medical has been dedicated to the research and development as well as industrialization of interventional artificial heart valve systems. We are highly optimistic about the team’s extensive R&D experience and strong execution capabilities, which position Nuomai to become one of the first companies in China to launch TMVR products, thereby providing new treatment options for a broad patient population.”

Taihao Venture Capital focuses on the medical device and TMT sectors, favoring investments in core enterprises with distinct characteristics, industry standing, and high barriers to entry, particularly those driven by technology or innovative business models.

Taihao Ventures adheres to an investment-driven approach, integrating industry and capital to build an efficient and orderly industrial ecosystem that serves innovative enterprises. Portfolio companies such as Jingyu Medical, Dikai Medical, Juhe Data, and Kuaifa Assistant have all received support from the industrial system and achieved rapid growth.

Regarding this round of financing, Yu Gang, Partner at Taihao Venture Capital, believes that transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) technology represents an industry development trend. Its advantages, including minimal invasiveness, low cost, simplified procedures, and ease of postoperative recovery, endow the technology with broad market potential. With the maturation of stent and bioprosthetic valve technologies, TMVR has established a solid industrial foundation. It is hoped that Nuomai Medical will bring its products to market as soon as possible to benefit patients.