Genetron Health Secures Over RMB 400 Million in Series C Funding to Advance Cancer Genomics Applications

On January 4, 2018, Genetron Health (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. announced the completion of its Series C financing round, raising over RMB 400 million. The round was led by CICC Kangrui, with participation from several institutions including Vertex Ventures and Shenshang Xingye Fund.

It is reported that the funds raised in this round will be allocated to technological R&D, product line expansion, market education, and big data accumulation, with a particular focus on advancing the application of liquid biopsy technology in tumor diagnosis and early screening.

Genetron Health, founded in 2013, focuses on precision oncology. Its products and services cover the entire cancer care continuum—including risk assessment, early screening, molecular pathological diagnosis, treatment guidance, and prognosis monitoring—providing scientifically rigorous and professional molecular diagnostic and research solutions for cancer patients, individuals at high risk of cancer, the general population, and researchers in cancer-related fields.

From left to right: Jiao Yuchen, Chief Technology Officer of Genetron Health; Yan Hai, Chief Scientist; Wang Sizhen, Chief Executive Officer; and Hong Ying, Chief Operating Officer.

Currently, Genetron Health has established a comprehensive product portfolio that spans from research to clinical applications, and from testing services to IVD kits, covering the entire cancer care continuum and multiple cancer types. The company operates dual R&D centers in China and the United States, four clinical medical laboratories, and internationally advanced, comprehensive, and diversified testing platforms. It possesses proprietary information analysis software, has built a leading bioinformatics analysis platform, and maintains a clinical sample processing platform that meets the highest global standards, including those of the College of American Pathologists (CAP).

Genetron Health also boasts an industry-renowned, multidisciplinary team of experts and has established long-term collaborations with world-leading cancer research centers. Its business footprint now extends to hundreds of research institutions and clinical hospitals across China.

In terms of scientific research services, the company’s business primarily includes sequencing services, bioinformatics services, and applied research on genes in the field of cancer. Meanwhile, it can rapidly translate cutting-edge technologies for clinical integration and provide customized scientific research products.

For instance, in the field of gastric cancer, Genetron Health collaborated with Peking University Cancer Hospital to conduct research on the genetic mechanisms of hereditary gastric cancer, screen for driver genes in melanoma among Asian populations, and investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying recurrence and metastasis in hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach. In the field of brain tumors, the company partnered with Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University to study the pathogenic correlation between gliomas and epilepsy, and worked with Beijing Tiantan Hospital to screen for novel driver genes in brainstem gliomas. Furthermore, the company collaborated with the National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, on research into the correlation between epigenetic alterations and disease prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

In terms of clinical services and products, Genetron Health has established a comprehensive suite of diagnostic services covering all stages of the diagnosis and treatment management cycle, including risk prediction, molecular subtyping and medication guidance, as well as drug resistance and prognosis monitoring. These services span multiple cancer types, including brain tumors, lung cancer, liver cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, gastric cancer, and thyroid cancer. Its sample testing technologies range from traditional tissue-based assays to liquid biopsies using blood and cerebrospinal fluid, enabling the provision of personalized diagnostic and therapeutic solutions for clients.

The company’s biochip reader has been approved for market launch, while other clinical diagnostic products, such as the NGS-based gene detection panel for lung cancer aligned with clinical guidelines and qPCR kits, have already been submitted for regulatory approval.

In September 2017, Genetron Health launched two liquid biopsy products for brain tumors—Genetron Brain (CSF 68-gene panel) and Genetron Brain (CSF 63-gene panel)—designed for primary brain tumors and brain metastases, respectively.

Genetron Health CEO Wang Sizhen disclosed to VCBeat, “The launch of the kit product signifies Genetron Health’s transition from a single-service model to a ‘service + product’ model.” Meanwhile, the company has also made in-depth strides in other cancer types, including breakthroughs in innovative technologies and the market introduction of innovative products.

Wang Sizhen told VCBeat, “After several years of development, Genetron Health has gradually formulated a clear corporate strategy and development direction, built a team with complementary expertise, and established a comprehensive product portfolio. Moving forward, we will continue to enrich and deepen our diagnostic product pipeline and dimensions, while gradually expanding into the field of cancer early screening to benefit a broader population.”

In terms of market strategy, the Company will continue to expand its direct sales network and distributor channels, while also deepening collaborations with downstream industries and institutions in the broader health and wellness sector. While consolidating its presence in the B2B market, the Company will gradually introduce products and services tailored to the B2C market.

In terms of bioinformatics data, the company will enrich the sources and scale of its database by collaborating with more research and medical institutions.

Nowadays, data acquisition is not the most challenging aspect of the genetic testing industry; rather, the critical task lies in the analysis and application of the acquired data. Genetron Health will collaborate with research and medical institutions, leveraging their expertise in disease research and Genetron’s own strengths in bioinformatics, to explore the associations between genes and diseases and build a more comprehensive health big database for the Chinese population.