Microbiome-Gut-Brain Axis Pioneer Zhongke Weizhi Secures Tens of Millions in Pre-A Funding to Advance Global Child Health

VCBeat has learned that the company, dedicated to "transforming human health with microbes,"Zhongke Weizhi (Beijing) Biotechnology Co., Ltd.(abbreviated as“Zhongke Weizhi”) recently completed a Pre-A financing round worth tens of millions of yuan. This round of financing was led byHengxu CapitalLead Investor,Yilin Venture Capital, Correction PharmaceuticalandSINOFAITH IP GROUPCo-investment,G&G CapitalServing as the exclusive financial advisor for this round and future rounds. The funds raised will enable Zhongke Weizhi to continuously increase its efforts in market promotion, brand building, and clinical research, developing more beneficial microbes to benefit human health.

Key Criteria for “Filial Children” in the New Era: No Need for Growth Hormone Therapy, No Myopia, No Orthodontic Treatment, Low Susceptibility to Illness, No Picky Eating, No Allergies, and No Obesity—These Health Concerns Have Long Plagued Many Chinese Parents。Among these factors, avoiding the use of growth hormone therapy is the primary concern for parents. According to a report by Frost & Sullivan, children with dwarfism account for 3% of the pediatric population. Although the etiologies are diverse, growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is the most common cause, representing approximately one-third of cases. The market size of human growth hormone in China rapidly expanded from USD 400 million in 2017 to USD 1.5 billion in 2021, achieving a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 34.7%, and is projected to reach USD 4.7 billion by 2030. While growth hormone remains the only effective pharmacological treatment for dwarfism, its prohibitively high annual cost deters many parents.

In addition, issues related to brain development continue to affect children's health. The Report from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network shows that in the United States, 1 in 44 eight-year-old children was diagnosed with autism, while the latest data indicates that 1 in 36 eight-year-olds has been identified as having autism, reaching a prevalence rate of 2.8%. In China, the prevalence of autism is approximately 1%, with an estimated 1 million individuals aged 2–8 years and around 3 million individuals aged 0–18 years affected by autism. Based on an average annual expenditure of RMB 60,000 per person, the total market size for early childhood autism rehabilitation is RMB 60 billion, and the market for autism rehabilitation among those aged 0–18 years is RMB 180 billion. If calculated using the U.S. diagnosis rate, the market size would be two to three times larger than these figures.

Although issues related to children's growth and development are becoming increasingly prevalent, there has been a persistent lack of safe and effective interventions and treatments. Extensive data indicate that healthy gut microbiota is indispensable for children's growth and development. Unlike the supplementation of basic nutrients, gut microbiota influences the secretion of bioactive substances such as growth hormones and neurotransmitters through the "microbiota-gut-brain axis," thereby affecting brain development, skeletal growth, and height in children. Related conditions include autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), idiopathic short stature, precocious puberty, allergies, and obesity.

In terms of neurodevelopmental health, the consumption of specific bacterial strains can influence brain development through the endocrine, vagus nerve, immune, and metabolic systems, thereby improving core symptoms of autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as managing emotions and behavior. In promoting healthy growth and development, the intake of specific bacterial strains can modulate gut microbiota composition, coordinate nutrient utilization, repair the intestinal barrier, regulate the immune system, and promote the production of growth factors. This ultimately contributes to enhanced bone health, appetite regulation, weight management, and alleviation of "height anxiety."

Zhongke Weizhi is China’s first innovative high-tech enterprise dedicated to providing solutions for children’s growth and development through breast milk-derived live bacteria. The company focuses on the research, development, and promotion of microbiome-based preparations targeting the “gut-brain axis,” live biotherapeutic products (LBPs), and microbiome testing-related products.

Dr. Duan Yunfeng, the founder, previously worked at the Institute of Microbiology and the Institute of Psychology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is one of the earliest experts in China to conduct research on the “gut–brain axis.” Dr. Duan has published dozens of scientific papers, obtained multiple national invention patents, and held various professional positions related to microbiomics, including Life Member of the Chinese Society for Microbiology, Member of the China Science Writers Association, Member of the Chinese Psychological Society, Standing Committee Member of the Microbiomics and Technology Professional Committee of the Chinese Society for Biotechnology, Committee Member of the Tumor and Microecology Professional Committee of the China Anti-Cancer Association, and Committee Member of the Microecological Diagnostics Group under the Microecology Branch of the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association. In addition, Dr. Duan actively engages in science communication in the fields of gut microbiota, the gut–brain axis, and physical and mental health. He serves as the host of the course “Frontier Course: Human Microbiome” on the Dedao APP and has authored popular science books such as *Knowing Your Gut: The Subtle Mind of Gut Bacteria* and *The World of Gut Bacteria*. His works have received numerous awards, including CCTV’s “2018 China Good Books,” “2019 Medical Good Books,” the Creation Excellence Award of the “10th Wu Dayou Popular Science Book Award,” and “2019 National Excellent Popular Science Works.”

The company’s core R&D team members hail from world-renowned institutions, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tsinghua University, Peking University, China Pharmaceutical University, Harvard Medical School, Yale University, and New York University. The company also boasts a globally leading digital data mining platform for live biotherapeutic products, as well as China’s first high-throughput anaerobic strain screening platform targeting the gut–brain axis. Specific highlights include the following aspects:

Leveraging over a decade of scientific research development and technological accumulation by its team, Zhongke Weizhi has established a distinctive, globally leading, and extensive proprietary library of human milk-derived bacterial strains. The company has achieved remarkable success in continuous R&D and the commercialization of technological achievements, securing dozens of core independent intellectual property rights and receiving the Innovative Product Award from the scientific achievement evaluation department of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China.

The company has established China’s first maternal and infant microbial resource bank, aiming to protect the microbial diversity of Chinese breast milk and healthy populations, thereby safeguarding the security of microecological genetic and strain data for the Chinese nation. Leveraging its microecology industry R&D platform, the company is building a national breast milk microbiome bank to preserve “master strains,” ensure the safety and health of breast milk, and demonstrate “Chinese strength,” establish “Chinese standards,” develop “Chinese solutions,” and create “Chinese brands” within the women’s and children’s microecological medical industry. Additionally, it founded Asia’s first independent “Microbiota-Gut-Brain Laboratory (MGBLab).” Coupled with its proprietary high-throughput strain screening system, the company has reserved strains and developed products for multiple therapeutic areas, including developmental delay, autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, tic disorders, allergies, obesity, anxiety, and depression.

The company’s core business and product R&D focus on microbiome-based intervention solutions within the gut-brain axis, aiming to improve and treat children with impairments in physical growth and psychological development. These areas include, but are not limited to, linear growth, nervous system development, and endocrine and immune system maturation. Marketed products include Saibugao Probiotic Oil Drops and Xiuzheng Yigao Probiotic Freeze-Dried Powder, which contain Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BL-11, a probiotic strain that alleviates short stature in children. Additionally, the portfolio includes Lanbugu Active Freeze-Dried Powder containing Lactobacillus reuteri LR-99, a probiotic strain that helps improve symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Multiple other strains, such as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LP139—a high GABA-producing strain—have also been incorporated into the aforementioned products. All commercially available strains are derived from human breast milk and have completed randomized controlled trial (RCT) clinical validation.

As a star strain, LR-99 probiotic active freeze-dried powder has been shown in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial led by Massachusetts General Hospital, affiliated with Harvard Medical School, and conducted jointly by multiple institutions in China and the United States, to significantly improve core symptoms of autism. It improves gut microbiota composition, increases the abundance of *Alistipes* and *Ruminococcus*, promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria, and thereby ameliorates emotional and behavioral responses, including autism-related symptoms such as social interaction skills and development. It also has positive effects on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and tic disorders. Products containing this strain are currently available in certain regions of the United States and have also gone on sale in China.

As another star strain, the probiotic BL-11 has been clinically proven to have a clear height-increasing effect. In 2021, a randomized, placebo-controlled trial led by Massachusetts General Hospital, affiliated with Harvard Medical School, and jointly conducted by multiple institutions in China and the United States, showed that children with developmental disorders who took BL-11 for three months grew approximately 2.6 cm more than those in the placebo group. This is the first and only strain globally verified through human clinical trials to clearly help children with growth and developmental disorders increase in height. Real-world data from multiple clinical institutions over nearly two years of use indicate that the product can lead to an average height increase of more than 2.5 cm in children with developmental delays after three months of use, achieving effects in some children that are nearly comparable to pharmaceutical interventions. Recent mechanistic analyses have found that the BL-11 strain promotes the production of the growth factor IGF-1 and exerts growth-promoting effects such as inhibiting osteoclasts and promoting osteoblast differentiation.

Zhongke Weizhi places great emphasis on the clinical research of bacterial strains. Through technological innovation, it has pioneered the market launch of its self-operated oil drop products and has released co-branded products with numerous leading domestic and international brands and channel partners, establishing a comprehensive marketing layout that spans online and offline channels, specialized hospitals, and primary healthcare markets. The company’s products have been successively introduced into leading medical institutions in China, including Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Peking University Third Hospital, West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Shengjing Hospital, Shandong Provincial Hospital, and Hebei Children’s Hospital, where multiple collaborations and clinical trials are underway. The company will continue to develop more proprietary breast milk-derived bacterial strains, expand its breast milk-derived strain library, and consistently leverage microbiota to improve human health.

Dr. Duan Yunfeng, Founder of CAS Micro IntelligenceStatement: We extend our sincere gratitude to all investors and industry partners for their support. We also thank G&G Capital for its continued companionship and assistance; the professional team of financial advisors helped us successfully secure financing amidst the pandemic, macroeconomic turbulence, and heightened uncertainty. Zhongke Weizhi is dedicated to harnessing the innovative power of symbiotic bacteria to improve our lives. As a pioneer in the field of the “microbiota-gut-brain axis” within biological sciences, Zhongke Weizhi has established the mission of “leveraging microbial technology to better serve human health and support the healthy and joyful growth of children in China and around the world.”

A growing body of research indicates that commensal bacteria support human health through diverse mechanisms. We take pride in the ongoing advancements and every milestone of exploration and discovery we have achieved, while looking forward with even greater anticipation to our ultimate vision of improving human health. We invite you to join us in advancing research on the “microbiota-gut-brain axis,” uncovering more “high-quality Chinese probiotic strains,” and realizing our dream of developing breast milk-derived bacterial strains into products and services for children worldwide. We hope more people will embark with us on the surprising journey of “Microbes make it possible,” promoting lifelong human health by supporting the human microbiome. Every contribution you make represents a small step toward the realization of this dream. Zhongke Weizhi will uphold the principle of “Pursuing Precision, Benefiting Body and Mind,” adhere to the bottom line of “Science-Based Evidence and People-Oriented Approach,” and continue to deliver high-quality products and services.

Lu Yongtao, Chairman of Hengxu CapitalHengxu Capital stated that medical nutrition is a sector of continuous focus, with probiotics being a key category within it. The essence of competition in the upstream probiotics industry lies in strain competitiveness. Industry leaders such as Chr. Hansen (now merged with Novozymes to form Novonesis) and DuPont (now part of IFF) have spent over a century solidifying their strain libraries, continuously filing patents and conducting scientific validations to capture market share with flagship strains. Unlike traditional manufacturing, the probiotics industry does not gain competitive advantage primarily through cost reduction via mass production; rather, the core competitiveness of an enterprise lies in its ability to develop truly effective probiotic strains. Hengxu Capital values the extensive experience and capabilities of Dr. Duan Yunfeng’s team in strain screening, evidence-based research, and industrialization. Furthermore, a robust patent portfolio is indispensable to the company’s moat. Therefore, upon initial contact with the company, we immediately recommended SINOFAITH IP GROUP, an intellectual property service firm in our investment portfolio. We are delighted to see these two portfolio companies establish a partnership and move forward together.

Guan Bei'er, Investment Partner at Yilin Venture CapitalStatement: We prefer to invest in outstanding enterprises that create economic value while contributing to a better quality of life for society. Children are the future of humanity; however, factors such as environmental conditions, stress, and the post-pandemic era pose significant challenges to the physical and mental well-being of contemporary children, causing profound distress for every family behind them. Dr. Duan Yunfeng and his team have accumulated over a decade of research expertise in this field. The products of Zhongke Weizhi are strongly supported by data demonstrating their safety and efficacy, and have been effectively validated and well-received in real-world settings. We aim to benefit more children, enabling them to grow up healthy and happy as they pursue their dreams. We also believe that the company will continue to make breakthroughs in targeting the “microbiota-gut-brain axis,” ultimately becoming a renowned international enterprise and contributing to human health.

Correction Pharmaceutical Group's Maternal and Child Health DivisionIt is noted that children's height-enhancing products have garnered significant attention among households, yet this sector remains highly fragmented and uneven in quality. Dr. Duan’s product has demonstrated definitive efficacy in promoting height growth in children through comprehensive clinical data, while animal experiments and in vitro studies have preliminarily elucidated its mechanism of action. Therefore, while establishing a deep business partnership with Zhongke Weizhi, we are also making an investment to strengthen mutual trust in our collaboration. We anticipate that Dr. Duan’s high-throughput screening and identification system will discover more patented bacterial strains with clear human health benefits and efficacy, thereby further expanding our cooperation with Correction Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd.

Gao Yuan, CEO of the Technology Investment Banking Division, SINOFAITH IP GROUPstated: “Our project screening process has always been extremely rigorous, requiring strict alignment with our preferred investment sectors: first, the big health industry, and second, the children’s market. In the future, child-rearing will become more refined, scientific, and attentive, which aligns perfectly with Zhongke Weizhi’s advocacy of ‘promoting children’s growth and development through human microbiome science and evidence-based medicine.’ This approach is both innovative and promising. From a global perspective on the probiotic industry, Zhongke Weizhi is the only company that develops probiotics guided by clinical indications and focuses exclusively on the growth and development of children aged 3–16. As the first company in China to launch an anaerobic high-throughput strain screening platform targeting the gut-brain axis, it has accumulated a comprehensive portfolio of networked technological assets and holds multiple global invention patents for strains that promote children’s bone growth and brain development. We believe that with the empowerment of SINOFAITH IP GROUP as a professional partner, Zhongke Weizhi’s technological assets will continue to appreciate steadily, offering immense future potential!”

Hengxu Capital (AMAC Registration No.: P1070270) was established in 2019. As a private equity investment institution under Shanghai Automotive Group Financial Holdings Management Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “SAIC Financial Holdings”), the financial platform of Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (hereinafter referred to as “SAIC Motor”, 600104.SH), it leverages SAIC Motor’s overall industrial advantages and the efficient synergistic empowerment of SAIC Financial Holdings. Its equity investment segment is committed to strategically laying out emerging industries in green mobility, mobility ecosystems, and health ecosystems. Its alternative investment segment focuses primarily on investment opportunities in the photovoltaic and energy storage sectors. The firm aims to deliver sustainable and stable returns to investors while contributing to the development of SAIC Motor’s innovative industrial chain and the enhancement of its mobility ecosystem.

Hengxu Capital’s cumulative assets under management have exceeded RMB 37 billion, with investors comprising industry leaders, financial institutions, government entities, and market-oriented institutions. Its core team possesses extensive industry resources and rich experience in project and fund management, having led investments in dozens of high-quality enterprises such as CATL, Horizon Robotics, Jiehydrogen Technology, Tongxingbao, Qingtao Energy, ChipON Microelectronics, Yahong Medicine, and Shuaike Pet. The firm has supported these companies in growing into leading players within their respective niche markets.

Yilin Venture Capital, established in 2014, is a Ningbo-based investment firm specializing in early-stage investments in high-growth industries and commitments to top-tier private equity funds. The firm primarily focuses on emerging industries, with particular emphasis on frontier technologies, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and consumption upgrades. Through its fund-of-funds business, Yilin has invested in over 50 leading domestic private equity funds and made direct investments in more than 100 high-quality projects. Its ecosystem boasts numerous star portfolio companies, including Bestme, Qi-Anxin, MemSensing Microsystems, BPSemi, Yongsi Electronics, JD Health, and MicroPort NeuroTech. Adhering to the principles of long-term, professional, and value investing, Yilin is committed to providing scientifically sound wealth management and asset allocation services to high-net-worth family clients, delivering sustainable, stable, and long-term investment returns.

Correction Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. was founded in May 1995 by Chairman Xiu Laigui. It is a large-scale modern private pharmaceutical enterprise integrating research, production, and marketing of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), chemical pharmaceuticals, and biopharmaceuticals, as well as pharmaceutical chain operations and standardized cultivation of Chinese herbal medicines. The Group oversees 180 subsidiaries and employs more than 100,000 people. It offers over 2,000 products, including pharmaceuticals and health supplements, across 24 dosage forms. Through secondary development, the company has cultivated more than ten major product lines, such as Feining, Xiaomi Shuan, Liuwei Dihuang, Jingyaokang, and Yiqi Yangxue. Correction Pharmaceutical has established a comprehensive scientific research system that integrates technology management, innovative drug research, and the commercialization of new technological achievements. It employs more than 300 technical experts, has obtained over 700 authorized patents, and has won seven National Science and Technology Progress Awards. The company hosts several key platforms, including a National Enterprise Technology Center, the National Engineering Laboratory for TCM Quality Control Technology, a Postdoctoral Research Station, and a Key Laboratory for Standardization Key Engineering Technologies of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Committed to building a century-old Correction brand and creating a renowned national brand, Correction Pharmaceutical is steadily moving toward the future with its aspirations, giving back to society.

SINOFAITH IP GROUP was established in 2009 and is headquartered in Shanghai. It currently maintains branch offices in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Changsha, Hong Kong, as well as in Chicago and San Francisco in the United States. The SINOFAITH Group boasts a professional team of over 1,000 members with diverse expertise in law, business, technology, marketing, and government relations. The group possesses a multidisciplinary knowledge base, outstanding strategic planning capabilities, strong resource integration abilities, and effective execution power. By introducing a business model that combines “consulting with execution” and “technology with services” into the intellectual property (IP) industry, SINOFAITH provides “one-stop” IP services to clients of various types. Its service scope covers the three major categories of intellectual property rights: trademarks, patents, and copyrights. These services include IP protection management consulting, IP enforcement and rights protection, and other IP-related services. To date, the company has provided “one-stop” IP protection solutions to nearly 600 renowned domestic and international enterprises, safeguarding their intellectual property rights and enhancing the value of their intangible assets.