National Resources Deployed and World’s First Clinical Trial Launched as iPSC Sector Heats Up; NeuroXess Initiates GCP-Registered Clinical Trial for 'Three-Complete' Brain-Computer Interface System

1. National-Level Resource Implementation + World’s First Clinical Case: The iPSC Sector Continues to Heat Up

In June, Century announced preclinical data for CNTY-813 (iPSC-derived islet cells). Utilizing a novel technology that eliminates the need for immunosuppressants, the therapy demonstrated long-term glycemic control in diabetic mouse models. The company expects to submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application in Q4 2026 and release the first batch of clinical data in the second half of 2027. Syntax Bio has entered into a research and development collaboration with the Mayo Clinic to jointly advance iPSC-derived islet cell therapies for type 1 diabetes. Syntax Bio will leverage its technology platform to direct the differentiation of iPSCs into pancreatic beta cells, while the Mayo Clinic will provide specialized expertise and conduct functional testing. Heartseed, a spin-off from Keio University, completed the world’s first minimally invasive catheter-based transplantation clinical trial of iPSC-derived “cardiac spheroids.” The first participant recovered well. This approximately three-year clinical trial aims to enroll 14 patients. The cardiac spheroids can be precisely injected into damaged myocardial tissue, significantly expanding the applicable scope of this treatment.

2. NeuroXess “Three-All” Brain-Computer Interface System Initiates GCP Registration Clinical Trial

July 7 News: NeuroXess’s self-developed “Implantable Brain-Computer Interface System for Hand Motor Function Compensation,” also known as the “Fully Implantable, Fully Wireless, Fully Functional (‘Three-Full’) Brain-Computer Interface System,” has officially launched its Good Clinical Practice (GCP) registration clinical trial at Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University. The trial adopts a multi-center collaborative model, jointly conducted with 15 Grade A tertiary hospitals in Shanghai and other regions, aiming to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the system in compensating for upper limb function in patients with quadriplegia caused by cervical spinal cord injury. This system is the first subdural cortical surface implantable brain-computer interface product to enter the national Class III medical device registration clinical stage, marking a critical step for China’s brain-computer interface technology from scientific exploration toward large-scale clinical application.

3. RAY EVEREST Completes Series D Financing, Reaching a Total Fundraising Volume in the Hundreds of Millions, Continuously Exploring New Paradigms for Smart Laboratories in Life Sciences

RAY EVEREST Biotechnology Co., Ltd. Completes Hundred-Million-Yuan Series D FinancingRAY EVEREST Biotechnology Co., Ltd. has completed its Series D financing round, raising over RMB 100 million. The round was led by Qingyuan Capital, with participation from Huagai Capital, Kangqiao Capital, and other investors. No financial advisor was disclosed. The proceeds will be utilized for core technology research and development, the construction of a smart laboratory product ecosystem, global market expansion, and the recruitment of high-end talent, thereby advancing the automation and intelligence of life science laboratories.Founded in 2022, RAY EVEREST specializes in providing comprehensive smart laboratory solutions and implementation services for the life sciences sector. The company has established a complete product portfolio and serves leading clients, including international pharmaceutical companies, top-tier synthetic biology enterprises, world-class research laboratories, and Peking Union Medical College Hospital. RAY EVEREST is continuously commercializing its strategy of integrating dry and wet lab experiments, as well as merging automation systems with artificial intelligence. The company is committed to fostering synergy among automation, data, and AI to create intelligent systems with continuous evolutionary capabilities.

4. RobotGym Completes CNY 100 Million Pre-A Round of Financing

Shanghai RobotGym Technology Co., Ltd. recently announced the completion of its hundred-million-yuan Pre-A financing round in late April. The investors included Qingsong Capital, a renowned healthcare fund; Runze Technology, a leading listed company in computing power; and Pinghu Zexin. Information regarding the financial advisor was not disclosed. Starting from real-world elderly care scenarios, RobotGym will acquire task data through the continuous operation of robots in authentic environments, thereby driving iterative improvements in model capabilities via data. The funds raised in this round will be used to accelerate the deployment of embodied AI in elderly care institutions and home settings, gradually establishing a closed-loop evolutionary system of “scenario–data–model–scenario.” This approach enables models to continuously evolve through real-world tasks and enhance scenario-specific capabilities.

5. Yiru Tech Completes Over RMB 100 Million in Series A Funding, AI-Driven Bio-based Leather Accelerates Industrialization

Yiru Technology (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd. Announces Completion of Over RMB 100 Million in Series A Financing, Co-Led by Erdos Group and Heda Jinifu, with Nest Capital Participating and China Renaissance Serving as Exclusive Financial AdvisorFounded in 2021, Yiru Technology is a global leader in the sustainable mass production of bio-based leather. The company is dedicated to combining synthetic biology with material modification science, leveraging AI technology across the entire R&D and production lifecycle to create next-generation bio-based materials. Its independently developed bio-based leather technology breaks through traditional limitations, offering low-carbon material solutions through two product series tailored for genuine leather and synthetic leather applications. The proceeds from this financing round will primarily be used to drive commercial expansion and capacity building, while accelerating technological innovation and product iteration in bio-based leather through AI integration.

6. Five Emerging Innovative Drug R&D Companies Complete New Round of Financing, Two from China

June 29–July 5: Five Innovative Drug R&D Startups Complete New Funding Rounds, Including Two Chinese Pharmaceutical Companies, Yanming Biopharma and Ruijian PharmaRuijian Pharma announced on July 2 the completion of a C+ funding round worth RMB 260 million. Having secured RMB 210 million in early June, the company raised a total of RMB 470 million within one month. The funds will be used to advance clinical development across multiple pipelines, with several programs undergoing simultaneous clinical trials in China and the United States.Yanming Biopharma announced on July 3 the completion of a Pre-B funding round amounting to hundreds of millions of RMB. The specific investors and financial advisors were not disclosed. The proceeds will support the development and project implementation of its subsidiary’s pyroptosis-based biological regulation novel drug R&D technology platform in Shanghai, as well as the clinical advancement of multiple projects under its small-molecule immunomodulator drug R&D platform in Beijing. The company currently has over ten R&D pipelines, five of which have entered clinical stages.