META Pharmaceuticals Secures Tens of Millions in Series A1 Financing Led by XtalPi to Advance Innovative Drug Pipeline

Investment Circle (ID: pedaily2012) February 17th news, META Pharmaceuticals Inc. recently announced the completion ofTens of Millions of Yuan in Series A1 Financing, this round of financing was led byXtalPi (Stock Code: 2228.HK) led the investment, with IMO Capital, Yae Capital, and others following.This round of financing will be used to accelerate the progress of two pipeline drugs under research by META towards clinical trials, and to further expand the development of its AI-driven metabolic enzyme target discovery platform, achieving innovative target breakthroughs and pipeline asset transformation across a wider range of different indications.

Currently, the two pipeline drugs with the fastest progress at META are an autologous immune small-molecule targeted innovative drug and a primary hyperoxaluria small-molecule inhibitor. Empowered by XtalPi's AI + robotics R&D platform, the primary hyperoxaluria small-molecule inhibitor has received Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) and Rare Pediatric Disease Designation (RPDD) from the U.S. FDA. It is expected to complete the Investigational New Drug (IND) application and early clinical trials within the next one to two years.

META Pharmaceuticals Inc. was founded in August 2021. The company's founding team comes from two top American research hospitals: Weill Cornell Medicine and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where they have been deeply engaged in the emerging interdisciplinary field of immunometabolism for many years. By thoroughly understanding and precisely regulating the vitality of cellular metabolism, the company aims to achieve accurate modulation of immune system functions and expand the positive impact of metabolic regulation on other key physiological systems. This lays a solid foundation for developing safer and more effective treatments for autoimmune and metabolic diseases.

After this round of financing, META will continue to advance its R&D collaboration with XtalPi, accelerate the entry of its existing first-in-class pipeline drugs into clinical research, and further invest in the development of its multi-omics analysis AI platform to build continuous self-sustaining capabilities and innovative barriers. The company has established biological laboratories in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, forming a small but highly skilled professional research and management team. This round of financing will be used to support the further expansion of the R&D team, leveraging the talent advantages and IT+BT industry ecosystem of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to continuously enhance its independent innovation research capabilities and maintain its leading position in the field of immunometabolism.

Against the backdrop of globalization in the biopharmaceutical industry, META Pharmaceuticals Inc. is committed to the development of novel drugs and therapeutic technologies for primary hyperoxaluria, a rare disease in pediatric nephrology. The aim is to fill the gap in the Chinese market and meet the potential clinical needs of the international market. Primary hyperoxaluria is a severe hereditary metabolic disorder, with children being the primary patients. Its pathogenesis is complex, and there is currently a lack of effective treatments, imposing a heavy burden on patients and their families. The research and development of META's rare disease pipeline is expected to accelerate the provision of more effective and economical treatment options for pediatric patients worldwide, improving their quality of life and alleviating the medical burden on families and society. This will earn prestige for China’s new drug R&D industry, promote the development of China’s rare disease sector, and enhance the company’s competitiveness and influence on a global scale.

META Founder Ke XuRepresentation:"We are committed to becoming a pioneer in China's source innovation, and through independent research and development and innovation, providing global patients with higher-quality treatment options. In the face of industry challenges, we will meet opportunities with greater strength and continue to drive the company’s growth. Moreover, rare disease research holds profound significance—it is not only about safeguarding the lives of patients but also an important force in advancing medical progress. We deeply understand the difficulties and suffering faced by rare disease patients, and therefore, we will spare no effort to accelerate the R&D process and bring them hope and a new dawn. We believe that through our efforts, we can create a better future for patients with autoimmune diseases and rare kidney diseases in children. At the same time, we look forward to collaborating with more partners to jointly promote innovation and development in the field of immunometabolism and contribute our strength to the global healthcare cause."

XtalPi Chairman ShuhaowenIndicates:"We have always been committed to promoting the transformation of scientific and technological achievements that combine economic benefits with social value. As the first innovative drug research and development company incubated by XtalPi over the long term, META Pharmaceuticals has built a highly innovative and promising R&D pipeline in major disease areas such as autoimmune diseases, metabolic diseases, and cancer. Its unique innovation platform not only discovers first-in-class targets with market potential but also forms mutual validation and complementary advantages with XtalPi's AI + robotics drug discovery platform, which is expected to achieve breakthroughs in new drug development across multiple clinical fields. We are very optimistic about and will provide long-term support to this new drug team with strong execution capabilities. We also look forward to our cooperation yielding first-in-class drugs with global competitiveness, benefiting patients worldwide as soon as possible."

Xiaowen Feng, Partner at Forcefield Ventures and IMO VenturesIndicates:"META Pharmaceuticals Inc. is deeply engaged in the intersection of immunology and metabolism, with a series of globally pioneering drug development pipelines that are fully self-developed and grounded in solid theoretical foundations. It is China's first drug research and development company focusing on immune-metabolism targets. We highly value the team’s profound academic background, efficient R&D capabilities, and execution power, and we are also optimistic about the tremendous future potential of this field. META’s cutting-edge achievements in biological theory perfectly align with XtalPi’s industry-leading position in AI-driven drug discovery, creating powerful synergy as both parties collaborate to develop groundbreaking new-generation therapies for autoimmune diseases. This collaboration holds the potential to address long-standing medication challenges faced by hundreds of millions of patients with autoimmune disorders."