PR90262

BEIJING, June 23, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

Biocytogen (https://biocytogen.com/), an international biotechnology company

focused on antibody drug research and development (R&D) using innovative

genetically engineered animal models, today announced the successful completion

of a new round of financing totaling tens of millions of dollars. The financing

was jointly completed by Lake Bleu Capital, CPE, Octagon Capital and OrbiMed.

Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals (Beijing) Co., Ltd. was established in 2009. Using

its foundational gene editing technology, the company independently developed

mouse platforms for fully human antibody discovery, RenMab(R) and RenLite(R)

(https://renmab.com/), that have independent intellectual property rights. With

the implementation of these platforms, Biocytogen has evolved from a contract

research organization (CRO) into an international biotechnology company with

expertise spanning the entire process of new drug R&D, including antibody drug

target verification, high-throughput single B cell antibody discovery

technology, in vivo drug efficacy evaluation using humanized target mice, and

clinical development.

Genetic engineering of RenMab(R)and RenLite(R) mice has enabled the integration

of Biocytogen's technological strengths into a unique large-scale R&D plan for

the discovery of therapeutic antibodies, an initiative termed the RenMice HiTS

Platform (https://renmab.com/about-hits-platform/). The HiTS Platform signifies

the company's commitment to complete high-efficiency antibody discovery and in

vivo drug efficacy screening of more than 1,000 antibody targets in the next

few years, focusing on the discovery of first-in-class and best-in-class drug

targets. Through the identification of antibody leads that have been verified

for efficacy in animal models, Biocytogen has established co-development

partnerships with more than a dozen biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

Dr. Yuelei Shen, founder and CEO of Biocytogen, said:

"In the two months from initiation to completion of this round of financing,

the company has received extensive attention and recognition from top

biomedical funds and long-term investment institutions. New shareholders with

outstanding reputations are very welcome to join the Biocytogen family.

Paying attention to the R&D and innovation of the underlying technology is the

cornerstone of our development. After more than ten years of large-scale R&D

investment, we have achieved good results in the fields of super-large fragment

gene editing technology, fully human antibody gene mouse development

technology, and bispecific antibody development technology. These breakthroughs

in the underlying technology have enabled the company to continue to explore in

the fields of monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies, bispecific

antibody-ADCs, and nanobodies.

The antibody drug molecules YH003 ([anti-]CD40) and YH001 ([anti-]CTLA-4)

independently developed by Biocytogen and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Eucure

Biopharma, are in phase I clinical trials in Australia in combination with

Junshi Biosciences' PD-1 antibody Toripalimab. Both show excellent safety and

good drug efficacy. The in vivo experimental data of YH003 and YH001 have been

well verified in the preclinical stage, fully demonstrating the high

reliability of the biopharmaceutical research and development method that uses

animal efficacy data as the "gold standard" for drug preclinical screening."

For more about this fundraising initiative, click here (

https://biocytogen.com/biocytogen-completes-a-new-round-of-financing-totaling-tens-of-millions-of-dollars/

).

Source: Biocytogen