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