Meta description: SanegeneBio secures over $110M in Series B funding from major investors to expand RNAi drug development for multiple therapeutic areas.
SanegeneBio, a Chinese clinical-stage biotech company backed by Tencent, has closed a Series B funding round of more than $110 million. The capital will support late-stage development of its RNAi-based medicines and expand research into multiple disease areas. This funding news is relevant for biotech investors, healthcare sector analysts, and startup founders tracking growth-stage capital flows.
Who participated in the Series B round?
The round was led by an unnamed industrial investor. Participation came from Sino Biopharm, Legend Capital, Vivo Capital, Invus, SymBiosis, Guofa Capital, TruMed, and Lake Bleu Capital. Strategic investment was provided by Eli Lilly. Existing shareholders Qiming Venture Partners, K2 Venture Partners, TF Capital, Oriza Holdings, and Northern Light Venture Capital also took part.
This final close comes about two years after SanegeneBio raised $80 million in an extended Series A round, co-anchored by Tencent and YuanBio Venture Capital.
What does the funding mean for SanegeneBio’s growth?
Founded in 2021, SanegeneBio has research and development operations in Boston, Shanghai, and Suzhou. The company is building a pipeline of RNA interference (RNAi) candidates designed to silence disease-related genes in the liver and other tissues. It uses its proprietary LEAD (Ligand and Enhancer Assisted Delivery) platform to enhance delivery efficiency.
The company plans to allocate Series B proceeds to moving its clinical-stage assets toward registrational studies. Additional investment will target broadening development programs across autoimmune, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases, along with obesity. The funding is expected to accelerate advancement of investigational medicines to late-stage global development and bring new transformative programs into clinical trials.
To date, SanegeneBio has initiated clinical trials for four experimental RNAi medicines. The cash infusion offers the means to expand trial scope and geographic reach.
How does this fit into Greater China’s funding trends?
The Series B close takes place against a backdrop of rising financing volumes for Greater China startups. October recorded 202 startup investments totaling nearly $4.5 billion, representing a 25% increase from September’s $3.6 billion despite a 9% decrease in deal count. This indicates sustained investor appetite for the region’s growth-stage and clinical innovation plays.
SanegeneBio’s ability to raise a significant round reflects confidence from global and domestic investors in the company’s technology platform and developmental pipeline.
FAQ
- How much did SanegeneBio raise in Series B?
Over $110 million. - Who is backing the company?
The investor list includes Tencent, Sino Biopharm, Legend Capital, Vivo Capital, Invus, SymBiosis, Guofa Capital, TruMed, Lake Bleu Capital, Eli Lilly, and several existing shareholders such as Qiming Venture Partners. - What is SanegeneBio’s focus area?
RNAi-based drug discovery and development targeting disease-related genes in the liver and beyond. - What will the funding be used for?
Advancing clinical-stage assets toward registrational studies and expanding into additional therapeutic areas.
Key takeaways
SanegeneBio’s Series B raise underscores strong investor commitment to RNAi therapies. The funding will accelerate its path to late-stage development and diversify its therapeutic pipeline. For investors, this signals both the maturation of RNAi as a drug modality and the continuing strength of biotech fundraising in Greater China.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.