Changseng Pharmaceutical raised hundreds of millions of yuan in Series B+ financing to accelerate the clinical research of its core pipeline and global layout.
Recently, Shanghai Changsen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Changsen Pharmaceutical") announced the completion of a Series B+ financing round worth hundreds of millions of RMB. This financing round was led by Qiming Venture Partners. The funds will be mainly used to advance the key clinical research of the core pipeline and the global layout.
Changsen Pharmaceutical was founded in 2012 by Dr. Wang Zhe, a globally renowned expert in chemical drug R & D. The company is committed to independently developing innovative drug products that are First-in-class (FIC), Best-in-class (BIC, new generation) for the same target, and have global intellectual property rights to meet unmet clinical needs. Changsen Pharmaceutical currently has nearly 100 invention patents. It is a "Specialized, Refined, Distinctive, and Innovative" enterprise in Shanghai and undertakes multiple major special projects of the Ministry of Science and Technology and Shanghai.
Dr. Wang Zhe, the founder of Changsen Pharmaceutical, is a specially-employed expert, a leading talent in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and a leading entrepreneurial talent in Shanghai. Dr. Wang Zhe studied under Professor E.J. Corey, a Nobel laureate in chemistry from Harvard University. He has been deeply involved in drug development research for more than 30 years and has complete industrial chain experience from project initiation to drug launch. He has made remarkable achievements in the R & D fields of anti-infective, antiviral, and anti-cancer new drugs.
Changsen Pharmaceutical, founded by Dr. Wang Zhe, focuses on the development and industrialization of innovative drugs in the fields of immune antiviral, autoimmune diseases, and tumor immunotherapy. Currently, multiple indications have entered the Phase II and Phase III clinical trials. The clinical data of its core products have reached the international leading level (BIC, FIC). In particular, LW231, a globally first-in-class new drug for the complete cure of hepatitis B with dual functions and dual targets, and LW402, a safer and more effective new-generation drug for autoimmune diseases, will greatly meet the clinical needs in relevant fields and are expected to become major breakthrough achievements in relevant fields.
LW231 - The world's first new class I drug for the complete cure of hepatitis B
As a globally first-in-class (FIC) new drug for the immunological antiviral treatment of hepatitis B with dual functions and dual targets, LW231 is expected to prevent relapse after drug withdrawal and may break through the world's problem of no drug available for the complete cure of hepatitis B. According to the "Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B (2022 Edition)", the landmark indicator for the complete cure of hepatitis B is the clearance of hepatocyte HBV DNA (including nuclear cccDNA) and no relapse after drug withdrawal. The preclinical research data of LW231 show that currently only LW231 in the world meets this indicator. This project won the highest award - the Excellence Award in the 2024 National Disruptive Technology Innovation Competition and received support from the Disruptive Special Project of the Key R & D Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology in the same year.
LW402 - A new-generation leading drug for autoimmune diseases
LW402 is a new-generation leading innovative drug for autoimmune diseases independently developed by Changsen Pharmaceutical. It has demonstrated excellent safety and efficacy in clinical studies of multiple indications, significantly superior to the published data of similar drugs. Taking the Phase II clinical data of moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis and atopic dermatitis as an example, LW402 not only takes effect quickly and has good efficacy but also has few toxic and side effects. The improvement/treatment indicators of patients' diseases are significantly higher than those of other JAK inhibitors. There is no statistically significant difference in the total incidence of adverse events between the placebo group and each treatment group, which reflects the characteristics of long-term safe medication and has breakthrough advantages and the potential to become the best (BIC) in the world among similar products.
Dr. Wang Zhe said: " I would like to thank all the investors for their trust and support. In the current market environment, the successful completion of this financing round fully demonstrates the investors' high recognition of the clinical competitiveness and market potential of our pipeline. This financing has injected sufficient funds into the company and also marks that Changsen Pharmaceutical is about to enter the preparatory stage for rapid commercialization from the clinical verification stage. We will accelerate the completion of the key clinical research of autoimmune drugs and the clinical research of hepatitis B drugs and achieve product launch as soon as possible."
Dr. Chen Kan, a partner of Qiming Venture Partners and the co-head of the medical innovation field, said: " The breakthroughs made by Changsen Pharmaceutical in immune antiviral and autoimmune diseases are very exciting. Its technology has a global leading advantage, high clinical value, and huge market potential. Qiming Venture Partners will continuously support the company's innovative development and international layout and jointly promote the commercialization process of the core pipeline."
This article is from the WeChat official account "Qiming Venture Partners". It is published by 36Kr with authorization.