Shengshi Taikang Announces Completion of Nearly 100 Million RMB in Series A Funding on "Double 12"

On December 12, Shengshi Taikang Biopharmaceutical Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. announced at its financing press conference that it has successfully closed a nearly 100-million-RMB Series A funding round. The round was co-led by Yipu Capital and Tongren Boda, with participation from Qianrong Capital and Yida Capital. Shengshi Taikang plans to allocate the new funds toward clinical trials for two key products, including an innovative Class 1 drug, while also expanding its R&D and regulatory teams. Additionally, the company aims to further diversify its product pipeline and accelerate the advancement of upcoming new drug projects into clinical stages. Zhang Dongchi, Director of Suzhou Science and Technology Bureau, attended the event and witnessed the announcement.

Founded in 2010, Shengshi Taikang Biopharmaceutical Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. is dedicated to the research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of innovative small-molecule drugs. The company boasts a 1,000-square-meter R&D laboratory equipped with cutting-edge instruments and advanced facilities, supported by a robust management system. Notably, its original Class I antidiabetic drug, sengliflozin—a patent-authorized innovation—was successfully selected for China’s 12th Five-Year Plan “Major New Drug Development” initiative in 2012, placing it on the national stage as a key focus for innovative pharmaceuticals. In 2017, the drug also received clinical trial approval as a Class I new drug. This breakthrough medication stands out for its safety, efficacy, and unique advantages: it does not cause fasting hypoglycemia or lead to weight gain, while being administered orally—a feature that has drawn significant attention within the pharmaceutical industry in recent years. In addition to advancing this promising drug through Phase I clinical trials, the company’s rapid-release formulation technology has earned recognition as a Suzhou City Engineering Center. Under this platform, Shengshi Taikang is actively developing novel specialty drug candidates, with a leading example being aripiprazole-based formulations tailored for specific therapeutic needs.

Dr. Yu Qiang, co-founder and CEO of Shengshi Taikang, earned his bachelor’s degree from Peking University’s Department of Chemistry, completing his thesis under the guidance of Academician Xing Qiyi’s research team. Later, he joined the Chinese Academy of Sciences to contribute to the nation’s pivotal "863" Program, publishing a paper as the first author in a prestigious U.S.-based scientific journal. Following this, Dr. Yu pursued his Ph.D. in chemistry in the United States, where his groundbreaking research was later cited by Nobel laureate Jean-Marie Lehn in the renowned international publication *Nature*. Under the mentorship of Professor Ronald Borchardt, then-President of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), Dr. Yu continued his postdoctoral studies and played a key role in pioneering the use of CaCO-2 cells as an indispensable model for evaluating drug bioavailability—revolutionizing both academic research and the pharmaceutical industry. In 2002, Dr. Yu transitioned into the U.S. pharmaceutical sector, eventually founding his own company in 2005. During this time, he collaborated with leading pharmaceutical firms such as Eli Lilly and Abbott, helping advance their innovative drug development efforts. In 2010, Dr. Yu returned to China to launch his entrepreneurial journey, leveraging his extensive expertise in the pharmaceutical field to build a multi-tiered R&D pipeline targeting the vast, trillion-dollar global healthcare market. In 2013, Dr. Yu was selected as an expert in the national-level Major Talent Introduction Program and was appointed as the project leader overseeing the country’s flagship “Major New Drug Development” science and technology initiative.

Dr. Yu Qiang stated: "The company’s earlier Angel and Pre-A funding rounds, completed successively before 2016, provided a solid financial foundation for our early-stage drug development projects. Shengshi Taikang is committed to delivering superior solutions that address the needs of patients across a wide range of disease areas. With the completion of this new Series A financing, we will accelerate the advancement of our product pipeline and expand into multiple therapeutic areas, including cancer, brain injury, leukemia, and more. This round of funding was led by Yipu Capital and Tongren Boda, both of which boast deep-rooted expertise and extensive resources in the healthcare sector. Meanwhile, Qianrong Capital and Yida Capital are also highly respected players in the industry. Combined with our previous investors, China-Singapore Venture Capital and Shanlan Capital, Shengshi Taikang is poised for rapid growth. Guided by our core values—Integrity, Innovation, Pragmatism, and Contribution to Society—we remain steadfast in our mission to bring hope to patients every single day."

Mr. Cai Zhiyang of Yipu Capital stated: "We are living in a golden age as China’s innovative pharmaceutical industry is poised for remarkable growth. Companies that genuinely possess cutting-edge R&D capabilities and robust clinical expertise will find themselves standing at the doorstep of unprecedented opportunities. We deeply admire Dr. Yu Qiang and his team for their proven experience and excellence in developing innovative small-molecule drugs, and we are highly optimistic about the future market potential of Shengshitaike’s products and pipeline. It’s an immense honor for us to be part of this extraordinary journey, and we sincerely wish the company continued dedication, relentless ambition, and, most importantly, the ability to bring much-needed breakthroughs to patients across China at the earliest possible date."

Co-leader investor Tongren Boda is a specialized equity investment firm focused on the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors, and has consistently followed Shengshi Taikang’s growth. Tongren Boda highly values the core team’s professional expertise and strong work ethic, particularly praising the company’s preclinical performance of its novel antidiabetic drug, Starglitin—especially its promising potential to deliver cardiovascular benefits such as lipid-lowering effects. Through its support of Shengshi Taikang’s innovative drug development projects, Tongren Boda aims to help the company build and refine its cutting-edge drug discovery and advanced formulation technology platform, ultimately enabling it to become a leading domestic pharmaceutical enterprise with global R&D capabilities and robust industry competitiveness.