Platelets play a crucial role in the coagulation process in vivo. However, platelets used in clinical practice mainly come from free donations and are in extreme shortage. Using stem cells to produce platelets in vitro is expected to solve this unmet clinical need.
Hemacell (Chinese: 血霁生物), a stem cell company, closed a Pre-Series A+ round of financing on May 27. This funding round was jointly invested by Lucion (Chinese: 鲁信创投), Founder H Fund (Chinese: 方正和生投资), Laurel Venture (Chinese: 朗煜资本) and Tairong Venture Capital (Chinese: 泰融创投), and the existing shareholders Weifu Capital (Chinese: 苇渡创投), Guanban Capital (Chinese: 贯邦资本), Northern Light Venture Capital (Chinese: 北极光创投) and Country Garden Venture Capital (Chinese: 碧桂园创投) continued to increase shareholding.
It is worth noting that this is the second round of capital increase within two months of Hemacell and the third round of financing after its founding in June 2021.
In vitro generation of platelets is the leading product of the company to deal with the shortages of platelets in the treatment. At the same time, Hemacell will also develop innovative drugs for platelet disorders.
The company has a deep foundation in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) technology, gene-editing technology, and differentiation technology. It has submitted patent applications for human iPSC line establishment and the differentiation of stem cells into the natural killer cell, macrophage, and other blood cell lineages.
“At present, the stem cell industry in China develops fast, and many outstanding researchers and entrepreneurs actively and rapidly promote the transformation of scientific and technological achievements of stem cells.” Dr. Wuchen, R&D director of Hemacell, said.
Heluo Xintu Biotechnology (Chinese: 河络新图), Zhuhai Bestenco Technology (Chinese: 贝斯生物), Kunshi Biotech (Chinese: 鲲石生物), and Suzhou Aikailiyuan Biotechnology (Chinese: 艾凯利元) are the competitors in this area.