CHINESE cell therapy startup iRegene Therapeutics has raised 210 million yuan (US$31 million) in a Series C1 financing round to advance clinical development of its treatments for Parkinson’s disease and multiple system atrophy (MSA).

The round was co-led by Luminous Ventures and healthcare-focused investment firm Apricot Capital. Proceeds will be used to advance the company’s core clinical programs, upgrade its “AI + chemical induction” platform, expand scalable manufacturing capabilities, and support global clinical development and international business partnerships, the Chengdu-based company announced.

Founded in 2017, iRegene focuses on treating neurodegenerative diseases using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology. Its “AI + chemical induction” platform employs small-molecule compounds to precisely regulate human cells, enabling the efficient, stable and scalable production of target functional cells, the company said.

The latest funding underscores growing investor interest in AI-enabled biotechnology platforms as companies seek to accelerate the development of novel therapies for diseases with significant unmet medical needs.

iRegene has developed several cell therapy candidates targeting Parkinson’s disease, MSA and retinal degeneration. Its Parkinson’s disease candidate NouvNeu001 has entered Phase II clinical trials in both China and the United States, while NouvNeu004, which targets MSA, has received clinical trial approvals in both countries, according to the company’s website.

The company said these milestones demonstrate the AI platform’s ability to identify common pathological mechanisms across neurological disorders, discover regulatory pathways for functional cells, and generate candidate therapies. iRegene added that it aims to become an AI-driven biotechnology platform capable of continuously producing innovative drugs.

In September last year, iRegene announced the completion of a Series B financing round of more than 300 million yuan, with participation from investors including Northern Light Venture Capital, Chuangjing Capital and OneHealth Haihe Capital.

(SD-Agencies)