Abogen Biosciences (艾博生物)
34 known investors
Suzhou-based mRNA drug developer behind ARCoV/AWcorna, China's first mRNA COVID-19 vaccine to enter clinical trials.
Also known as Abogen · Abogen Biosciences · Suzhou Abogen Biosciences Co., Ltd. · 苏州艾博生物科技有限公司
Investors · 34
Also in the syndicate · 30
Company profile
researched Aug 2026艾博生物 (Abogen Biosciences, 苏州艾博生物科技有限公司) is a Suzhou, China-based biopharmaceutical company founded in early 2019 that develops messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines. The company describes its approach as using mRNA instructions to make the human body produce its own protein drugs for therapeutic or preventive purposes, and it has built proprietary mRNA and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery technology platforms intended to address the main technical bottlenecks in mRNA drug development.
Its most prominent program is ARCoV (brand name AWcorna), a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine co-developed with the Academy of Military Medical Sciences (军事科学院军事医学研究院) and Walvax Biotechnology (沃森生物). In June 2020 ARCoV received clinical trial approval from China's National Medical Products Administration, making it the first mRNA vaccine in China to enter clinical study. By August 2021 the vaccine had completed Phase I and Phase II studies and entered Phase III, including multi-centre trials outside China; in November 2021 the company obtained a drug manufacturing licence (《药品生产许可证》) for the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. Company materials state ARCoV/AWcorna became the first mRNA vaccine approved for market in China.
Beyond COVID-19, the company reports a pipeline spanning infectious disease prevention, tumor immunotherapy, general and personalized cancer vaccines, and diseases caused by absent or defective protein expression, with a shingles (herpes zoster) mRNA vaccine cited in 2021 as approaching IND stage. The company has also invested in other biotech firms, including 臻知医学 (Pre-A, 2021) and 恺佧生物 (strategic financing, 2022).
Founding story
The company was established in early 2019 (industrial registration date 2019-01-10) in Suzhou by founder and CEO Dr. 英博 (Bo Ying). Sources do not provide further detail on the circumstances of its founding.
Business model
The company develops proprietary mRNA drug candidates and vaccines, working with partners such as the Academy of Military Medical Sciences and Walvax Biotechnology on co-development, and is building in-house formulation development and large-scale manufacturing capability plus a vaccine industrial base. Sources do not describe commercial terms or product revenue.
Traction
ARCoV completed Phase I and Phase II and entered Phase III clinical trials by August 2021; a drug manufacturing licence for the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine was obtained in November 2021. The company reports a diversified pipeline across infectious disease, tumor immunology, tumor vaccines and protein replacement, with a shingles mRNA vaccine noted as nearing IND. Cumulative disclosed financing across six rounds from 2019 to 2021 includes roughly US$1 billion in the 2021 C and C+ rounds alone.
Latest developments
The most recent developments in the cited sources are the US$300 million C+ round announced around 2021-11-30 led by SoftBank Vision Fund and 五源资本 (5Y Capital), the November 2021 drug manufacturing licence for its COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, and a February 2022 strategic investment into 恺佧生物.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
Described in the cited sources as one of the earliest domestic Chinese companies working on mRNA drugs and as a leader in China's mRNA field; its ARCoV was the first mRNA vaccine approved for clinical trials in China and, per company materials, the first mRNA vaccine approved for market in China. Its August 2021 C round was reported as a record single pre-IPO financing for a Chinese biopharma company.
Investors cited its self-developed lipid nanoparticle carrier, proprietary process technology, speed of execution in developing and advancing a domestic mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, and integrated platform covering mRNA design, formulation and large-scale production.
Technology
Proprietary, self-owned-IP mRNA technology platform combined with lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery technology, along with formulation R&D and large-scale mRNA manufacturing processes. Following its C+ round the company said it would combine artificial intelligence and other cross-disciplinary technologies to increase the platform's R&D competitiveness and digital intelligence.
Go-to-market
Development of the COVID-19 vaccine has proceeded through partnerships with the Academy of Military Medical Sciences and Walvax Biotechnology, with regulatory filings via China's NMPA and multi-country Phase III registration trials intended to bring the vaccine to global markets. The company has stated an intention to serve the domestic market while expanding internationally.
Patients and public-health vaccination programs; therapeutic areas cited include infectious disease prevention, oncology/tumor immunology, cancer vaccines, immune system disease and rare/protein-deficiency disease.
Geography
Headquartered in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China (Unit 501, Building B1, 218 Xinghu Street, Suzhou Industrial Park, China (Jiangsu) Pilot Free Trade Zone). The company has stated it will keep Suzhou as its headquarters while pursuing global expansion, including overseas multi-centre Phase III trials.
History
Founded in early 2019 with an angel round backed by 泰福资本 in January 2019, the company raised a Pre-A round in July 2020, a RMB 150 million A round in November 2020, a RMB 600 million B round in April 2021, a C round of more than US$700 million in August 2021 (reported as the largest single pre-IPO financing by a Chinese biopharma company at the time), and a US$300 million C+ round announced in late November/December 2021. In June 2020 its co-developed ARCoV vaccine became the first mRNA vaccine cleared for clinical trials in China; Phase I and II were completed by August 2021 and Phase III was under way, with a drug manufacturing licence obtained in November 2021.
Risks & controversies
Sources note conflicting figures for the C+ round size (US$300 million per media reports versus RMB 300 million in one database listing) and for the C round (over US$700 million / US$720 million / US$700 million). The database source itself cautions that its data are collected from public sources and unverified.
Compiled by commissioned research from 7 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 7
launches, deals, and filingsParticipated as an investor in an undisclosed strategic financing round for 恺佧生物.
Co-led by SoftBank Vision Fund and existing shareholder 5Y Capital, with participation from Chimera Abu Dhabi, 富海成长基金, 金镒资本, 新风天域, IMO Ventures, Mirae Asset Group and DNE Capital; to fund clinical development and internationalization of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, AI-enabled platform R&D, pipeline and capacity expansion.
$300M source ↗
The company obtained a 《药品生产许可证》 (drug manufacturing licence) for its COVID-19 mRNA vaccine.
Participated as an investor in a RMB 100 million Pre-A round for 臻知医学.
Reported as the largest single pre-IPO financing round by a Chinese biopharmaceutical company at the time; co-led by Temasek, Invesco Developing Markets Fund, 正心谷资本, GL Ventures, Yunfeng Capital, Lilly Asia Ventures and Boyu Capital.
$700M source ↗
Series B co-led by 人保资本, 国投创业 and 云锋基金, with participation from 高瓴创投, 泰福资本, 聚明创投, 济峰资本, 弘晖资本 and others; proceeds earmarked for COVID-19 vaccine development, building a vaccine industrial base and pipeline expansion.
The COVID-19 mRNA vaccine ARCoV, co-developed with the Academy of Military Medical Sciences and Walvax Biotechnology, received NMPA clinical trial approval and entered Phase I, becoming the first mRNA vaccine to enter the clinic in China.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 7
primary sources listed
- 艾博生物完成6亿元B轮融资 - 阿里云创新中心startup.aliyun.com · web
7 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Abogen Biosciences (艾博生物) do?
- Suzhou-based mRNA drug developer behind ARCoV/AWcorna, China's first mRNA COVID-19 vaccine to enter clinical trials.
- Who are Abogen Biosciences (艾博生物)'s investors?
- Abogen Biosciences (艾博生物)'s investors include Coatue Management, Morningside Venture Capital Limited, Qiming Venture Partners, SoftBank Vision Fund.