Shanghai Cell Therapy Group Completes C Round Financing Raising RMB925 Million

In December 2018, Shanghai Cell Therapy Group Co., Ltd. (the “Company”), a leader in China’s cell therapy medical industry, announced the completion of its C round of financing, raising RMB 925 million (US$134M).

The financing was co-led by China Pacific Insurance, Haier Capital, and China Industrial Asset Management Limited, with participation from existing investors Legend Capital, Anting People's Government, and Ningbo Yuanhui. The Company used this round of financing to bring on-board strategic investors that can provide significant business synergies across the various parts of its business. The capital will be used for R&D of innovative cellular technologies and treatments, development of cryopreservation technologies, and the construction of high-end cancer hospitals. CEC Capital Group served as the exclusive financial adviser for this round of financing.

Shanghai Cell Therapy Group is a leader in China’s cell therapy industry, which is integrating the capabilities to develop novel cell therapies, provide cell banking services, and clinically treat cancer patients. With a focus on the R&D of cellular immunotherapy technologies, the Company is developing new cellular treatments and making significant progress. The Company's Shanghai Wu Mengchao Cancer Hospital, which will be opened soon, is a high-end oncology hospital with precision medicine technologies. The hospital's clinical testing of its cellular treatments conforms to the standards of the CFDA, USFDA, and JCI. Shanghai Cell Therapy Group will contribute to the expansion of the global cell production and cell preservation capacities with its planned 200-room production facility and its 3,000 m2 quality control center, both of which conform to the CFDA and the USFDA's requirements for cellular treatment technologies. The cell preservation warehouse will have a capacity of 30 million human samples. To date, Shanghai Cell Therapy Group has applied for 117 patents for cell treatment-related products, 25 of which are patent cooperation treaty (PCT) patents. To date, 21 of the Company’s patent applications have been approved, including  two US patent applications. In addition, 30 of the Company's cellular immunotherapy treatment technologies have received clinical ethical approval, of which 20 have been registered with the National Clinical Trial Institute (NCTI).

The Chairman of Shanghai Cell Therapy Group, Professor Qijun QIAN previously served as the Director of the Cancer Biotherapy Center at the Second Military Medical University.  He also served as the Director of the Oncology Biotherapy Department at the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital. Dr. Qian has extensive experience in the field of oncological immunotherapy.  

In 2018, the Company's development was accelerated in part by the government's favorable policy decisions. In July 2018, the Shanghai Municipal Committee and the Shanghai Municipal Government issued the "Shanghai Health Industry Plan," thus, declaring support for the development of five medical-industry districts, which will be located in Shanghai's Pudong, Hongqiao, Jiading, Taopu, and Fenglin districts. Shanghai Cell Therapy Group is based in the Jiading medical-industry district. This district will also be home to the National Oncological Immunotherapy Center and the National Liver Cancer Center, both of which will promote the application and development of precision medicine technologies.

Gang Li, a partner at CEC Capital Group, explained, "Immunotherapy is undoubtedly one of the most promising cancer treatment methods. In addition to treating cancer, immunotherapy can also effectively treat other diseases. Shanghai Cell Therapy Group has the largest platform for cellular immunotherapy and cryopreservation in China. They also have an R&D platform for a CAR T-cell therapy that uses novel transfection methods, as well as an oncology hospital. With these facilities and resources, Shanghai Cell Therapy Group is a unique company with participation and control over the relevant segments of the cell therapy value chain. We are very optimistic about the long-term development of Shanghai Cell Therapy Group, and are honored to have been able to help the Company complete this C round of financing. I hope that in the future, we can work with the Shanghai Cell Therapy Group to continue to explore and make contributions to the advancement of immunotherapy technologies!"

CEC Capital Group is a leading investment bank focused on the healthcare, TMT, consumer sectors in China. CEC Capital Group’s dedicated healthcare team has deep industry and financial experience, within the pharma/biotech, medtech, and services sectors. CEC Capital Group is headquartered in Beijing, with offices in Shanghai. Its US affiliate, China eCapital Partners, LLC, has offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco.