Qi Biodesign, a company involved in genome-editing technologies, announced that it has completed a $75 million funding round, which includes seed funding and Series Pre-A and Series A stages.

Beijing Medical and Health Care Industry Investment Fund led the round, with additional participation from Beijing Changping Technology Innodevelop Group, Mingzhe Capital and returning investor CD Capital. 

Prior investors include Apricot Capital, Source Code Capital, Gaorong Ventures, CSSD Capital, Shang Capital and CASSTAR.

WHAT IT DOES

The company focuses on the development of independent and controllable new genome-editing technology and explores its application in a variety of fields, including biological breeding. It provides advanced genome solutions for industrial users.

Qi Biodesign is engaged in genomic innovation with its proprietary SEEDIT research platform.

The platform features advanced genome editing tools, including novel RNA-guided nucleases, base editors, plant prime editors and PrimeRoot editors for exact large DNA insertions and manipulations.

According to the company, the technologies allow multiplex gene editing, fine-tuning of gene expression and high-throughput trait discovery, driving the development of superior biological traits to focus on global challenges in crop breeding and synthetic biology.

The company received two biosafety certificates for gene-edited plants (high oleic acid soybean and powdery mildew disease-resistant wheat) from the China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. It also secured an exemption for a gene-edited product (high oleic acid soybean) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The company will use the funds to increase its research and development, advance its proprietary SEEDIT platform, bolster its product development and build commercialization platforms to simplify and speed up the transition from research to market.

MARKET SNAPSHOT

In September, MGI and Qi Biodesign joined forces to introduce the MGI DNBSEQ-G99 sequencer, the BGI Sequencer nanopore sequencer. 

The two parties will combine their respective advantages to carry out more extensive cooperation in data analysis methods, protein optimization and microbial data sharing of high-throughput sequencers to advance news breakthroughs in new gene editing tool enzymes and delivery technologies.

In April, Qi Biodesign and G&P Agritech signed a strategic cooperation agreement to leverage their respective strengths to innovate in the field of new consumer products.

Other companies in this space include Benson Hill, which is a seed innovation company that unlocks nature's genetic diversity in soy quality traits via a combination of its proprietary genetics, AI-driven CropOS technology platform and Crop Accelerator.

Cibus is a provider of gene-editing solutions for the agriculture industry. It develops advanced breeding technologies that enable precise, stable, predictable changes in plants and other organisms without integrating foreign genetic material.

Pairwise is a health-focused food and agriculture company transforming plants and their production systems with CRISPR and gene editing.