Ruijian Pharma uses AI-driven chemical reprogramming to push Parkinson's iPSC therapy to global front
创业邦 · wechat · 2026-09-21
An interview with Wei Jun, founder of Wuhan-based biotech Ruijian Pharma, by investor Guanghe Capital:
- Platform: Ruijian's "AI + chemical induction" platform uses AI to identify key regulatory networks governing cell function, then uses chemical small molecules to reprogram iPSCs into functional cells for treating degenerative diseases like Parkinson's.
- Milestones: Its Parkinson's pipeline is the only one in global iPSC to receive both FDA Fast Track and RMAT designations. Its ophthalmology pipeline NouvSight001 (retinitis pigmentosa) recently won clinical approval in China and the US — using entirely different compound combinations, validating platform extensibility.
- Pipeline: CNS degenerative diseases (Parkinson's, MSA), ophthalmology (expanding to AMD), plus exploratory work on organoids as drugs and in-vivo therapies, including potential aging-targeted treatments.
- Funding: Guanghe Capital co-led the C1 round earlier this year and doubled down two months later.
- Scale: Grown from 6 founders to 110+ people across China, the US and Australia; Wei aims to build a next-generation MNC in regenerative medicine.
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