Lai Caida, METiS Technologies Co-founder and CEO
AsianFin — METiS Technologies, one of China’s so-called “Four AI Pharma Unicorns,” has raised 400 million yuan ($55 million) in a Series D financing round, bolstering its ambitions in AI-powered nano-delivery systems and next-generation cell and gene therapies (CGT).
The round was jointly led by the Beijing Pharmaceutical Health Industry Investment Fund and Daxing District Industrial Investment Fund, METiS announced on Sunday. The fresh capital will support the company’s platform automation upgrades, advancement of proprietary drug pipelines, global expansion initiatives, and top-tier talent recruitment.
Founded in 2020, METiS specializes in AI-driven nanomaterial innovation for precision drug delivery. To date, the company has secured over 2 billion yuan (approximately $300 million) in funding from prominent investors including CICC Capital, Sequoia China, China Life Equity, and PICC Capital.
“This round is a strong endorsement of METiS’s strategic vision and long-term approach,” said Dr. Lai Caida, Co-founder and CEO of METiS Technologies. “We are committed to leveraging AI innovation to solve the complex challenges of nano-delivery and contribute to the high-quality development of China’s CGT industry.”
METiS has developed three core AI platforms—AiLNP for nucleic acid delivery, AiRNA for mRNA sequence design, and AiTEM for small molecule formulation design. The company has achieved notable breakthroughs in lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery targeting the liver, lungs, muscles, and immune cells, addressing key hurdles in multi-organ, multi-tissue drug delivery.
Coinciding with the new funding, METiS launched its “Open CGT” platform—an industry-facing initiative to reduce development barriers, lower costs, and accelerate the clinical translation of cell and gene therapies. Its first collaboration under the platform is with Ruizheng Gene, developing a liver-targeted CRISPR gene editing therapy using mRNA-LNP technology.
“CGT will undoubtedly become a pillar of China’s biopharmaceutical landscape,” Lai said. “Through Open CGT, METiS aims to empower emerging technologies and early-stage pipelines, providing the delivery solutions needed to bring these innovations from lab to clinic.”
China’s biotech sector is witnessing a surge in momentum, with confidence returning to capital markets and primary-stage investments. Lai highlighted that this positive trend is creating a more favorable environment for companies like METiS, especially in high-risk, high-reward segments such as CGT.
Daxing District, where METiS is based, has positioned itself as a key innovation hub under the “China Medicine Valley” initiative. Li Ming, Chairman of Daxing District Investment Group, a lead investor in this round, stated: “METiS’s Open CGT platform will accelerate the commercialization of original innovations and attract global talent, technology, and capital to Daxing.”
On the product front, METiS’s lead AI-driven formulation drug candidate has completed Phase III clinical trials and is moving towards NDA submission, marking a significant milestone for the company.
Lai emphasized that AI-driven drug discovery remains a long-term endeavor. “Our biggest competitor isn’t other companies—it’s science itself,” he said. “This industry is in its early stages, and collaboration across the value chain will be essential to drive breakthroughs.”
Alongside Deep Intelligent Pharma, XtalPi, and Insilico Medicine, METiS Technologies is widely recognized as one of China’s “Four Rising Stars of AI Pharma.”
