On July 28, VelaVigo, a global biotech company focused on novel drug discovery and development, today announced the successful closing of over US$60 million in Pre-A+ funding. The round was led by Shunwei Capital, with participation from Northern Light Venture Capital (NLVC), Han Kang Capital, Everest VC, Songqing Capital, and Lingang Lanwan Capital, among others, alongside increased commitments from existing investors such as HighLight Capital (HLC), Shanghai Healthcare Capital (SHC), Delian Capital, Legend Star, and Zoo Capital.
This new round of funding will be used to advance its core programs into global clinical trials, and to accelerate the development of both first-in-class (FIC) and best-in-class (BIC) drug candidates. Driven by a dual-engine model leveraging in-house innovation and global partnerships, VelaVigo has successfully developed a globally competitive pipeline, with more than ten programs having reached the preclinical candidate (PCC) stage. Among them, the lead oncology program is on track to enter clinical trials in both China and U.S. in 2025.
Dr. Jing Li, Founder and CEO of VelaVigo, stated: “We are deeply grateful for the continued trust and support from our investors. VelaVigo maintains a highly efficient R&D model that demonstrates clear advantages in the innovation, quality, and speed. As our pipeline continues to advance, we have also established a high-caliber clinical development team. This round of financing will accelerate the clinical development of our lead candidates and facilitate our global strategic expansion efforts. We look forward to bringing breakthrough therapies to patients worldwide as soon as possible.”
Mr. Rui Li, Partner of Shunwei Capital commented: “Multispecific antibodies and ADCs have been reshaping clinical treatment paradigms across a broad spectrum of diseases. VelaVigo brings together a management team with both extensive industry experience and a proven track record. Leveraging its highly efficient R&D model, VelaVigo has rapidly established a robust pipeline of multispecific and ADC candidates with clear FIC/BIC potential and has achieved sustained value realization at the early stages of development, demonstrating its strong capabilities in innovative drug development, execution, and business development. We are honored to lead this financing round and look forward to VelaVigo continuing to innovate and bring breakthrough therapies to patients worldwide.”
VelaVigo has successfully established a sustainable “BD+VC” model. In November 2024, the company entered into an out-licensing agreement with U.S.-based Avenzo valued at US$800 million, with a US$50 million upfront and near-term milestone payment. In April 2025, VelaVigo signed a second out-licensing deal with the U.S. company Ollin, valued at US$440 million. These landmark partnerships highlight the technological strength and commercial value of VelaVigo’s innovative pipeline.
Since its inception in 2021, VelaVigo has completed three major financing rounds, including a US$50 million angel round in November 2021, followed by a US$50 million Pre-A round in December 2024.
About VelaVigo
VelaVigo is a leading biotech company specializing in the discovery and development of multispecific antibodies and ADCs. Backed by a highly efficient drug discovery platform and strong capabilities in translational medicine, CMC, and early clinical development, VelaVigo has built a robust pipeline of over ten FIC/BIC multispecific antibodies and ADC candidates, with a strategic focus on oncology and autoimmune diseases.
In 2025, VelaVigo’s core R&D programs will enter clinical development in both China and U.S. The company will continue to expand strategic partnerships across technology platforms, clinical development, and capital markets to maximize R&D efficiency and return on investment.
