1GENE

About 1GENE

Hangzhou and 1GENE Technology Co., Ltd. (1GENE) is a Chinese enterprise established in 2014 that focuses on the non-invasive cancer screening market. The company was founded by Dr. Wang Junyi, who holds a Ph.D. from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Before starting 1GENE, Dr. Wang spent eight years at BGI (formerly Beijing Genomics Institute), where he served as a senior vice president, gaining experience in research, product development, and the operational side of the non-invasive prenatal genetic testing (NIPT) business. This background in applying genetic technology to clinical settings spurred his interest in utilizing it for early cancer detection, addressing the significant gap between cancer survival rates in China and countries like the US, which he attributed to later-stage diagnoses in China.

1GENE operates in the health services and biotechnology sector, specifically targeting the early detection of cancers. The company’s business model centers on developing and providing non-invasive cancer screening products that are described as accurate, early, and affordable. It generates revenue by offering these genetic testing services to the public through various channels, including health check-up centers, hospitals, and insurance companies. The company leverages its proprietary technologies in tumor gene methylation and liquid biopsy to develop its product pipeline. 1GENE's laboratory is equipped with advanced genetic testing instruments such as the Nextseq CN500 and Pacbio platforms.

The company's product line is concentrated on digestive tract cancers and includes tests for colorectal cancer (Changyining), a screening for Helicobacter pylori which is a high-risk pathogen for gastric cancer (Youyining), and a test for early gastric cancer screening (Weiyining). Further products for liver and esophageal cancer are also in development. A key differentiator for 1GENE is its development of a '2.0 version' technology, which, while maintaining high accuracy, significantly reduces the cost of screening, making it more accessible to a broader population in China. The company holds over 50 patents and software copyrights for its technologies. Milestones for the company include securing multiple funding rounds, starting with a 5 million RMB angel round from Angel Bay Ventures in September 2014. This was followed by a 49.5 million RMB Series A round in June 2015 from investors including Yuanfang Photoelectric and Angel Bay. In December 2022, 1GENE completed a Series B round of several tens of millions of RMB, led by the publicly listed company Chengda Pharmaceutical, with the funds intended for the registration and declaration of its colorectal cancer screening product and research and development for other cancer screening tests.