Abogen Biosciences

Based in Suzhou, China, Abogen Biosciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company established in 2019, focused on the development of mRNA-based therapeutics. The company was founded by Dr. Bo Ying, who also serves as the Chairman and CEO. Dr. Ying earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Fudan University and a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Northeastern University in Boston. His career, spanning over a decade, includes roles at several US biopharmaceutical companies, where he specialized in nucleic acid-based drug formulation and manufacturing before founding Abogen.

Abogen operates in the biopharmaceutical sector, specifically targeting infectious diseases and oncology. The company's business model is centered on the research, development, and eventual commercialization of its therapeutic candidates. A significant milestone was achieved in June 2020, when its mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine, ARCoV, became the first of its kind to be approved for clinical trials in China. This vaccine, co-developed with the Academy of Military Medical Sciences and Walvax Biotechnology, entered Phase III clinical trials and notably can be stored at standard refrigeration temperatures, a significant advantage for distribution. The company's progress has attracted substantial investment, raising over $1.13 billion across multiple funding rounds from at least 41 institutional investors, including a notable $720 million Series C round in August 2021.

The core of Abogen's operations is its proprietary mRNA technology platform. This platform integrates mRNA design, in-vitro synthesis, and a proprietary lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery system to create targeted therapies. The company is leveraging this platform to advance a pipeline that includes vaccines for infectious diseases and therapies for cancer. Recent developments in early 2025 include receiving Investigational New Drug (IND) approval from China's NMPA for a lyophilized (freeze-dried) mRNA vaccine for shingles and another for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). These newer candidates utilize Abogen's proprietary nucleoside base modification and LNP delivery technologies, allowing for stable storage at 2–8°C.

Keywords: mRNA therapeutics, biotechnology, vaccine development, oncology, infectious diseases, Suzhou, Bo Ying, LNP delivery, clinical trials, ARCoV, COVID-19 vaccine, cancer therapy, drug discovery, biopharmaceutical, nucleic acid therapeutics, gene therapy, immunotherapy, shingles vaccine, RSV vaccine, clinical-stage company