Hopstem Biotech

About Hopstem Biotech

Hopstem Biotech is a clinical-stage biotechnology company founded in January 2017 by neuroscientists from Johns Hopkins University, including Co-Founder and CEO Dr. Jing Fan and Co-Founder Xu Jinyu. Dr. Fan holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience and has over 17 years of experience in pluripotent stem cells and neural differentiation, directly shaping the company's scientific direction. The company focuses on developing and commercializing 'off-the-shelf' cell therapy products derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to treat neurological diseases. Hopstem's lead product candidate is hNPC01, an allogeneic iPSC-derived forebrain neural progenitor cell therapy. This therapy is designed to replace damaged neural cells and reconstruct neural circuits through stereotactic intracerebral transplantation. The primary target indications are conditions with major unmet medical needs, including chronic motor dysfunction resulting from ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Phase 1 clinical trials for chronic ischemic stroke have shown a positive safety profile and significant efficacy signals, with some patients followed for over two years. The company operates R&D and manufacturing facilities in Hangzhou and Shanghai. Since its inception, Hopstem has secured significant funding, including a Series B round of approximately $40 million in 2021 and a Series C round of nearly RMB 200 million (around $28 million) in August 2026, to advance its clinical pipeline and manufacturing capabilities. The company has achieved key regulatory milestones, securing Investigational New Drug (IND) approval in both China and the U.S. In 2026, its hNPC01 therapy received Fast Track and Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designations from the U.S. FDA for multiple brain injury indications, enabling an accelerated clinical development pathway. Hopstem is now advancing hNPC01 into a pivotal Phase 2/3 adaptive clinical trial in the United States.