METiS Technologies closes on Series D financing round

METiS Technologies, a Beijing-based company focused on AI-driven nanodelivery innovation, has completed its 400 million yuan ($55.6 billion) Series D financing round.

As a biotech company at the intersection of artificial intelligence and nanomaterial science, METiS Technologies focuses on transforming the delivery and application of active agents across life forms.

Founded by a team of MIT-trained scientists with expertise in AI, quantum mechanics, nanomaterials and advanced drug delivery, the company has developed three proprietary platform technologies, AiLNP – AI platform for nucleic acid delivery system design; AiRNA – AI platform for mRNA sequence optimization; and AiTEM – AI platform for small molecule formulation design.

METiS' platforms simulate, predict and interpret nanoscale interactions to enable rational design, optimization and validation of next-generation nanomaterials and their payloads. By advancing AI-enabled nanotechnology, METiS strives to unlock new therapeutic possibilities across a wide range of diseases, including cancer, metabolic and autoimmune disorders, as well as neurodegenerative conditions.

The Series D round was co-led by the Beijing Medical and Health Industry Investment Fund, one of the eight major industrial funds established with support from the Beijing municipal government, and the Daxing Industrial Investment Fund.

The new capital will be used to accelerate METiS' core strategic initiatives, including automation upgrades to its proprietary platform, in-house pipeline development, expansion of global partnerships and recruitment of world-class talent.

At the same event, METiS also unveiled its OpenCGT platform — a cutting-edge solution designed to tackle key challenges in precision nanodelivery, lower development costs and complexity, and accelerate the clinical translation of next-generation cell and gene therapies (CGT).

Leveraging METiS' AI nanodelivery technology, the OpenCGT platform bridges the gap between foundational research in leading academic institutions and major hospitals, and translational work by biotech firms, according to a company spokesperson.

"We are deeply grateful for the trust and support from the Beijing municipal government, our investors and our ecosystem partners," said Chris Lai, co-founder and CEO of METiS Technologies.

Lai added that solving the grand challenge of nanodelivery through AI innovation is not just METiS' mission, it's part of a wider commitment to the broader life sciences ecosystem.

"We will continue to develop proprietary, world-class delivery technologies to support the high-quality growth of China's CGT industry," he said.