Kejun Pharma closes $41M Series C to push drug pipelines into global trials
What's the deal? Kejun Pharma, a Chinese pharmaceutical company, has completed a Series C round of over 300 million yuan (roughly $41M). The round was led by Walvax Biotechnology, with continued backing from existing investor Tailong Capital's Taikun Fund and new participation from Qianhai Fangzhou and Shenzhen Guarantee Venture Capital, among others.
The funds will go toward accelerating global clinical development across multiple core drug pipelines.
Why now? The round closed in Q1 2026, a period when Chinese biotech firms have been racing to advance clinical programmes internationally. Walvax Biotechnology — best known for its vaccine business — is diversifying its portfolio through strategic investments like this one.
What could go wrong? Global clinical trials are expensive and unpredictable. Regulatory hurdles across multiple jurisdictions could slow progress and inflate costs well beyond the capital just raised. Additionally, geopolitical tensions between China and major Western markets could complicate cross-border drug development and approval pathways.
The signal: Chinese pharma companies are increasingly looking outward, funding global-stage clinical work rather than limiting ambitions to the domestic market. Strategic investors like Walvax stepping in as lead backers — rather than pure financial VCs — suggests a broader trend of established biopharma players using their balance sheets to build pipelines through external bets.
Read more: jiemian.com
