Mr. Zhang Haichuan, sitting opposite the reporter, is the founder and CEO of Celula (China) Medical Technology Co., Ltd. He is not only one of thousands of entrepreneurs in Chengdu High-tech Zone, but also a sports fan who likes playing football and basketball.

 

      "Loving sports is the expression of loving life and being passionate about life, while focusing on the research of medical technology for the benefit of mankind is also the respect and love for life." The dialogue between Zhang Haichuan and the reporter of the Financial Investment News started here, and he told the reporter about the entrepreneurship stories in the company's team in a vivid manner.

 

       Born in Beijing, Zhang Haichuan came all the way to Wanyuan County, Sichuan Province with his parents who participated in the third-line construction when he was a child. Later, he was admitted to Tsinghua University, where he completed his undergraduate, master's and doctoral degrees.

       In 1997, Zhang Haichuan went to the United States graduating from Tsinghua University and worked in a well-known medical technology company. In the eyes of outsiders, he would probably "live and work" in the United States, but he has different "ideas": "Looking back on the time when I received the heavy doctorate certificate from the president of Tsinghua University, my mood can only be expressed by 'a whirlpool of emotion'. More than 20 years of painstakingly studying in school was not only for the purpose of obtaining a diploma, but more importantly, for learning skills and serving the motherland and people. "

 

       Celula (China) Medical Technology Co., Ltd.

 

       Of course, there was another reason for Zhang Haichuan's return home. He said that he has the dream of technical research and development, but if he wants to put a medical product on the market, he needs to get rich medical resources, such as the cooperation of medical staff and hospital clinical trials. In this respect, there will be more abundant medical resources and deployment advantages in China.

 

       Based on the above "considerations", Zhang Haichuan has had own "playing method": In 2013, he resolutely quit his job with an annual salary of millions and returned to the motherland. Based on the in-depth investigation of the investment environment of many domestic cities, he finally set up his headquarters in Tianfu Life Science Park, Chengdu High-tech Zone, and set up business offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Zhuhai Hengqin.

 

       Tianfu Life Science Park Phase I

 

       After the the "formation" of the entrepreneurial team, the next step was to decide startup projects. Although the general direction was definite, he hesitated between "medicine" projects or "medical" projects. Even if the decision was "medical" projects, he would face a second decision in the face of thousands of "medical technology" products. To complete this "multiple choice question", the team has done a lot of market research.

 

       In the market research, Zhang Haichuan's team learned that at present, some fetuses have congenital genetic defects after birth, but it will be too late to find them.

 

       Celula Flow Detection Kit Products

 

       "Although the non-invasive prenatal testing technology is very complex, the market space is very broad. It can be used in hospitals from West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University to municipal/prefectural Grade 3A hospitals and even district/county grass-roots hospitals."

 

       Zhang Haichuan said that the use of non-invasive prenatal testing technology by doctors can effectively remind the risks of fetuses with chromosomal genetic diseases such as Down's syndrome. Combined with clinical practice, accurate and efficient diagnosis can be achieved, and the risk of genetic diseases of unborn fetuses can be detected throughly. For this reason, the company decided to take "non-invasive prenatal testing" as the breakthrough point of startup projects.

 

       Zhang Haichuan admitted that the entrepreneurial team has also experienced ups and downs in the entrepreneurial process, but they repeatedly sum up experience and draw lessons from trials and errors.

 

       Finally, in 2019, the new-generation small-sized Sparrow flow cytometer independently developed by the company obtained the medical device registration certificate approved by NMPA (National Medical Products Administration). With more than 20 domestic and foreign patents, it is the first self-owned brand small-sized flow cytometer product approved for marketing in China. For the moment, the company is making simultaneous efforts in R&D, manufacturing, testing, registration, sales and operation services. (Click here to view details)

 

       New-Generation Small-Sized Sparrow Flow Cytometer

 

       With the development of entrepreneurial activities and the expansion of the scale, the members of the company's entrepreneurial team are also gradually increasing. Currently, there are nearly 100 team members, who are assigned to positions in R&D, production, marketing and operation departments.

 

       In particular, every member in R&D position has the relevant professional background of key universities at home and abroad. They have solid professional knowledge and can undertake the heavy responsibility of R&D. So far, the company has obtained a number of intellectual property rights. It is precisely because of such an "iron team" that dares to meet challenges and and is good at overcoming challenges that the R&D task can be successfully completed.

 

       Some Members of Celula R&D Team

 

       So far, the company has established more than 5,000 square meters of scientific research, technology transformation, production and service bases, and has established close cooperative relations with many well-known enterprises and top experts at home and abroad.

       Zhang Haichuan, who walked all the way from the road of start-up, was filled with emotion: "My alma mater not only taught me professional knowledge, but also gave me the determination and perseverance to start a business, making me deeply realize that choosing medical technology means positioning myself as a 'scout' and 'pioneer' to relieve the pain of patients, so I need to be able to withstand loneliness."

 

       In fact, medical technology research and development is a very "money-consuming" field. However, in Zhang Haichuan's view, the "non-invasive prenatal testing" technology developed by the company is a "blue ocean" with great demand, because it can help prenatal and postnatal care and improve the quality of newly-born population.

 

       Fortunately, the company has also been recognized by investment institutions. In early September 2020, the company announced the completion of tens of millions of RMB of Round B financing. The funds raised this time will be mainly used for the registration, application and market promotion of POCT flow cytometer and reproductive health-related testing reagents. This round of financing is led by Hanne Capital, followed by Jinhe Capital, CD Capital and Celula-HK. Up to now, the company has raised more than RMB 200 million. (Click here to view details)

 

       Zhang Haichuan said that after obtaining the financing, the company will continue to take advantage of technology research and development and commercial transformation, and focus on the field of maternal and child health with huge market demand at home and abroad to create greater value jointly.

 

       He said that he is so lucky that the company has received the care of governments at all levels, especially the Chengdu High-tech Zone. "That is an all-around and diversified care. In addition to financial support, there is also support in investment and financing, talent recruitment and training, brand publicity and other aspects. This is also a proof that the company's choice to settle in Chengdu High-tech Zone is correct, and the first-class business environment here also helps the enterprise develop better,”Zhang Haichuan said.

 

       Technologies and Patents of the Company

 

       When it comes to the company's development goals and vision, Zhang Haichuan said that the company will continue to focus on the field of maternal and child health and strive to become a provider of disease diagnosis solutions and a leader in the medical testing industry. The company will strive to make tens of thousands of county-level hospitals in China have the opportunity to use the company's products in the next five years, help more doctors improve the accuracy and efficiency of gene diagnosis, help more families achieve sound child rearing, so as to make contributions to improving the quality of the newly-born population.

 

 

       Reporter's Notes

 

       Only when research achievements are applied
       can the value be demonstrated

 

       According to the reporter's experience in interviewing for more than 20 years, some scientific research achievements and patented invention achievements can not be timely and effectively transformed into real productivity, which can not bring help to people's production and life. Do we need to spend more effort on "research for application"? You might as well learn from Celula's ideas and practices. Because only when research achievements are applied can the value be demonstrated.

 

       Related Links

 

       According to Article 4 of Several Policies of Chengdu High-tech Zone on Building Bio-industrial Ecosphere (Industrial Functional Zone) to Promote the Development of Bio-industry, it is stipulated that the enterprises that have Class I new drugs with independent intellectual property rights, international leading and huge market prospects and Class III medical devices with cutting-edge and subversive technologies for enterprises in the zone will be given subsidies of no more than RMB 30 million per variety in stages according to the R&D progress after review and recognition; for new drugs, first generic drugs and varieties under development of Class II and III medical devices with key innovative technologies and good market prospects that reach the same international level, subsidies of no more than RMB 10 million per variety will be given in stages according to the R&D progress after review and recognition.

       Article 11 stipulates that the risk of R&D and market of enterprises should be reduced, and the financial chain should be innovated by means of human clinical trial liability insurance and biomedical product liability insurance. Enterprises are encouraged to buy biomedical (including medical devices) human clinical trial liability insurance, biomedical (including medical devices) product liability insurance and other insurance types. The High-tech Zone will give a subsidy of no more than RMB 1 million to a single insurance policy based on 70% of the actual premium expenditure.