20n Bio and IncTAC join Bayer Co.Lab, gaining access to Bayer’s global open innovation network to accelerate breakthroughs in new technology platforms
20n Bio is capable of screening libraries containing trillions of peptides at once, offering unparalleled potential for de novo discovery of cyclic peptide drugs
IncTAC can develop innovative nucleic acid drugs targeting a wide range of traditionally undruggable targets
So far five biotech startups have joined Bayer Co.Lab as resident companies in China
China, May 16, 2025 - Bayer announced today that it has signed agreements with IncTAC Co., Ltd. (IncTAC) and Hangzhou 20n Biopharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd. (20n Bio). The two biotech start-ups will join Bayer Co.Lab in China as residents, harnessing Bayer’s extensive innovation and collaboration network to access worldwide resources and expertise, for accelerating breakthrough innovations in new technology platforms.
“We are excited to welcome 20n Bio and IncTAC to the Bayer Co.Lab global community,” said Dr. Friedemann Janus, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Bayer Co.Lab, Regional Business Development & Licensing and Divestitures at Bayer Pharmaceuticals. “China has emerged as a powerhouse of biotech innovation, and Bayer is deeply committed to advancing this dynamic ecosystem. Through our global incubator network, we are expanding our open innovation partnerships in China and collaborating with the country’s most visionary innovators and entrepreneurs. Bayer Co.Lab empowers startups with tailored expertise and resources to fuel their growth, accelerating the translation of scientific breakthroughs into life-changing treatments for patients worldwide.”
“We are honored to join Bayer Co.Lab, a world-leading incubator in life sciences,” said Dr. Mingfu Zhu, CEO of 20n Bio. “Cyclic peptide drug discovery represents one of the most promising frontiers in biopharmaceutical research, yet technical challenges remain significant. Over the past three years, 20n Bio has built a proprietary de novo cyclic peptide discovery platform and advanced multiple candidate molecules with high clinical potential. By partnering with Bayer, we will leverage its world-class translational medicine resources and clinical-development expertise to accelerate our innovation and drive more cyclic peptide therapies from the discovery into clinics, ultimately benefitting patients around the world.”
20n Bio is a VC-backed startup dedicated to discovering cyclic peptides for therapeutic use. 20n Bio’s mission is to address unmet medical needs by leveraging high-throughput screening and chemical optimization to develop peptide drugs across various therapeutic areas. 20n Bio has developed a proprietary peptide discovery platform capable of screening libraries containing trillions of peptides at once, offering unparalleled potential for de novo discovery of cyclic peptide drugs.
“Joining Bayer Co.Lab underscores our commitment to pioneering transformative therapeutic approaches for diseases with unmet clinical needs,” said Prof. Xu Song, Founder and Chairman of lncTAC. “We highly appreciate Bayer’s commitment to fostering startups through its open innovation ecosystem in life sciences. Through this strategic partnership, we will accelerate our leadership in extrahepatic delivery platform innovation to deliver groundbreaking therapies to patients globally.”
lncTAC is committed to addressing unmet clinical needs in disease treatment through its exploration of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA). lncTAC has pioneered a proprietary platform technology for extrahepatic delivery of drugs using lncRNA or other natural molecules. The company has engineered targeted delivery modules for diverse tissues and organs, including tumors, skin, and CNS, enabling targeted delivery of therapeutic payloads such as nucleic acid, toxins, radioisotopes, and small molecules, preliminary validation has confirmed the efficacy and safety of our platform.
As a pioneering global network of life science incubators, Bayer Co.Lab accelerates scientific breakthroughs by fostering open innovation within biotech ecosystems. With strategic locations at key innovation hubs, China, Germany, United States, and Japan, Bayer Co.Lab empowers visionary startups with state-of-the-art facilities and expert mentorship to transform groundbreaking ideas into impactful healthcare solutions. In September 2024, Bayer Co.Lab inaugurated its new site in China, aiming to incubate 10 to 15 resident startups, focusing on cutting-edge innovations in oncology, cardiovascular diseases, new technology platforms, and cell and gene therapies. To date, five pioneering biotech companies, including Epigenic, Immunocan, and AccurEdit, have joined the vibrant community of Bayer Co.Lab, gaining access to Bayer‘s global open innovation network, industry expertise and resources to advance their growth and accelerate breakthroughs.
About Bayer
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. In line with its mission, “Health for all, Hunger for none,” the company’s products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2024, the Group employed around 93,000 people and had sales of 46.6 billion euros. R&D expenses amounted to 6.2 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
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