GI Innovation
- Company typePublic
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersSeoul, South Korea
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
GI Innovation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GI Innovation
- Legal name
- 주식회사 지아이이노베이션 (GI Innovation, Inc.)
- Website
- https://gi-innovation.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GI Innovation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Bispecific Fusion Protein Therapeutics
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bispecific & Multispecific Antibodies (HLAAAAAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Antibody Discovery & Engineering Platforms (display tech, bispecifics, Fc engineering) (HLAAAIAB), Protein Interaction & Structural Biology Platforms (cryo-EM, X-ray, NMR, biophysics) (HLAAAIAH), Fusion Proteins & Fc-Engineered Biologics (HLAAAAAD)
Keywords
Where GI Innovation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seoul
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
GI Innovation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Technology Transfer / Licensing-out: The company generates revenue through licensing-out its drug candidates to global pharmaceutical companies. Completed deals include GI-101 to Simcere (China, ~9,500亿 KRW), GI-301 to Yuhan (Korea, ~1.4조 KRW), GI-301 to Maruho (Japan, ~3,000亿 KRW), and GI-301 to Simcere (China, ~1.146조 KRW). Ongoing negotiations with Merck/MSD for GI-101, GI-102, and GI-301 pipelines.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
GI Innovation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GI Innovation develops bispecific fusion protein therapeutic candidates for immuno-oncology, allergic disease, and pulmonary hypertension using its proprietary GI-SMART™ and GI-SMARTab™ high-throughput screening platforms. The company currently advances clinical-stage assets GI-101A, GI-102, GI-108, GI-301, and preclinical GI-214, and monetizes its pipeline primarily through technology transfer and licensing-out deals with global pharmaceutical companies.
Product overview
GI Innovation is a KOSDAQ-listed South Korean biotech company developing a portfolio of bispecific fusion protein therapeutics based on its proprietary GI-SMART™ and GI-SMARTab™ platforms. Its core clinical pipeline includes: GI-101A (efdelikofusp alfa), a CD80-IL-2 variant bispecific fusion protein for immuno-oncology; GI-102, a related CD80-IL2v3 agent being advanced in subcutaneous formulation and in multiple combination regimens; GI-108, a CD73-IL-2 variant targeting the adenosine pathway; and GI-301, a next-generation IgE-trap for allergic diseases licensed to Yuhan and Maruho. The company is also expanding into pulmonary arterial hypertension with GI-214. Pipeline candidates are evaluated as monotherapies and in combination with checkpoint inhibitors (Keytruda), ADCs (Enhertu), and T-cell engagers (pasritamig/J&J) across a broad range of solid tumor indications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- GI-SMART™: Proprietary high-throughput screening platform technology for bispecific fusion protein drug discovery
- GI-SMARTab™
Products and services
- GI-101A (efdelikofusp alfa) CD80-IL-2 variant bispecific fusion protein immuno-oncology drug candidate administered intravenously; evaluated in Phase 1/2 trials as monotherapy and in combination with Keytruda (pembrolizumab), showing 40% ORR in kidney cancer and complete response in bladder cancer.
- GI-102 (CD80-IL2v3) CD80-IL2v3 bispecific fusion protein immuno-oncology agent; evaluated as monotherapy and in combination with Keytruda and ADC drugs such as Enhertu; developed in subcutaneous (SC) formulation; showing complete responses and partial responses across multiple solid tumor types with 43% response rate in melanoma and 6x lymphocyte expansion.
- GI-108 CD73-IL-2 variant bispecific fusion protein targeting the adenosine pathway for metabolic immuno-oncology; demonstrating safety and tolerability in Phase 1/2a clinical trials for metastatic solid tumors.
- GI-301 (resigersept) Next-generation IgE-trap allergy treatment candidate targeting the IgE Fc region; partnered with Yuhan Corporation (Korea) and Maruho (Japan) for regional development and commercialization.
- GI-214 Next-generation pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) treatment candidate targeting the activin signaling pathway (same pathway as MSD's sotatercept), designed with improved selectivity to minimize BMP-9/10 binding and reduce bleeding side effects.
- GI-SMART™ Platform Proprietary high-throughput screening system enabling efficient discovery of lead bispecific fusion protein candidates and development of production cell lines; includes SMART-cLego™ (high-efficiency expression vector construction) and SMART-Selex™ (library-based screening of up to 24,190 bispecific protein variants from libraries of 41 hinges, 10 Fc, and 59 linkers).
- GI-SMARTab™ Platform Extension of the GI-SMART™ platform that fuses optimal antibody fragments with the bispecific fusion protein scaffold to create bispecific antibodies with superior structural stability, activity, and scalable manufacturing capability.
Quantifiable outcome
- 40% ORR and 70% DCR in kidney cancer patients with GI-101A + Keytruda combination, with responses lasting 16.7+ months
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use GI Innovation
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
GI Innovation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
GI Innovation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Johnson & Johnson (Janssen)coreClinical supply agreement for combination therapy evaluation in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). GI-102 combined with Janssen's bispecific T-cell engager pasritamig (KLK2-CD3) in Phase 1b/2 trial. GI Innovation serves as trial sponsor. Study conducted at Asan Medical Center, Severance Hospital (Korea), and Columbia University Irving Medical Center (USA).
- GI BiomecoreJoint team selected as semi-finalist in XPRIZE Healthspan competition. Combining GI-102 (immune-boosting drug) with GIB-7 (microbiome-based synbiotic) for anti-aging therapy. Collaboration with Garvan Institute of Medical Research for clinical trial under Dr. Katherine Samaras.
- MSD (Merck)coreOngoing negotiations for technology transfer of GI-301, GI-101, and GI-102. Previously provided Keytruda (pembrolizumab) for combination trials with both GI-101A and GI-102. Clinical collaboration for multiple indications including melanoma, kidney cancer, and liver cancer.
- GI CellcoreCombination therapy clinical trial combining GI Innovation's GI-101A with GI Cell's allogeneic NK cell therapy T.O.P. NK for solid tumor treatment. Plans for additional GI-102 and T.O.P. NK combination trial.
- MaruhocoreJapan licensing deal for GI-301 allergy treatment worth approximately 320 billion KRW. Maruho holds Japan development and commercialization rights.
- Yonsei Medical CenterminorMOU for cell therapy center establishment with GI Cell and Yonsei Medical Center to create GMP facilities for advanced bio-medicine production at Severance Hospital and Songdo Severance Hospital.
- AstraZenecacoreGlobal joint clinical trial combining GI-101 with AstraZeneca's Imfinzi (durvalumab) in three-drug combination therapy for small cell lung cancer, gastric cancer, biliary tract cancer, and breast cancer.
- Samsung BiologicsminorManufacturing partnership for GI-101 clinical trial material production and potential commercial supply.
- Yuhan CorporationcoreTechnology transfer deal for GI-301 allergy treatment worth approximately 1.4 trillion KRW. Yuhan holds rights for Korean market.
- Simcere (China)coreTechnology transfer deal for GI-101 worth approximately 1.146 trillion KRW. Simcere holds China regional rights for GI-101.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
GI Innovation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ABL Bio: South Korean clinical-stage biotech developing bispecific antibodies and fusion proteins for oncology and neurodegenerative diseases. Most directly comparable peer given similar bispecific platform approach and Korean origin serving global pharma BD.
- Akesobio: China-headquartered biotech with multiple approved/commercialized bispecific antibodies (e.g., ivonescimab PD-1/VEGF) and broad oncology pipeline. Closely comparable in bispecific antibody modality and IO focus, with complementary geographic footprint to GI Innovation's Korea/Asia out-licensing matrix.
- Genexine: KOSDAQ-listed Korean biotech developing therapeutic proteins including IL-2 variants and Fc-fusion biologics (e.g., GX-H9, GX-I7). Strategic investor in GI Innovation and overlapping investor base; directly comparable pipeline focus on long-acting cytokines and fusion proteins.
- I-Mab Biopharma: Clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing bispecific antibodies and differentiated biologics for solid tumors. Comparable in IO focus, clinical-stage profile, and Asia/US dual-track development model targeting global pharma BD.
- Akeso (Akeso Inc.): Note: previously listed; Chinese biotech with marketed PD-1/VEGF bispecific (ivonescimab/summetilimab) demonstrating strong Phase 3 data versus Keytruda. Highly relevant comparable given dual-pathway IO bispecific mechanism overlap with GI-101A/GI-102's CD80-IL-2 mechanism.
Emerging players
- Compugen: Israel-based immuno-oncology company with computational platform for novel target discovery (PVRIG, TIGIT) and clinical-stage bispecific antibodies. Comparable in IO mechanism focus and bispecific pipeline, though differentiated by computational target-discovery rather than fusion-protein engineering.
Regional players
- Alteogen: KOSDAQ-listed Korean biotech specializing in biosimilars and long-acting biobetters (ALT-P7, hyaluronidase technology). Comparable Korean biotech R&D-heavy profile and biologic drug development focus, though oriented to biosimilars rather than novel bispecifics.
Broad incumbents
- Celltrion: Korean biosimilars leader with growing novel biologics pipeline and KOSDAQ listing. Comparable Korean biotech with established commercial biologics manufacturing and BD infrastructure, though at vastly larger scale and focused on biosimilars/biobetters.
Others
- Synaffix (Lonza): ADC and bispecific antibody conjugation technology platform provider (now part of Lonza). Comparable as an enabling protein-engineering platform in the biologics CDMO/tech-licensing space serving similar pharma BD customers.
- Samsung Biologics: GI Innovation's manufacturing partner for GI-101 clinical material and potential commercial supply. Comparable Korean biologics manufacturing peer serving global pharma customers; ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GI Innovation social profiles
Digital presenceGI Innovation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GI Innovation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
GI Innovation subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
GI Innovation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors10 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GI Innovation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GI Innovation
What does GI Innovation do?
GI Innovation develops bispecific fusion protein therapeutic candidates for immuno-oncology, allergic disease, and pulmonary hypertension using its proprietary GI-SMART™ and GI-SMARTab™ high-throughput screening platforms. The company currently advances clinical-stage assets GI-101A, GI-102, GI-108, GI-301, and preclinical GI-214, and monetizes its pipeline primarily through technology transfer and licensing-out deals with global pharmaceutical companies.
Is GI Innovation a public or private company?
GI Innovation is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was GI Innovation founded?
GI Innovation was founded in 2017. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is GI Innovation based?
GI Innovation is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does GI Innovation make money?
One revenue line is on record: technology Transfer / Licensing-out.
Who are GI Innovation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ABL Bio, Akesobio, Genexine, I-Mab Biopharma and Akeso (Akeso Inc.). Compugen is listed as an emerging player. Alteogen is listed as a regional player. Celltrion is listed as a broad incumbent. Others are Synaffix (Lonza) and Samsung Biologics.
Does GI Innovation have an API?
No public API is recorded for GI Innovation.
What industry is GI Innovation in?
GI Innovation's product category is Bispecific Fusion Protein Therapeutics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAAAF, Bispecific & Multispecific Antibodies, with a secondary code of HLAAAIAB, Antibody Discovery & Engineering Platforms (display tech, bispecifics, Fc engineering). Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2836.