What Spark Biopharma does

Spark Biopharma is a Seoul-based, privately held biopharmaceutical company founded in 2016 that discovers and develops first-in-class small-molecule therapeutics using its proprietary phenotypic drug discovery platform (pDOS). The company's discovery stack integrates three core technology layers: pDOS for molecular diversity creation, Seoul-Fluor custom-designed fluorescent probes for visualizing phenotypic changes in cellular systems, and FITGE/TS-FITGE for target identification and mechanism-of-action elucidation through in-gel fluorescence difference via thermal stability shift. Spark targets pharmaceutical and biotech customers developing therapeutics across autoimmune disease, inflammatory disease, fibrosis, Parkinson's disease, dyslipidemia, and cancer, and currently markets two research-use bioprobes — GB2-CY3 (a GLUT-specific glucose transporter dye) and SF44 (a lipid droplet visualization probe) — priced at USD 450 per 2 mg through direct website sales.

The company's business model combines three revenue streams: (i) bioprobe product sales via a direct e-commerce channel, (ii) research collaborations and licensing agreements with pharmaceutical partners including LG Chemistry, Odyssey Therapeutics, HK Inno.N, Handok, and Donga ST, and (iii) non-dilutive grant funding from Korean national programs such as KDDF and the national new drug development project. As of 2026, Spark's pipeline includes SBP-401 (FDA Orphan Drug Designation, February 2024), an HMGB1 inhibitor for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (Phase 2, KDDF-selected), SBP-201 for Parkinson's disease (national project-selected, December 2025), and a STING degrader program. The company is led by founder and CEO Park Seung-beom, a Seoul National University Chemistry Department professor, and is actively preparing for a KOSDAQ IPO after completing a KRW 31.5 billion pre-IPO funding round in May 2026.

Spark has raised approximately KRW 28.5 billion across disclosed rounds (Handok KRW 3 billion in November 2021, Series C KRW 25 billion in April 2022) plus the 2026 pre-IPO round, with a syndicate of Korean institutional investors including Korea Development Bank, Industrial Bank of Korea, Shinhan Capital, KB Investment, IMM Investment, and Company K Partners. With 11-50 employees and no public revenue disclosure, the company is in a clinical-stage growth phase where partner-validated milestones and continued grant selection serve as the primary indicators of execution.

Name

Spark Biopharma

Legal name

SparkBioPharma, INC.

Website

https://sparkbiopharma.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Spark Biopharma is a Seoul-based clinical-stage biotech that discovers first-in-class small-molecule therapeutics using its proprietary phenotypic drug discovery (pDOS) platform, serving pharmaceutical partners across autoimmune, inflammatory, fibrotic, neurodegenerative, and oncology indications through licensing and co-development deals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biopharmaceutical Drug Discovery

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Drug Discovery (Target ID/Validation & Hit Discovery) (HLAIALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Translational Medicine & Biomarkers (HLAIALAF), In Vivo Discovery & Translational Models Platforms (humanized models, PK/PD, efficacy) (HLAAAIAK)

Keywords

• Phenotypic drug discovery
• Small molecule therapeutics
• Fluorescent bioprobe products
• Target identification platform
• Biopharmaceutical research services

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Bioprobe Product Sales: Sale of fluorescent bioprobe products for drug discovery research including GB2-CY3 (GLUT-specific glucose transporter dye) and SF44 (lipid droplet dye)
2. Research Collaborations and Licensing: Collaborative research agreements with pharmaceutical companies for drug development using proprietary phenotypic discovery technology

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Spark Biopharma discovers and develops first-in-class small-molecule therapeutics using its proprietary phenotypic drug discovery (pDOS) platform, which integrates Seoul-Fluor fluorescent probes and FITGE/TS-FITGE target identification technologies. The company also commercializes catalog bioprobe research tools (GB2-CY3 and SF44/Seoul-Fluor44) for cellular glucose uptake and lipid droplet imaging, sold directly to researchers through its website.

Product overview

Spark Biopharma is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops small-molecule therapeutics using phenotypic discovery technology. The company's core offering consists of its pDOS (phenotypic discovery and optimization system) technology platform for identifying novel first-in-class therapeutics. Additionally, Spark Biopharma commercializes research tools including GB2-CY3 and SF44 (Seoul-Fluor44) fluorescent bioprobes for cellular analysis applications such as glucose uptake measurement and lipid droplet visualization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GB2-CY3 Bioprobe A GLUT-specific transportable fluorescent dye for quantitative measurement of glucose uptake in live cells or model organisms without requiring cytosol extraction or radiation; absorption/emission maxima at 545/555 nm; sold at USD 450 per 2mg powder for research use.
• SF44 (Seoul-Fluor44) Bioprobe A fluorogenic dye for visualization and quantification of cellular lipid droplets in cells, tissues, and model organisms; absorption/emission maxima at 445/611 nm; fluorogenic only at lipid droplets, requiring no washing or fixation steps; sold at USD 450 per 2mg powder for research use.
• pDOS Technology Platform (Phenotypic Drug Discovery) Proprietary phenotypic drug discovery platform integrating molecular diversity creation, disease-mimicking phenotypic screening, Seoul-Fluor fluorescent probes, FITGE/TS-FITGE target identification, and proteomics/biomarker capabilities; licensed to and used with pharmaceutical partners such as Odyssey Therapeutics, LG Chemistry, and HK Inno.N for first-in-class small-molecule therapeutic discovery in autoimmune, inflammatory, fibrotic, Parkinson's disease, dyslipidemia, and oncology indications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Series C investment of 250억 원 secured in 2022
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Odyssey TherapeuticscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 September 2025Collaboration to develop autoimmune and inflammatory disease drugs using the pDOS technology within Odyssey's research strategy. Odyssey recently raised over USD 700 million in funding and aims to diversify its development pipeline with this partnership.
• LG ChemistrycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2025Joint research and license agreement for next-generation drug discovery using Spark Biopharma's phenotypic discovery platform.
• PharmAbcineminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership for AI-driven antibody-based drug development platform utilizing advanced computational approaches.
• Donga ST (동아에스티)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2024Business partnership agreement signed for collaborative drug development activities.
• HK Inno.NcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 September 2023Co-development partnership for dyslipidemia drug development using Spark Biopharma's proprietary technology platform.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Recursion Pharmaceuticals: Recursion uses high-throughput phenotypic screening combined with AI/ML to discover small-molecule therapeutics, the same core thesis as Spark Biopharma's pDOS platform. Both companies pursue first-in-class drug discovery through image-based, disease-relevant assays and operate similar target-ID workflows.
• Evotec SE: Evotec operates a discovery and development services platform with deep expertise in phenotypic screening, target identification, and partnered small-molecule R&D for pharma and biotech clients, mirroring Spark's partnership-led business model.
• Insitro: Insitro combines machine learning with phenotypic disease models to discover novel therapeutics, overlapping with Spark's phenotypic screening approach to first-in-class drug discovery and serving similar pharma partnership customers.
• Schrödinger, Inc. Schrödinger operates a computational drug discovery platform that includes physics-based modeling and structure-based design for small-molecule therapeutics. While more computation-led than Spark, both companies pursue first-in-class discovery and license tools/technology to pharma partners.
• Cyclerion Therapeutics: Cyclerion applies phenotype-driven approaches to small-molecule therapeutic discovery, sharing with Spark Biopharma a focus on novel mechanism, first-in-class candidates and partnered clinical development.
• AbCellera Biologics: AbCellera operates a technology-platform discovery model (antibody-focused) with deep pharma partnerships for co-development, analogous to Spark's platform-plus-partnerships approach to therapeutic discovery, though focused on antibodies rather than small molecules.

Broad incumbents

• WuXi AppTec: WuXi AppTec is a global CRO/CDMO that offers small-molecule drug discovery, target identification, and biologics services to pharma clients. It serves a comparable pharma-partnered discovery customer base as Spark but at vastly greater scale and breadth.
• Charles River Laboratories: Charles River offers drug discovery services including phenotypic screening, medicinal chemistry, and target identification across multiple therapeutic areas. Comparable business model to Spark's pharma-licensed discovery services, but at significantly larger scale and as part of a full CRO portfolio.
• Eurofins Discovery: Eurofins Discovery provides commercial drug discovery services including phenotypic assays, screening libraries, and medicinal chemistry to pharmaceutical and biotech clients. Comparable service offering to Spark's phenotypic discovery platform.

Regional players

• Hanmi Pharmaceutical: Hanmi is a leading South Korean pharmaceutical company pursuing innovative small-molecule and peptide drug development. Comparable Korean-market peer with similar therapeutic area interests (oncology, autoimmune, metabolic) to Spark's pipeline.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spark-biopharma

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors20 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Spark Biopharma