Medipost
Medipost is a South Korean clinical-stage biotech that develops and commercializes allogeneic umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapies, anchored by CARTISTEM — the world's first approved allogeneic stem cell therapy — for knee osteoarthritis patients, with over 36,000 treated in Korea since 2012 and Phase 3 trials underway in the US and Japan.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersSeongnam, South Korea
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Medipost does
Medipost (KOSDAQ: 078160), founded in 2000 and headquartered in Seongnam, South Korea, is a clinical-stage and commercial biotechnology company specializing in stem cell therapeutics and cord blood banking, with US operations conducted through its wholly owned subsidiary MEDIPOST, Inc. in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The company's flagship product is CARTISTEM, an allogeneic umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hUCB-MSC) therapy for knee osteoarthritis that became the world's first regulatory-approved allogeneic stem cell therapy product when launched in South Korea in 2012 and has since been administered to over 36,000 patients domestically. The underlying platform leverages immune-privileged MSCs that are isolated, expanded under GMP standards, cryopreserved at drug substance stage, and validated through potency assays confirming cell viability for up to 72 hours at 2–10°C, enabling off-the-shelf administration without patient matching.
Medipost operates a vertically integrated regenerative medicine ecosystem spanning cord blood collection, processing, cryopreservation, and therapeutic development, which underpins both its cord blood banking services and the CARTISTEM therapeutic pipeline. The company is currently advancing CARTISTEM through Phase 3 trials in the United States and Japan, with patient enrollment in the US expected in the first half of 2026 following an FDA-agreed confirmatory evidence BLA pathway that leverages existing Korean and Japanese Phase 3 data plus real-world evidence from approximately 550 patients; US market approval is targeted by 2031. Manufacturing capacity for global clinical and commercial supply is being built through partnerships with OmniaBio (Toronto) and Charles River Laboratories (Asia-Pacific and North America), while a partnership with RMDC Co., Ltd. is developing Physical AI autonomous cell culture robots to standardize quality and minimize contamination risk.
The business model combines direct hospital and clinic sales in South Korea (one-time treatment pricing managed through the healthcare system), licensing and milestone-based revenue from the exclusive Japanese commercialization partnership with Teikoku Seiyaku ($8M upfront and $10M short-term regulatory milestone already secured plus undisclosed sales milestones), and planned US commercialization contingent on FDA approval. Strategic investors include Skylake Equity Partners, Crescendo Equity Partners, Woori Private Equity Asset Management, and NH Private Equity, which together provided $140 million in growth capital via convertible bonds in January 2026. The leadership team is anchored by founder Dr. Yang Yoon-Sun (Forbes Asia Women Powerlist honoree) and CEO Ed Ahn of MEDIPOST Inc.
Medipost firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Medipost
- Legal name
- MEDIPOST, Inc.
- Website
- https://medi-post.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Medipost is a South Korean clinical-stage biotech that develops and commercializes allogeneic umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapies, anchored by CARTISTEM — the world's first approved allogeneic stem cell therapy — for knee osteoarthritis patients, with over 36,000 treated in Korea since 2012 and Phase 3 trials underway in the US and Japan.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Medipost industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cell Therapy / Regenerative Medicine
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cell Therapy Developers (Allogeneic/Off-the-shelf) (HLAAABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Stem Cell Therapies (MSC/iPSC/HSC-derived) (HLAAABAE), Cartilage, Bone & Musculoskeletal Regeneration (HLAAAGAH), Cell Therapy Manufacturing Services (GMP, autologous/allogeneic) (HLAAAKAC)
Keywords
Where Medipost is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seongnam
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Medipost business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- CARTISTEM Product Sales (Korea): Commercial sales of CARTISTEM in South Korea where the product has been approved since 2012, treating over 36,000 patients. Revenue generated from direct hospital/clinic sales to healthcare providers treating knee osteoarthritis patients.
- Japan Commercialization Licensing: Multi-year partnership with Teikoku Seiyaku for exclusive commercialization of CARTISTEM in Japan. MEDIPOST receives upfront payment ($8M), regulatory milestones ($10M short-term), and additional undisclosed sales-based milestones. MEDIPOST supplies drug substance and retains manufacturing rights.
- US Market Entry (Future): Planned US commercialization following FDA approval of CARTISTEM for knee osteoarthritis. Phase 3 trials ongoing with patient enrollment expected in first half of 2026 and market approval targeted by 2031.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | CARTISTEM is prescribed through healthcare providers and hospitals |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Medipost product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Medipost develops, manufactures, and commercializes allogeneic umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hUCB-MSC) therapies. Its flagship product CARTISTEM is the world's first regulatory-approved allogeneic stem cell therapy, indicated for knee osteoarthritis and commercialized in South Korea since 2012 with over 36,000 patients treated. The company also operates cord blood banking and a vertically integrated pipeline for inflammation-driven degenerative diseases.
Product overview
MEDIPOST operates as a vertically integrated stem cell therapeutics company offering two interconnected product lines: (1) CARTISTEM, the company's flagship allogeneic umbilical cord blood-derived MSC therapy for knee osteoarthritis, which received regulatory approval in South Korea in 2012 and has treated over 36,000 patients, with ongoing Phase 3 trials in the US and Japan; and (2) cord blood banking services that form the foundational raw material source for the therapeutic pipeline. The company functions as a total solution provider for regenerative medicine, encompassing collection, processing, cryopreservation, and therapeutic development within a unified ecosystem.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CARTISTEM Allogeneic umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hUCB-MSC) therapy for adult patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. Administered off-the-shelf without patient matching, leveraging immune-privileged cells to reduce inflammation and promote cartilage repair. Sold to hospitals and clinics via direct sales in South Korea and through Teikoku Seiyaku in Japan.
- Cord Blood Banking Collection, processing, and cryopreservation of umbilical cord blood as the raw material feedstock for Medipost's allogeneic stem cell therapeutic pipeline and as a banking service for families.
- Degenerative Disease Stem Cell Pipeline Investigational stem cell therapy pipeline applying the hUCB-MSC platform to inflammation-driven degenerative diseases beyond osteoarthritis, including neurological, cardiovascular, and pulmonary indications.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 36,000 patients treated with CARTISTEM in South Korea since 2012
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Medipost
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Medipost technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Medipost partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Charles River LaboratoriescoreNon-exclusive Memorandum of Understanding for collaboration on GMP-compliant testing and commercial efforts for cell therapy development. Partnership leverages Charles River's biologics and cell therapy GMP testing expertise to support MEDIPOST's global pipeline, beginning with Asia-Pacific and North America markets.
- RMDC Co., Ltd.minorBusiness partnership to jointly develop 'Physical AI' autonomous cell culture robots. RMDC's automated stem cell culture device serves as foundation for collaborative innovation project aimed at accelerating sales cooperation in overseas markets. The device features closed-system automation to minimize contamination risk and standardize quality through algorithm-based management.
- Teikoku SeiyakucoreMulti-year partnership for exclusive commercialization of CARTISTEM in Japan. MEDIPOST receives $8M upfront payment, $10M short-term regulatory milestone, and additional sales-based milestones. MEDIPOST supplies drug substance and retains manufacturing rights. Teikoku Seiyaku manages exclusive market rights and sales through its orthopedic hospital and clinic network with dedicated medical representatives.
- OmniaBiocorePartnership with cell and gene therapy CDMO based in Toronto, Canada. Expands manufacturing capacity and strengthens delivery to North American clinical trial sites. Ensures manufacturing continuity and cost visibility ahead of US Phase III trial.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Medipost competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mesoblast: Mesoblast develops allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell therapies (remestemcel-L) for inflammatory and degenerative diseases, including a Phase 3 program for chronic low back pain and acute graft-versus-host disease. Direct competitor in the allogeneic MSC space with comparable regulatory pathway and manufacturing model.
- Vericel: Vericel markets MACI (autologous cultured chondrocytes on porcine collagen membrane) for cartilage repair of the knee — a direct disease-modifying competitor to CARTISTEM in knee osteoarthritis/cartilage defects, also targeting orthopedic surgeons in the US.
- BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics: BrainStorm develops NurOwn, an autologous MSC-based cell therapy for neurodegenerative diseases (ALS, MS). Comparable stem cell platform with similar regulatory pathway and target indications in the broader MSC regenerative medicine space.
- Capricor Therapeutics: Capricor develops CAP-1002, an allogeneic cardiosphere-derived cell therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and other inflammatory diseases. Comparable allogeneic cell therapy developer with similar manufacturing complexity and regulatory pathway.
- Athersys: Athersys developed MultiStem, an allogeneic bone marrow-derived multipotent adult progenitor cell therapy for stroke, ARDS, and trauma, with partner Helios (now Athersys KK) in Japan. Direct competitor in allogeneic off-the-shelf cell therapy with parallel Japan commercialization pathway.
- Corestemchemon: Corestemchemon is a South Korean clinical-stage biotech developing autologous bone marrow-derived MSCs (NeuroNata-R) for ALS, with KOSDAQ listing. Comparable Korean MSC developer in the regenerative medicine space targeting the same investor base and regulatory pathway.
Emerging players
- Stempeutics Research: Stempeutics commercializes Stempeucel, a pooled allogeneic bone marrow-derived MSC therapy approved in India for critical limb ischemia, with development in osteoarthritis. Comparable MSC platform addressing similar regenerative indications in emerging markets.
- Holostem Terapie Avanzate: Holostem commercializes Holoclar, the first EMA-approved stem cell therapy (autologous limbal stem cells for corneal regeneration). Comparable stem cell therapeutic developer with EU regulatory approval and similar first-in-class positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Smith+Nephew (Regenerative Medicine portfolio): Smith+Nephew acquired Osiris Therapeutics' cartilage and wound care portfolio (including Cartiform and Grafix) and competes in sports medicine and regenerative medicine broadly. Incumbent competitor in orthopedic regenerative medicine with established hospital sales channels.
- Takeda Pharmaceutical (TiGenix heritage): Takeda acquired TiGenix and its allogeneic adipose-derived stem cell therapy Cx601 (darvadstrocel) for complex perianal fistulas in Crohn's disease. Incumbent competitor in allogeneic stem cell therapy with global commercialization capability.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Medipost social profiles
Digital presenceMedipost financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Medipost leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Medipost subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Medipost funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Medipost M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Medipost
What does Medipost do?
Medipost develops, manufactures, and commercializes allogeneic umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hUCB-MSC) therapies. Its flagship product CARTISTEM is the world's first regulatory-approved allogeneic stem cell therapy, indicated for knee osteoarthritis and commercialized in South Korea since 2012 with over 36,000 patients treated. The company also operates cord blood banking and a vertically integrated pipeline for inflammation-driven degenerative diseases.
Is Medipost a public or private company?
Medipost is a private company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Medipost founded?
Medipost was founded in 2000. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Medipost based?
Medipost is headquartered in Seongnam, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does Medipost make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. CARTISTEM Product Sales (Korea) is the primary driver. The others are japan Commercialization Licensing and US Market Entry (Future).
Who are Medipost's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mesoblast, Vericel, BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, Capricor Therapeutics, Athersys and Corestemchemon. Emerging players are Stempeutics Research and Holostem Terapie Avanzate. Broad incumbents are Smith+Nephew (Regenerative Medicine portfolio) and Takeda Pharmaceutical (TiGenix heritage).
Does Medipost have an API?
No public API is recorded for Medipost.
What industry is Medipost in?
Medipost's product category is Cell Therapy / Regenerative Medicine. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAABAB, Cell Therapy Developers (Allogeneic/Off-the-shelf), with a secondary code of HLAAABAE, Stem Cell Therapies (MSC/iPSC/HSC-derived). Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2836.