Intocell
- Company typePublic
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersDaejeon, South Korea
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
Intocell firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Intocell
- Legal name
- 주식회사 인투셀
- Website
- https://intocell.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Intocell industry classification
Industry- Product category
- ADC Platform Technology / Oncology Bioconjugates
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) & Antibody Conjugates (HLAAAAAE)
Keywords
Where Intocell is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Daejeon
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Intocell business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Platform Technology Licensing (Non-exclusive): IntoCell licenses its OHPAS linker and PMT technologies on a non-exclusive basis to multiple pharmaceutical and biotech companies simultaneously. Revenue consists of upfront fees upon signing MTA/option agreements, target selection fees, potential development/regulatory/commercial milestone payments, and royalties on net sales upon successful commercialization.
- Co-development and Research Collaboration: Joint research agreements with partners (e.g., Samsung Bioepis, ADC Therapeutics) where IntoCell provides linker and drug technologies while partners contribute development and manufacturing capabilities. Revenue from research service fees and milestone achievements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Non-exclusive platform technology licensing with upfront, milestone, and royalty components |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Intocell product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Intocell develops and licenses proprietary Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) linker-payload platform technologies—centered on the OHPAS™ linker, PMT™ payload modification technology, and Nexatecans™ camptothecin payloads—offered to pharmaceutical and biotech partners on a non-exclusive basis with upfront fees, milestones, and royalties. The company also advances a proprietary pipeline of ADC candidates (lead asset ITC-6146RO targeting B7-H3) and collaborates with CRDMO partners to integrate its drug-linker technologies into end-to-end ADC development services.
Product overview
IntoCell operates as an ADC (Antibody-Drug Conjugate) platform technology company specializing in drug-linker technologies and proprietary payloads for targeted cancer therapy. Its core product portfolio consists of three integrated platform technologies: (1) the OHPASTM Linker — a proprietary self-immolative linker compatible with both phenolic and non-phenolic drug payloads; (2) PMTTM (Payload Modification Technology) — which enhances ADC selectivity by minimizing off-target normal cell uptake; and (3) NexatecansTM — a proprietary class of phenol-function camptothecin (Topo1 inhibitor) payloads. These platforms are offered together as a linker-toxin library for screening and fast preclinical candidate delivery. IntoCell also advances proprietary pipeline candidates including ITC-6146RO (B7-H3 ADC) and additional programs targeting Trop2, HER2, HER3, PSMA, 5T4, and DLL3. The company generates revenue primarily through non-exclusive technology licensing of its platforms to biotech and pharmaceutical partners, and through co-development agreements.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- OHPAS™ Linker Platform Technology A proprietary self-immolative linker platform based on Ortho-Hydroxy Protected Aryl Sulfate chemistry enabling stable conjugation and selective release of both phenolic and non-phenolic payloads in antibody-drug conjugates. Stable in blood circulation but releases drug payload upon specific triggers (lysosomal enzymes, pH, light) inside target cells, licensed to pharmaceutical and biotech partners for ADC development.
- PMT™ (Payload Modification Technology) A platform technology that incorporates temporary modifying groups into traditional drug payloads, reducing non-selective uptake by normal cells while increasing selectivity and improving therapeutic index of ADCs. Licensed as part of IntoCell's linker-payload technology offering to pharma and biotech partners.
- Nexatecans™ Payload Class A class of proprietary phenol-function camptothecin (Topo1 inhibitor) payloads developed for use with the OHPAS linker in ADC programs. Designed as an alternative to DXd in ENHERTU with preclinical data showing 2-3x superior efficacy and approximately 5x improved therapeutic index, licensed to ADC developers.
- OHPAS Linker-Toxin Library A library of OHPAS linkers conjugated to toxins with different mechanisms of action, designed to enable rapid screening and selection of optimal drug-linker combinations for novel ADC programs and shorten preclinical candidate identification timelines.
- ITC-6146RO (B7-H3 ADC) Lead proprietary ADC candidate targeting B7-H3 using OHPAS linker with duocarmycin-class payload, demonstrating strong and long-lived potency in murine xenograft and PDX models with excellent safety profile. Phase 1 clinical trial approved by MFDS in November 2025.
- Proprietary ADC Pipeline Program Set Additional proprietary ADC candidates in pre-clinical development targeting Trop2, HER2 (ISAC and standard ADC formats), HER3, DLL3, PSMA, and 5T4, leveraging IntoCell's OHPAS linker and payload modification platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- Normal cell drug uptake reduced ~172x; selectivity increased ~115x with PMT technology vs conventional ADC payloads
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Intocell
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Intocell technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Intocell partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- ABL BiominorIntoCell signed a technology transfer agreement with ABL Bio for next-generation ADC development. The agreement covered applying IntoCell's platform technologies to ABL Bio's mono- and bispecific antibody-based ADC development. This partnership was subsequently terminated in July 2025 due to a patent dispute over one Nexatecan compound. IntoCell stated it retains 30+ other Nexatecan variants and the OHPAS linker patent is unaffected.
- WuXi XDCcoreWuXi XDC (stock: 2268.HK), a leading global CRDMO focused on ADC and bioconjugates, entered a comprehensive partnership with IntoCell. IntoCell provides proprietary drug-linker technologies using OHPAS Linker and Nexatecans; WuXi XDC provides fully integrated, one-stop bioconjugate platform and end-to-end CRDMO services. This synergy enables clients to accelerate PCC selection, develop next-generation ADCs, and expedite CMC development. The partnership was announced January 2, 2024.
- Samsung BioepiscoreSamsung Bioepis and IntoCell signed a joint research agreement for the development and validation of ADC candidate materials. IntoCell provides its unique linker and drug technologies; Samsung Bioepis manufactures up to 5 anticancer target ADC materials and evaluates their characteristics. Neither party disclosed contract terms. Samsung Bioepis intends to verify IntoCell's ADC technology competitiveness through animal experiments before discussing detailed development and licensing options. This was Samsung Bioepis' first domestic R&D partnership for ADC development.
- ADC TherapeuticscoreIntoCell signed a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) with option to license with ADC Therapeutics (NYSE: ADCT), a commercial-stage Swiss biotech. IntoCell provides proprietary drug-linkers using its OHPAS system and PMT technology. ADC Therapeutics conjugates its own antibodies with IntoCell's drug-linkers for in vitro, in vivo, and toxicology experiments. Upon successful evaluation, ADC Therapeutics has the option to license the technology for up to 6 targets for global development and commercialization. IntoCell retains all global rights beyond reserved targets and receives signing fees, target selection fees, milestone payments, and royalties. The collaboration was facilitated by PharmaVentures Ltd.
- AbStudiominorIntoCell and AbStudio entered a research collaboration agreement for ADC development, applying IntoCell's linker-toxin technologies with AbStudio's antibody platforms.
- Cellectar BiosciencesminorCellectar expanded its ongoing collaboration with IntoCell, applying OHPAS linker technology to PDC (Peptide Drug Conjugate) development.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Intocell competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Pyxis Oncology: US clinical-stage biotech developing ADCs and antibody-based therapeutics. Comparable as an emerging ADC developer leveraging proprietary payload and conjugation technologies, though with more emphasis on wholly-owned candidates than platform licensing.
- ProfoundBio: US clinical-stage ADC developer with proprietary linker-payload technology and pipeline of wholly-owned ADC candidates. Comparable as an emerging ADC platform company focused on differentiated conjugation chemistry.
- Bolt Biotherapeutics: US clinical-stage biotech developing ISAC (Immune-Stimulating Antibody Conjugate) platform combining linker-payload technology with immune agonism. Comparable as a differentiated ADC platform company with proprietary linker chemistry for targeted oncology therapeutics.
Broad incumbents
- Daiichi Sankyo: Global pharmaceutical leader whose DXd platform underpins ENHERTU and a deep ADC pipeline. IntoCell's Nexatecans are explicitly positioned as DXd alternatives, making Daiichi Sankyo the benchmark incumbent for ADC linker-payload technology.
Direct peers
- Heidelberg Pharma: German biopharma developing proprietary ADC platform (ATAC technology) with proprietary linker chemistry and payloads (amanitin). Direct competitor in the differentiated ADC linker-payload space, also pursuing out-licensing to biopharma partners.
- Mersana Therapeutics: US clinical-stage biotech developing differentiated ADC platforms (Dolasynthen, Immunosynthen) with novel linker-payload systems. Directly comparable as an ADC platform company pursuing licensing and co-development deals with biopharma partners.
- Tubulis: German biotech developing proprietary ADC linker and payload technologies (P5 conjugation, Tub-tag) for therapeutic applications. Direct peer as an ADC platform company focused on linker chemistry innovation and licensing.
- LegoChem Biosciences: KOSDAQ-listed Korean ADC platform company where IntoCell's founder Tae-Kyo Park was previously co-founder and CTO. Both develop proprietary ADC linker-payload technologies for out-licensing and co-development, making them the most directly comparable peer in geography, business model, and technology focus.
Others
- WuXi XDC: Hong Kong-listed global CRDMO focused on ADCs and bioconjugates, and a IntoCell partner (Jan 2024). Listed here as a strategic enabler/distributor that integrates IntoCell's drug-linker technology into its service platform, rather than a direct technology competitor.
Regional players
- GeneQuantum Healthcare: China-based biotech developing site-specific ADC conjugation technologies and proprietary payloads for global biopharma partners. Comparable as an Asia-based ADC linker-payload platform company, with geographic overlap in APAC rather than direct global head-to-head competition.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Intocell social profiles
Digital presenceIntocell financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Intocell leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Intocell funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors10 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Intocell 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 Intocell
What does Intocell do?
Intocell develops and licenses proprietary Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) linker-payload platform technologies—centered on the OHPAS™ linker, PMT™ payload modification technology, and Nexatecans™ camptothecin payloads—offered to pharmaceutical and biotech partners on a non-exclusive basis with upfront fees, milestones, and royalties. The company also advances a proprietary pipeline of ADC candidates (lead asset ITC-6146RO targeting B7-H3) and collaborates with CRDMO partners to integrate its drug-linker technologies into end-to-end ADC development services.
Is Intocell a public or private company?
Intocell is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Intocell founded?
Intocell was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Intocell based?
Intocell is headquartered in Daejeon, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does Intocell make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Platform Technology Licensing (Non-exclusive) is the primary driver. The others are co-development and Research Collaboration.
Who are Intocell's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Pyxis Oncology, ProfoundBio and Bolt Biotherapeutics. Daiichi Sankyo is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Heidelberg Pharma, Mersana Therapeutics, Tubulis and LegoChem Biosciences. WuXi XDC is listed as an others. GeneQuantum Healthcare is listed as a regional player.
Does Intocell have an API?
No public API is recorded for Intocell.
What industry is Intocell in?
Intocell's product category is ADC Platform Technology / Oncology Bioconjugates. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAAAE, Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) & Antibody Conjugates. Its NAICS code is 3254 and its SIC code is 2834.