Kobiolabs
KoBioLabs is a South Korean, KOSDAQ-listed clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing AI-driven, microbiome-based Live Biotherapeutic Products for immune, metabolic, neurological, and gastrointestinal diseases, monetizing its pipeline through out-licensing to global pharmaceutical partners and research collaborations.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersSeongnam, South Korea
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Kobiolabs does
KoBioLabs (고바이오랩) is a South Korea-based, KOSDAQ-listed (ticker 348150) clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing Live Biotherapeutic Products (LBPs) from microbiome science for immune, metabolic, neurological, and gastrointestinal diseases. The company operates two integrated discovery platforms — Smartiome®, an AI-based multi-omics analysis platform paired with a microbial strain library of over 8,000 isolates, and Smartiome® 2.0, which adds biofoundry and digital-bio capabilities — together with a proprietary Microbe-Based Drug Delivery System (mDDS) that uses engineered gut microbes to produce therapeutic substances in vivo. Its clinical pipeline spans KBL697 (psoriasis, Phase II complete), KBL693 (asthma, Phase I complete with US FDA IND pending), KBLP-004 (obesity consortium), KBLP-005 (immuno-oncology), KBLP-006 (IBD), KBLP-010 (autism spectrum disorder), KBL409 (chronic kidney disease), and KBL983 (Akkermansia muciniphila for obesity, US-patent protected).
The company's business model is a license-out and research collaboration model rather than direct product sales. Revenue is generated through upfront payments, development and regulatory milestones, and royalties on net sales from global pharmaceutical partners, exemplified by the March 2026 Celltrion license for three intestinal-disease candidates valued at up to 205.2 billion KRW ($136.8 million) — the largest agreement in company history and equal to 417% of 2025 consolidated equity. Additional monetization channels include research collaborations with partners such as Celltrion, a regional China out-license to SPH Sine for KBL697 (2021), and a 2022 joint venture with Emart (Wibiome / 위바이오옴) for health functional foods. Customer segments are exclusively enterprise biopharmaceutical and corporate partners, served via major international biotech conferences (BIO USA, JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, IHMC) rather than direct sales infrastructure.
Kobiolabs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kobiolabs
- Legal name
- (주)고바이오랩
- Website
- https://kobiolabs.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- KoBioLabs is a South Korean, KOSDAQ-listed clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing AI-driven, microbiome-based Live Biotherapeutic Products for immune, metabolic, neurological, and gastrointestinal diseases, monetizing its pipeline through out-licensing to global pharmaceutical partners and research collaborations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kobiolabs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Microbiome Therapeutics
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Engineered Microbial Therapeutics (synthetic biology, gene circuits) (HLAAAFAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Microbiome Manufacturing, Formulation & Delivery Technologies (encapsulation, spores, oral delivery) (HLAAAFAJ), Microbiome Analytics, Sequencing & Bioinformatics Platforms (HLAAAFAI), Microbiome Clinical Development & Translational Services (trial design, endpoints, sampling) (HLAAAFAK), Microbiome & Metagenomics Services (HLAGANAH)
Keywords
Where Kobiolabs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seongnam
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Kobiolabs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Technology Licensing: License-out deals with global pharmaceutical companies for drug candidates, including upfront payments, milestone payments tied to clinical progress, regulatory approvals, and commercialization, plus royalties on net sales.
- Research Collaboration: Joint research collaborations with partners like Celltrion for co-development of microbiome-based therapeutics, with shared development costs and potential future revenue sharing.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Kobiolabs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KoBioLabs is a South Korean biopharmaceutical company developing microbiome-based therapeutics (Live Biotherapeutic Products) using its proprietary Smartiome® AI-based multi-omics platform combined with a microbiome library of 8,000+ strains. The company discovers, develops, and out-licenses drug candidates targeting immune, metabolic, neurological, and gastrointestinal diseases to global pharmaceutical partners. Its pipeline includes candidates for psoriasis (KBL697), asthma (KBL693), obesity (KBLP-004, KBL983), inflammatory bowel disease (KBLP-006), autism spectrum disorder (KBLP-010), and chronic kidney disease (KBL409).
Product overview
Kobiolabs is a microbiome therapeutics company developing drugs based on two integrated platforms: Smartiome® for AI-based multi-omics drug discovery using a microbiome library of 8,000+ strains, and Smartiome 2.0 incorporating digital-bio technology and biofoundry capabilities. The company pipeline spans multiple therapeutic areas including immunology (KBL697 for psoriasis, KBL693 for asthma), metabolism (KBLP-004 for obesity, KBL983), immuno-oncology (KBLP-005), CNS (KBLP-010 for ASD), and gastroenterology (KBLP-006 for IBD, KBL382/KBL385 for IBS-d). The proprietary mDDS technology enables microbe-based drug delivery for enhanced therapeutic efficacy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Smartiome: AI기반 마이크로바이옴 다중오믹스(multi-omics) 분석 기술 및 미생물 라이브러리를 활용한 혁신 신약 개발 플랫폼 기술.
- Smartiome 2.0
- mDDS (Microbe-Based Drug Delivery System)
Products and services
- Smartiome®
- Smartiome 2.0
- mDDS (Microbe-Based Drug Delivery System)
- KBL697
- KBL693
- KBLP-004
- KBLP-005
- KBLP-006
- KBLP-010
- KBL409
- KBL983
Quantifiable outcome
- KBL697 demonstrated comparable efficacy to Otezla® (apremilast) and Sotyktu® (deucravacitinib) in preclinical models for psoriasis treatment
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Kobiolabs
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Kobiolabs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability5 records
Feature5 records
Kobiolabs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- CelltrionflagshipLicense-in agreement for three microbiome-based drug candidates (KC84, KBL382, KBL385) targeting intestinal diseases including IBS-d. Deal valued at up to 205.2 billion won ($136.8 million). Celltrion receives exclusive global rights for clinical development and commercialization across all intestinal disease indications. The agreement includes non-refundable upfront payment, milestones for clinical progress, regulatory approvals, and commercialization, plus royalties on net sales.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Kobiolabs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Seres Therapeutics: Seres is a US microbiome therapeutics company developing engineered consortia and single-strain LBPs for serious diseases. Both companies target similar indications (IBD, immuno-oncology) using live biotherapeutic approaches, making Seres the closest comparable in business model and pipeline scope.
- Vedanta Biosciences: Vedanta develops defined bacterial consortia as live biotherapeutics for immune-mediated diseases including IBD and infectious disease. Direct competitor in the consortium-based LBP space with comparable IND-stage pipeline assets.
- 4D pharma: 4D pharma (now part of AbbVie) developed single-strain LBPs (e.g., Blautix for IBS) using a MicroRx discovery platform. Most directly comparable to Kobiolabs' IBS-d program and single-strain discovery approach; AbbVie acquisition validates category economics.
- MaaT Pharma: French clinical-stage microbiome therapeutics company developing standardized, high-richness donor-derived LBPs for oncology and gut diseases. Comparable in disease focus (IBD/GvHD) and global clinical trial execution.
- Evelo Biosciences: Evelo develops oral microbiome-based therapies for inflammatory diseases and oncology. Similar platform approach using single-strain LBPs with IND-stage pipeline; competitive overlap in psoriasis and immuno-oncology indications.
- Eligo Bioscience: Eligo develops engineered phage-based microbiome therapies — a next-generation approach parallel to Kobiolabs' mDDS. Both companies are pushing beyond traditional LBPs into engineered microbe delivery, with similar early-stage clinical positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Celltrion: Celltrion is Kobiolabs' largest licensing partner and a major Korean biosimilars/biologics company. It is a broader incumbent in the same Korean biotech ecosystem that validates and commercializes Kobiolabs' candidates, making it both partner and ecosystem comparable.
- Samsung Biologics: Major Korean biopharmaceutical CDMO with established CMC capabilities relevant to LBP manufacturing. Comparable as a Korean-listed biotech incumbent and potential future manufacturing partner given Kobiolabs' claim of in-house CMC capability for global LBP guidelines.
Emerging players
- Second Genome: Second Genome applies microbiome science to drug discovery in inflammation, metabolic disease, and CNS disorders. Overlapping indications (IBD, metabolic) and comparable platform-discovery business model.
- Assembly Biosciences: Assembly Bio develops microbiome-based therapies with pipeline overlap in inflammatory and gastrointestinal diseases. Comparable scale and clinical-stage positioning in the broader microbiome therapeutics field.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kobiolabs social profiles
Digital presenceKobiolabs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kobiolabs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Kobiolabs subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Kobiolabs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kobiolabs 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 Kobiolabs
What does Kobiolabs do?
KoBioLabs is a South Korean biopharmaceutical company developing microbiome-based therapeutics (Live Biotherapeutic Products) using its proprietary Smartiome® AI-based multi-omics platform combined with a microbiome library of 8,000+ strains. The company discovers, develops, and out-licenses drug candidates targeting immune, metabolic, neurological, and gastrointestinal diseases to global pharmaceutical partners. Its pipeline includes candidates for psoriasis (KBL697), asthma (KBL693), obesity (KBLP-004, KBL983), inflammatory bowel disease (KBLP-006), autism spectrum disorder (KBLP-010), and chronic kidney disease (KBL409).
Is Kobiolabs a public or private company?
Kobiolabs is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Kobiolabs founded?
Kobiolabs was founded in 2014. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Kobiolabs based?
Kobiolabs is headquartered in Seongnam, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does Kobiolabs make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Technology Licensing is the primary driver. The others are research Collaboration.
Who are Kobiolabs's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Seres Therapeutics, Vedanta Biosciences, 4D pharma, MaaT Pharma, Evelo Biosciences and Eligo Bioscience. Broad incumbents are Celltrion and Samsung Biologics. Emerging players are Second Genome and Assembly Biosciences.
Does Kobiolabs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kobiolabs.
What industry is Kobiolabs in?
Kobiolabs's product category is Microbiome Therapeutics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAFAD, Engineered Microbial Therapeutics (synthetic biology, gene circuits), with a secondary code of HLAAAFAJ, Microbiome Manufacturing, Formulation & Delivery Technologies (encapsulation, spores, oral delivery). Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2836.