NeoCannBio

What NeoCannBio does

NeoCannBio (Neocannbio Co., Ltd.) is a South Korea-based biotech company founded in 2021 as a Technology Invested Company of KIST (Korea Institute of Science and Technology), specializing in the development and production of high-purity cannabinoid pharmaceutical raw materials and new drugs for rare and intractable diseases. Its core technology platform consists of a Temperature-Pressure Control Microwave (TCP-MW) processing method licensed from KIST — enabling CBD purity above 99% in a four-step minimum process without requiring leaf drying — combined with a metabolic engineering platform for sustainable mass production of cannabinoids derived from hemp metabolic pathways or microorganism-derived enzymes. The company has built Korea's first extensive cannabinoid library of over 140 hemp-derived natural cannabinoids, derivatives, and metabolites, and has developed a water-soluble CBD formulation for enhanced bioavailability. Its product portfolio spans pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoid APIs targeting pediatric epilepsy, Alzheimer's, liver cancer, and osteoarthritis indications, the Exsolrut consumer wellness line using hemp-derived exosomes, and cannabinoid ingredients for food and cosmetics.

NeoCannBio operates a B2B enterprise sales motion targeting domestic and international pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, and consumer product manufacturers. Revenue streams include one-time licensing of APIs and raw materials, professional services for drug development collaborations and joint clinical trials, transactional supply of cannabinoid ingredients for food and cosmetics, and technology licensing royalties. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company's go-to-market relies on direct sales to pharmaceutical enterprises, channel partnerships (Oz Medicann Group for Australia, Hyundai Corporation, KT&G), joint ventures (Thailand cosmetic materials JV), and co-development agreements (HLB Life Sciences, NICM/Sydney University, Atkins Riallace for EU GMP). Distribution is currently concentrated in Korea with early international outposts in Thailand, Israel, Australia, and Japan.

The company operates from Seoul BioHub headquarters, an Andong manufacturing and R&D site within the Gyeongbuk Industrial Hemp Regulatory Free Zone, and a KIST Gangneung engineering site. It holds GMP and GACP certifications plus a January 2024 NET (New Excellent Technology) certification, and broke ground on Korea's first hemp-derived API GMP plant in December 2025. NeoCannBio has raised approximately 14.5 billion KRW (~$10.8M) across Series A and Series B rounds between 2022 and 2023, with a post-Series B valuation of approximately 55 billion KRW (~$40.6M). The company was selected as a 4th-generation Baby Unicorn by the Korean Ministry of SMEs and Startups in 2023 and was ranked 9th globally among medical cannabis startups in 2025.

Name

NeoCannBio

Legal name

Neocannbio Co., Ltd.

Website

https://neocannbio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NeoCannBio is a South Korea-based KIST-affiliated biotech that produces high-purity (>99%) cannabinoid pharmaceutical raw materials and develops new drugs for rare and intractable diseases, using proprietary microwave processing and metabolic engineering platforms to serve domestic and international pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and food companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cannabinoid Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

NAICS

Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing (325411), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Controlled Substances / DEA-Scheduled API Manufacturing (HLAGAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Neurology & Psychiatry (CNS) Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAF)

Keywords

• Cannabinoid API manufacturing
• Medical hemp extraction
• Cannabinoid drug discovery
• Natural product processing
• Hemp-derived therapeutics

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Raw Materials (APIs): Production and sale of high-purity CBD and other cannabinoid Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients to pharmaceutical companies
2. Research and Development Services: Drug development collaborations, joint clinical trials, and contract research services with international partners
3. Cannabinoid Supply for Food and Cosmetics: Supply of cannabinoid ingredients for food and cosmetics applications
4. Technology Licensing: Licensing of proprietary extraction and processing technologies

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

NeoCannBio develops, manufactures, and supplies high-purity pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoid Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and raw materials using proprietary TCP-MW microwave processing technology and metabolic engineering, achieving CBD purity rates exceeding 99%. The company has built Korea's first extensive cannabinoid library of over 140 hemp-derived compounds, develops new drugs for rare and intractable diseases, and supplies cannabinoid ingredients to pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetics companies.

Product overview

NeoCannBio is a KIST-affiliated technology company developing cannabinoid-based pharmaceutical raw materials and new drugs for rare and intractable diseases. The company operates a multi-product portfolio consisting of: (1) Cannabinoid Pharmaceutical Raw Materials - high-purity CBD and other cannabinoid APIs produced via proprietary Microwave Processing Technology (TCP-MW) achieving 99%+ purity; (2) Cannabinoid Library - an extensive collection of over 140 hemp-derived cannabinoid compounds for research and discovery; (3) Water-Soluble CBD - an innovative formulation addressing bioavailability limitations; (4) Exsolrut Series - a consumer wellness product line using hemp exosomes; and (5) metabolic engineering platform enabling sustainable mass production. All pharmaceutical materials are produced under GMP/GACP standards at the company's Andong facility, Korea's first dedicated hemp-derived API manufacturing plant.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cannabinoid Pharmaceutical Raw Materials (APIs) High-purity pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoid active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) produced using proprietary microwave processing technology and metabolic engineering, serving as raw materials for drug manufacturing by pharmaceutical companies targeting rare and intractable diseases including pediatric epilepsy, Alzheimer's, liver cancer, and osteoarthritis.
• Exsolrut Series Consumer wellness product line utilizing hemp-derived exosome technology, targeting cosmetic and health applications. Launched in May 2024 as a downstream consumer product leveraging the company's cannabinoid expertise.
• Water-Soluble CBD

Quantifiable outcome

• CBD purity rate of more than 99%
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Oz Medicann GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 January 2026Signed agreement in Sydney, Australia for supply of medical hemp raw materials and joint clinical trials. NeoCannBio will collaborate with Oz Medicann Group as well as NICM Health Research Institute and Sydney University to develop global new drugs based on medical Hemp.
• HLB Life Sciences (HLB생명과학)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU signed for medical hemp ('hemp') development collaboration. HLB Life Sciences is conducting research on cancer treatment using cell cycle inhibition and cannabinoid synergy effects.
• KIST (Korea Institute of Science and Technology)coreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology Invested Company of KIST. Licensed proprietary microwave processing technology and equipment manufacturing patent rights from KIST. Conducts joint research and collaborative projects with KIST researchers.
• KIST Gangneung Institute of Natural ProductscoreTechnology or IntegrationDevelopment support through KIST's Gangneung branch, which focuses on natural product research and development.
• NICM Health Research Institute, Sydney UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating institution in joint clinical trial agreement with Oz Medicann Group for global medical hemp drug development.
• Hyundai CorporationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as network partner for potential distribution and business collaboration.
• Atkins RiallaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU signed for building pharmaceutical production facility meeting EU GMP standards.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Charlotte's Web Holdings: Vertically integrated hemp-derived CBD company producing full-spectrum cannabinoid extracts for wellness, food, and supplement markets. Comparable on hemp-derived cannabinoid ingredient production and consumer application, but focused on nutraceutical rather than pharmaceutical grade.
• Tetra Bio-Pharma: Clinical-stage cannabinoid-derived drug developer targeting specific therapeutic indications (pain, oncology support). Comparable as an emerging player developing cannabinoid-based prescription pharmaceutical products through formal clinical trial pathways.
• Botanix Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage cannabinoid therapeutics developer focused on synthetic cannabinoid formulations for dermatology and other indications. Comparable as an emerging drug-development player leveraging proprietary cannabinoid chemistry toward FDA/regulatory-grade pharmaceutical products.

Broad incumbents

• Canopy Growth: Diversified global cannabis company with cannabinoid pharmaceutical ambitions and established API-grade production. Competes broadly in the same cannabinoid raw material and finished product space but at vastly larger scale and broader product portfolio.
• Aurora Cannabis: Canadian licensed producer with medical cannabis and GMP-grade EU production facilities supplying pharmaceutical customers across multiple countries. Comparable GMP positioning and cannabinoid API scale, but broader portfolio and geographically established footprint.
• Cronos Group: Global cannabinoid company with diversified medical, wellness, and consumer product lines. Overlaps with NeoCannBio on cannabinoid-based pharmaceutical research and ingredient supply, but as a much broader incumbent across multiple end markets.
• Tilray Brands: Global cannabis incumbent with established pharmaceutical cannabis product lines (e.g., medical cannabis in multiple EU/APAC markets). Overlaps with NeoCannBio on cannabinoid APIs and finished medical products, but operates as a much broader portfolio across consumer and wellness.

Direct peers

• MediPharm Labs: GMP-certified cannabis API and concentrate manufacturer supplying pharmaceutical-grade inputs globally. Directly comparable as a B2B cannabinoid API producer selling into pharma customers, unlike vertically integrated retail-focused cannabis companies.
• GW Pharmaceuticals (Jazz Pharmaceuticals): Originator of Epidiolex (CBD) and Sativex, the global reference cannabinoid therapeutics that NeoCannBio explicitly aims to substitute in Korea and APAC. Same product category (cannabinoid APIs and finished drugs) and same regulatory-grade GMP positioning.
• Vivo Cannabis: Canadian licensed producer operating GMP-certified cultivation and extraction facilities serving medical patients and producing pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoid inputs. Comparable as a focused medical-grade cannabinoid producer with similar B2B API supply orientation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/neocannbio

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors8 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 NeoCannBio