Exicure
Exicure is a publicly traded, pre-revenue clinical-stage biotechnology company (NASDAQ: XCUR) developing GPCR-targeted therapeutics, with lead asset Burixafor — a CXCR4 inhibitor that mobilizes stem cells in one hour for multiple myeloma and other hematologic and solid tumor indications.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Exicure does
Exicure, Inc. is a publicly traded clinical-stage biotechnology company (NASDAQ: XCUR) headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, that develops immunomodulatory and gene-regulating drug candidates, with its current strategic focus on GPCR-targeted therapeutics. Its lead asset is Burixafor (GPC-100/TG-0054), a CXCR4 antagonist that mobilizes hematopoietic progenitor cells within approximately one hour of administration — markedly faster than the 10–14 hours typical of approved CXCR4 inhibitors — and is being advanced for stem cell mobilization in multiple myeloma autologous transplantation, as well as combination regimens in sickle cell disease, acute myeloid leukemia, and solid tumors. The company acquired GPCR Therapeutics USA Inc. in January 2025 to bring the Burixafor program and a broader GPCR platform in-house, while retaining a legacy Spherical Nucleic Acid (SNA) gene-regulation technology that is no longer the primary strategic focus.
Exicure operates as a pre-revenue, clinical-stage biotech with no commercial products; its economics are driven by R&D funded through equity issuances, including an $11.5 million registered direct offering in December 2021 and a February 2023 private placement that made CBI USA, Inc. the majority shareholder at approximately 50.4% ownership. The company monetizes through future drug commercialization, licensing, or partnership economics contingent on regulatory approval of its clinical assets. Its go-to-market runs through enterprise partnerships (notably Adbiotech Co., Ltd. for co-development in Asia), clinical trial sites at transplant centers and hematology/oncology clinics globally, and scientific dissemination via conferences (ASH, Tandem Meetings) and peer-reviewed publications. End users are hematology and oncology patients, particularly those with multiple myeloma requiring autologous stem cell transplantation.
The business is presently under significant operational and financial stress. Cash declined from approximately $12.5 million at the end of 2024 to roughly $3.7 million at year-end 2025 and approximately $2.1 million as of Q1 2026, and the company received Nasdaq notifications in May–June 2026 regarding delayed quarterly filings and failure to maintain the $2.5 million minimum stockholders' equity requirement. The CEO, CFO, and multiple board members resigned in February–March 2026 with no announced executive successors. Despite these challenges, Phase 2 data reported at the 2025 ASH Annual Meeting showed approximately 90% of multiple myeloma participants meeting the primary endpoint of target stem cell collection within two leukapheresis sessions, and Burixafor carries Orphan Drug Designation, providing regulatory exclusivity incentives for the indication.
Exicure firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Exicure
- Legal name
- Exicure, Inc.
- Website
- https://exicuretx.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Exicure is a publicly traded, pre-revenue clinical-stage biotechnology company (NASDAQ: XCUR) developing GPCR-targeted therapeutics, with lead asset Burixafor — a CXCR4 inhibitor that mobilizes stem cells in one hour for multiple myeloma and other hematologic and solid tumor indications.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Exicure industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Clinical-Stage Biotechnology / Oncology Therapeutics
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Transplant & Immunosuppression Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Transplantation & Advanced Therapies Pharmaceuticals (incl. Cell & Gene Therapies) (HLAIAAAO), Hematology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (Non-malignant) (HLAIACAI)
Keywords
Where Exicure is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Exicure business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Drug Development and Commercialization: Pre-revenue clinical-stage biotech company developing proprietary drugs. Revenue will be generated through drug commercialization, licensing deals, and potential partnership payments upon regulatory approval.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Exicure product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Exicure is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing GPCR-targeted therapeutics, with its lead candidate Burixafor (GPC-100/TG-0054), a CXCR4 inhibitor designed for rapid stem cell mobilization in patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation for hematologic malignancies such as multiple myeloma. The company acquired GPCR Therapeutics USA Inc. in January 2025, expanding its pipeline and R&D capabilities in G-Protein Coupled Receptor-based drug development.
Product overview
Exicure is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a focused pipeline centered on GPCR-targeted therapeutics. The core product is Burixafor (GPC-100/TG-0054), a CXCR4 inhibitor for stem cell mobilization in hematologic malignancies, offered both as monotherapy and in combination with propranolol. The company acquired GPCR Therapeutics USA Inc. in January 2025, expanding its pipeline and R&D capabilities. Legacy SNA technology for gene regulation remains in the portfolio but is not the primary strategic focus.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Burixafor (GPC-100/TG-0054) A CXCR4 inhibitor and stem cell mobilizer for hematopoietic progenitor cell collection in patients with multiple myeloma undergoing autologous transplantation. Achieves peak stem cell mobilization within one hour of administration compared to 10-14 hours for currently approved CXCR4 inhibitors.
- Burixafor + Propranolol (GPC-100)
Quantifiable outcome
- 92% of participants (11/12) met primary endpoint of collecting target stem cells within two leukapheresis sessions
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Exicure
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Exicure technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Exicure partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Adbiotech Co., Ltd.coreExicure entered a co-development agreement with Korea-based Adbiotech Co., Ltd. (KOSDAQ: 179530) to explore combination therapies based on Burixafor (GPC-100) for sickle cell disease, acute myeloid leukemia, and solid tumors. Adbiotech conducts in vivo studies and preclinical validation while Exicure provides Burixafor and leads clinical and regulatory strategy. The parties intend to advance selected programs into IND-enabling studies and clinical trials.
- GPCR Therapeutics Inc.coreIn January 2025, Exicure acquired GPCR Therapeutics USA Inc. to expand its GPCR-targeted therapeutics capabilities. The acquisition brought the Burixafor (GPC-100/TG-0054) asset into Exicure's pipeline and added R&D capabilities. A $1 million payment was triggered upon completion of Phase 2 trial milestone.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Exicure competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BioLineRx: Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing motixafortide (CXCR4 antagonist) for stem cell mobilization in multiple myeloma—the closest direct competitor to Exicure's Burixafor in the same mechanism, indication, and clinical-stage biopharmaceutical space.
- Magenta Therapeutics: Developed CXCR4 antagonists and conditioning regimens for stem cell mobilization and transplant, directly comparable in target, therapeutic area, and clinical-stage biotech model despite its winding-down status.
- SELLAS Life Sciences: Small-cap clinical-stage oncology biotech listed on Nasdaq, comparable in size, clinical development stage, and hematology/oncology focus, with similar partnership-driven business model and significant reliance on capital markets financing.
- Coeptis Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech with oncology and cell therapy assets targeting hematologic malignancies, closely comparable in pipeline stage, financing history, and the need for partnerships to advance through pivotal development.
- Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage Nasdaq-listed biotech developing therapies for hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, similar in pre-revenue status, capital-raising dependency, and strategic pivot patterns to Exicure.
- Aprea Therapeutics: Clinical-stage oncology biotech with similar small public-company dynamics, working in indications adjacent to Exicure's pipeline and facing the same imperative to land a partnership or strategic transaction to fund development.
- X4 Pharmaceuticals: Develops mavorixafor, an oral CXCR4 antagonist approved for WHIM syndrome and being studied across additional immunology and rare-disease indications—the only approved CXCR4 antagonist new entrant with overlapping mechanism to Burixafor.
- GT Biopharma: Clinical-stage oncology biotech with a comparable small-cap, public-company profile, partnered and licensing-driven development model, and a dependency on capital markets consistent with Exicure's structure.
Broad incumbents
- Actinium Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage biotech focused on hematologic malignancies and conditioning regimens for bone marrow transplantation, with a comparable scale, public-company structure, and indications adjacent to Exicure's MM and AML transplant-mobilization programs.
- Genzyme (Sanofi): Markets Mozobil (plerixafor), the incumbent CXCR4 inhibitor for stem cell mobilization, defining the standard of care that Exicure's Burixafor must displace or differentiate against in multiple myeloma and other transplant settings.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Exicure social profiles
Digital presenceExicure financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Exicure leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Exicure subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Exicure funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds12 records
Investors16 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Exicure M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Exicure
What does Exicure do?
Exicure is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing GPCR-targeted therapeutics, with its lead candidate Burixafor (GPC-100/TG-0054), a CXCR4 inhibitor designed for rapid stem cell mobilization in patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation for hematologic malignancies such as multiple myeloma. The company acquired GPCR Therapeutics USA Inc. in January 2025, expanding its pipeline and R&D capabilities in G-Protein Coupled Receptor-based drug development.
Is Exicure a public or private company?
Exicure is a public company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Exicure founded?
Exicure was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Exicure based?
Exicure is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Exicure make money?
One revenue line is on record: drug Development and Commercialization.
Who are Exicure's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BioLineRx, Magenta Therapeutics, SELLAS Life Sciences, Coeptis Therapeutics, Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Aprea Therapeutics, X4 Pharmaceuticals and GT Biopharma. Broad incumbents are Actinium Pharmaceuticals and Genzyme (Sanofi).
Does Exicure have an API?
No public API is recorded for Exicure.
What industry is Exicure in?
Exicure's product category is Clinical-Stage Biotechnology / Oncology Therapeutics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIACAJ, Transplant & Immunosuppression Specialty Pharmaceuticals, with a secondary code of HLAIAAAO, Transplantation & Advanced Therapies Pharmaceuticals (incl. Cell & Gene Therapies). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 2834.