What AbTis does

AbTis Co., Ltd. is a South Korean biotechnology company founded in 2016 that develops proprietary antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) linker technology under its AbClick® platform. The platform enables site-selective conjugation of payloads to antibodies at the Lysine 248 position without requiring antibody modification or enzyme-based processes, supporting precise Drug-to-Antibody Ratio (DAR) control (DAR 2, 4, 6, 8) and dual payload configurations. The technology is offered in two forms: AbClick® Standard, which yields a faster-clearing product (~12-hour half-life) suited for diagnostics and antibody radionuclide-conjugates (ARCs), and AbClick® Pro, which enables FcRn recycling for a 3–5 day half-life suited for therapeutic ADCs, AOCs, DACs, and ISACs. Multiple PCT patent families have been filed across WO, KR, US, EP, JP, CN, and IN, and the AbClick® mark is registered as a trademark.

The company operates three revenue streams: Product Licensing (advancing proprietary pipeline assets such as AT-211/DA-3501, an MMAE-based ADC targeting Claudin 18.2 in gastric, gastroesophageal junction, and pancreatic cancers, toward partnership at preclinical or IND-enabling stages), Platform Licensing (fee-for-service agreements, research collaborations, co-development, and licensing of the AbClick® platform), and Customized ADC Manufacturing Services (research-scale non-GMP production combining client antibodies and payloads with AbClick® linkers). Pricing is not publicly disclosed; engagements are quoted on a project basis. Primary customers are global pharmaceutical companies, with biotech firms and CDMO partners as secondary segments.

Since December 2023, AbTis has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dong-A ST (KRX: 170900), operating within the Dong-A Socio Group. In September 2024 the company relocated to the Dong-A Socio Holdings R&D Center in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do. Distribution and global reach are extended through Toolbox Partnerships with Lonza, WuXi XDC (MOU March 2025), and ChemExpress (MOU May 2025), positioning AbClick® within the workflows of three of the world's leading ADC CDMOs/CRDMOs. Leadership transitioned in early 2024, with founder Sang Jeon Chung moving to Chief Scientific Officer and Hyungseok Choi, formerly head of Research Innovation at Dong-A ST, assuming the CEO role.

Name

AbTis

Legal name

AbTis Co., Ltd.

Website

https://abtis.co.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AbTis is a South Korean biotechnology company that develops proprietary AbClick® site-selective antibody conjugation technology for ADCs, DACs, AOCs, ISACs, and ARCs, serving global pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and CDMOs through platform licensing, product licensing, and fee-for-service manufacturing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bioconjugate Therapeutics / Antibody-Drug Conjugate Development Platform

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) & Antibody Conjugates (HLAAAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Antibody Discovery & Engineering Platforms (display tech, bispecifics, Fc engineering) (HLAAAIAB), Protein Engineering & Directed Evolution Platforms (enzyme/therapeutic protein optimization) (HLAAAIAC)

Keywords

• Antibody-drug conjugates
• Bioconjugation technology
• ADC development platform
• Linker technology
• Biopharmaceutical services

Headquarters

HQ city

Gunpo

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product License: Building proprietary bioconjugate pipeline and advancing through clinical development, ultimately partnering with industry key players at preclinical or IND-enabling stages to transform programs into therapies for patients with unmet medical needs.
2. Platform License: Offering versatile partnership options including fee-for-service agreements, research collaborations, co-development initiatives, and licensing of AbClick® platform technology.
3. ADC Manufacturing Services: Customized ADC manufacturing services at research-scale, combining clients' antibodies/payloads with proprietary linker technology through flexible fee-for-service model with non-GMP production capabilities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

AbTis develops and commercializes its proprietary AbClick® third-generation site-selective antibody conjugation linker platform, available in Standard and Pro forms, enabling precise drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR) control and dual payload conjugation for the development of bioconjugate therapeutics (ADCs, DACs, AOCs, ISACs, ARCs) without requiring modification of off-the-shelf antibodies. The company monetizes this platform through Platform Licensing, Product Licensing of its internal pipeline assets (e.g., AT-211), and customized fee-for-service ADC manufacturing at research scale for global pharmaceutical and biotech clients.

Product overview

AbTis offers a unified platform-based portfolio centered on the AbClick® Linker Conjugation Platform, available in two forms: AbClick® Standard (for faster-clearance applications like ARCs) and AbClick® Pro (for extended half-life therapeutics). The company's business model encompasses three service offerings: Product License (advancing proprietary bioconjugate pipelines like AT-211 through clinical development), Platform License (partnering to leverage AbClick® technology), and Manufacturing Solutions (customized ADC development and research-scale production). Together, these enable development of diverse bioconjugate modalities including ADC, DAC, AOC, ISAC, and ARC.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AbClick®: Proprietary third-generation site-selective antibody conjugation linker platform for developing ADCs, DACs, AOC, ISAC, and ARC bioconjugates. Available in Standard and Pro forms providing flexibility in controlling biological half-life.
• AT-211

Products and services

• AbClick® Linker Conjugation Platform A proprietary third-generation site-selective antibody conjugation platform enabling precise drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR) control and stable linker technology for developing ADCs, DACs, AOC, ISAC, and ARC therapeutics without requiring antibody modification. Offered to pharmaceutical and biotech partners via licensing.
• AbClick® Standard Standard form of the AbClick® platform in which the Fc-binding peptide remains within the ADC complex, resulting in faster clearance (approximately 12-hour half-life). Ideal for companion diagnostics or Antibody Radionuclide-Conjugates (ARCs).
• AbClick® Pro Pro form of the AbClick® platform where the Fc-binding peptide is released during conjugation, allowing full FcRn binding and recycling for longer biological half-life (3-5 days). Suitable for therapeutic applications including ADC, AOC, DAC, and ISAC.
• AT-211 (DA-3501) AbTis's lead ADC pipeline asset targeting Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2) for gastric, gastroesophageal junction (GEJ), and pancreatic cancer. Uses MMAE payload and is AbTis's core clinical-stage pipeline asset, intended for out-licensing at preclinical or IND-enabling stages.
• Product License Licensing model where AbTis builds its own pipeline of innovative bioconjugates and advances them through clinical development, ultimately partnering with key industry players at preclinical or IND-enabling stages to transform programs into therapies for patients.
• Platform License Strategic partnership option offering fee-for-service agreements, research collaborations, co-development initiatives, and licensing of the AbClick® platform, typically beginning with platform workflow feasibility assessment for pharma and biotech partners.
• Customized ADC Manufacturing Service Research-scale customized ADC development service combining clients' antibodies/payloads with proprietary AbClick® linker technology through a flexible fee-for-service model with non-GMP production capabilities, with GMP transition supported via CDMO Toolbox Partnerships.
• Research-Scale Production Non-GMP scale ADC production from mg to g quantities utilizing AbTis's proprietary technology, know-how, and diverse linkers to enable rapid candidate evaluation and optimization in early development stages.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• ChemExpresscoreTechnology or Integration · 13 May 2025Toolbox partnership business agreement signed May 13, 2025 with Shanghai-based ADC CDMO. Combines AbTis location-selective antibody conjugation platform AbClick® with ChemExpress's comprehensive one-stop ADC platform from R&D to GMP production. Integrates respective ADC R&D capabilities and leverages combined global networks to attract new customers, expand into new markets, and deliver innovative solutions. Collaboration extends beyond AppClick platform to include core strengths in antibody conjugation technology and industrialization.
• WuXi XDCcoreTechnology or Integration · 12 March 2025MOU signed March 12, 2025 for development of next-generation ADCs. Integrates AbTis AbClick® linker platform technology with WuXi XDC's CMC development platform to accelerate ADC development and improve efficiency. WuXi XDC introduces AbClick platform and selective drug conjugate technology while providing AbTis access to its extensive global network for international expansion. Focuses on accelerating preclinical candidate selection and reducing CMC development timelines.
• Dong-A STflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023Acquired by Dong-A ST (KRX: 170900) in December 2023, integrating into Dong-A Socio R&D Center in September 2024. Parent company provides clinical development capabilities, capital, and strategic resources. Synergy between AbTis platform technology and Dong-A ST's clinical development experience expected to accelerate ADC pipeline advancement.
• LonzacoreTechnology or IntegrationToolbox Partnership established for ADC technology integration. Lonza, as the world's top biologics CDMO, partners with AbTis to provide differentiated linker technology options. Partnership enables comprehensive ADC development solutions leveraging AbClick® platform capabilities with Lonza's manufacturing scale.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• WuXi XDC: Global CRDMO specializing in ADCs and bioconjugates. Direct partner of AbTis via 2025 MOU, providing CMC development and manufacturing services for ADC programs. Operates in the same ADC technology and services space.
• Lonza Biologics: World's largest biologics CDMO with ADC capabilities. Toolbox Partner of AbTis; provides differentiated linker technology integration. Comparable as a major CDMO platform with global ADC manufacturing footprint.
• Daiichi Sankyo: Japanese pharmaceutical company with a leading ADC franchise (Enhertu, Datroway). Pioneered DXd ADC technology platform. Direct competitor in ADC platform development and licensing.
• Pfizer (Seagen): Acquired Seagen in 2023 for $43B, gaining a leading ADC platform with Adcetris, Padcev, and Tukysa. Direct competitor in ADC development with established linker technology (vc-MMAE, etc.).
• Mersana Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel ADCs with proprietary platforms (Dolasynthen, Immunosynthen). Comparable as an ADC-focused platform company with site-selective conjugation approaches.
• Heidelberg Pharma: German biotech developing ADCs based on amanitin payload (proprietary ATAC platform). Direct competitor offering alternative linker-payload technologies for ADC development.
• ImmunoGen (AbbVie): Pioneer in ADC technology (Elahere for ovarian cancer), acquired by AbbVie in 2024. Direct peer with proprietary ADC platform targeting oncology indications.
• ChemExpress: Shanghai-based ADC CDMO offering one-stop services from R&D to GMP production. Toolbox Partner of AbTis; directly comparable as an integrated ADC services and manufacturing platform.

Emerging players

• Tubulis: German biotech developing next-generation ADCs with proprietary P5 conjugation and Tub-tag technologies. Emerging peer with site-selective conjugation focus similar to AbClick® approach.
• Pyxis Oncology: Clinical-stage oncology company developing ADCs and immunotherapies. Emerging peer in ADC development with multiple pipeline programs in oncology indications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/abtisco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 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 AbTis