Bio Design Lab

What Bio Design Lab does

Bio Design Lab is a Seoul-based biotechnology company founded in 2018 that engineers next-generation retroviral and lentiviral vector platforms for use in cell and gene therapy development. The company's core technology centers on two proprietary platforms — RetroNext (retroviral) and LentiNext (lentiviral) — built using synthetic biology and systems-level genetic and genomic design strategies. These platforms are positioned against the well-documented safety and efficiency limitations of conventional vectors: the company reports a 90%+ reduction in integration frequency near dangerous genomic regions and up to 5x improvement in transduction efficiency, with variants covering Non-Integrating (NI), Safe Integration (SI), and High Efficiency (HE) configurations designed for CAR-T, CAR-NK, gene editing, and vaccine applications. A Korean patent (10-2541652) protects the core vector engineering IP, and an international patent application has been filed for third-generation feeder cells used in CAR-NK production with VaxCell-Bio.

The company monetizes through four revenue streams: (1) fee-for-service Vector Packaging Services covering lentiviral and retroviral production from gene-of-interest through QC and cold-chain delivery, (2) Custom Vector Design Solutions providing end-to-end engineering with potency validation, (3) Platform Licensing of LentiNext and RetroNext to CDMOs/CMOs, and (4) Co-Development Partnerships with clinical-stage companies targeting indication-specific therapies. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with turnaround of 15–25 business days and functional yields of 1x10^8–5x10^9 TU/IFU depending on vector class. Sales motion is B2B direct engagement targeted at pharmaceutical and biotech companies developing cell and gene therapies, as well as academic research institutions; named partners include VaxCell-Bio (CAR-NK for autoimmune disease), Samsung Medical Center (anti-CD19 CAR-NK research), and academic groups requiring outsourced vector production.

Bio Design Lab operates with 11–50 employees out of Seoul, with a leadership team combining academic credentials (PhDs from Cambridge, UC Berkeley, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Melbourne) and commercial experience from Splunk, Elastic, Oracle, and Samsung. Total funding raised is approximately 12 billion KRW (~$9M USD) across a 2020 Series A (5 billion KRW from Korea Investment Partners and Atinum Investment) and a 2024 Series B (6.7 billion KRW from Company K Partners, Korea Investment Partners, Atinum Investment, IBK, Woori Capital, and POSTECH Holdings). The stated use of proceeds for the Series B is commercialization and global expansion of the viral vector platforms.

Name

Bio Design Lab

Legal name

Bio Design Lab

Website

https://biodesignlab.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bio Design Lab is a Seoul-based biotech company developing next-generation RetroNext and LentiNext retroviral and lentiviral vector platforms for gene and cell therapy developers, pharmaceutical firms, CDMOs, and academic researchers, with reduced oncogenic integration and improved transduction efficiency.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cell and Gene Therapy — Viral Vector Platforms

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Lentiviral Vector Gene Therapy Developers (HLAAACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Viral Vector Manufacturing Services (AAV, lentiviral, adenoviral) (HLAAAKAD), Gene Therapy Vector Manufacturing & CDMO Services (HLAAACAJ), Gene Therapy CMC/Process Development Platforms (capsid engineering, producer cell lines, plasmids, upstream/downstream) (HLAAACAN), Gene Therapy CDMO (Viral Vector Manufacturing) (HLAGAGAB)

Keywords

• Viral vector platforms
• Gene therapy development
• Cell therapy engineering
• Lentiviral vector packaging
• Retroviral vector design

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Vector Packaging Services: Fee-for-service viral vector packaging for lentiviral and retroviral vectors. Customers submit their gene of interest and Bio Design Lab handles production, concentration, quality verification, and delivery.
2. Custom Vector Design Solutions: End-to-end vector engineering services including component optimization, molecular validation, plasmid construction, and potency QC tailored to therapeutic objectives.
3. Platform Licensing: Licensing of proprietary LentiNext and RetroNext technologies to CDMOs/CMOs and pharmaceutical partners for integration into their development and manufacturing pipelines.
4. Co-Development Partnerships: Collaborative development of indication-specific therapies combining clinical expertise of partners with Bio Design Lab's vector engineering capabilities, with potential for joint IP development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Bio Design Lab develops next-generation retroviral and lentiviral viral vector platforms (RetroNext and LentiNext) using systems-level synthetic biology for cell and gene therapy applications. The company commercializes these platforms through end-to-end viral vector packaging services, custom vector design solutions across Non-Integrating, Safe Integration, and High Efficiency configurations, technology licensing to CDMOs/CMOs, and co-development partnerships for indication-specific therapies.

Product overview

Bio Design Lab develops and commercializes next-generation viral vector platforms (RetroNext and LentiNext) for gene therapy, cell therapy, and immune therapy applications. The core platforms are complemented by two service offerings: Vector Packaging Services (end-to-end lentiviral and retroviral vector production, concentration, and delivery) and Vector Design Solutions (custom vector engineering including Non-Integrating, Safe Integration, and High Efficiency configurations). The company's proprietary platforms are engineered using systems-level synthetic biology approaches to improve safety and transduction efficiency compared to conventional vectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RetroNext: Next-generation retroviral vector platform engineered for improved safety and enhanced transduction efficiency. Features integration control to minimize oncogenic risk and supports gene therapies, cell therapies, vaccine platforms, and protein-producing cell lines.
• LentiNext
• Vector Packaging Services
• Vector Design Solutions

Products and services

• RetroNext Next-generation retroviral vector platform engineered with synthetic biology for improved safety and efficiency in gene and cell therapies. Reduces integration near oncogenic sites by over 90% and enhances transduction efficiency, suitable for immune cell therapies including T cells, NK cells, and HSCs.
• LentiNext Next-generation lentiviral vector platform designed for safe and efficient gene delivery into both dividing and non-dividing cells. Supports sustained long-term gene expression with reduced risk of oncogenic integration, suitable for CAR-T, CAR-NK, and various gene therapy applications.
• Vector Packaging Service End-to-end viral vector packaging service for lentiviral and retroviral vectors. Customers submit their gene of interest and Bio Design Lab handles gene sequence verification, viral production, concentration, purification, quality control titer measurement, and cold-chain delivery. Functional yields: lentiviral vectors 1x10^9 to 5x10^9 TU/IFU; retroviral vectors 1x10^8 to 5x10^8 TU/IFU. Turnaround time 15–25 business days.
• Vector Design Solutions Custom vector engineering service providing three precision-engineered vector configurations: Non-Integrating (NI) for transient expression, Safe Integration (SI) for sustained expression with minimal oncogenic integration, and High Efficiency (HE) for up to 5x higher transduction. Covers component optimization, molecular validation, plasmid construction, and potency QC tailored to therapeutic objectives.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5x more efficient transduction compared to conventional viral vectors
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• VaxCell-BiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 December 2024Joint development agreement for CAR-NK cell therapies for autoimmune diseases. VaxCell-Bio provides third-generation NK cells and manages CAR-NK development including GMP-compliant research and clinical trials. Bio Design Lab independently designs and produces lentiviral vectors, a key technology for CAR-NK development. This partnership aims to address limitations of existing CAR-T therapies including side effects and high costs.
• Samsung Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 December 2024Research collaboration in CAR-NK therapy development. Professor Cho Deok and team at Samsung Medical Center developed anti-CD19 CAR-NK therapies targeting hematologic cancers that showed efficacy in lab and animal models, now being applied to autoimmune diseases. Bio Design Lab provides lentiviral vector technology for the CAR-NK development.
• HelixmithsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU partnership established in 2020 for potential collaboration.
• Sookmyung Women's University ICC CentresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIncubator facility housing the company in 2020, providing research infrastructure and support services.
• S2 Bridge IncheonsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerShinhan Financial Group accelerator program in Songdo, Incheon. Bio Design Lab was selected as member and moved into the startup tower facility.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Oxford Biomedica: UK-based lentiviral vector CDMO with its proprietary LentiVector platform, offering vector development, manufacturing, and licensing to gene and cell therapy developers — the closest large-scale analog to Bio Design Lab's LentiNext platform + packaging service model.
• Cobra Biologics (Charles River Laboratories): Specialist viral vector and plasmid DNA CDMO (now part of Charles River) offering lentiviral and retroviral vector development and GMP manufacturing; directly competes with Bio Design Lab's packaging and design service offerings.
• AGC Biologics (Vigene / Yposkesi): Global CDMO with dedicated viral vector capabilities via the Yposkesi and Vigene acquisitions, providing lentiviral and AAV vector development and GMP manufacturing — directly comparable on vector platform + manufacturing services.
• Vectalys (Flash Therapeutics): French lentiviral specialist offering proprietary lentiviral vector technology and custom vector production services for cell and gene therapy applications — closely mirrors Bio Design Lab's LentiNext + packaging service combination.
• CellGenTech: Specialty lentiviral and retroviral vector CDMO offering GMP-grade vector manufacturing and custom vector engineering; directly comparable service portfolio and customer base.

Broad incumbents

• bluebird bio: Commercial gene therapy developer using lentiviral vectors as a core delivery platform; while focused on therapeutic development rather than selling vectors, it sets the bar for what sponsors expect from a clinically validated lentiviral platform.

Regional players

• Helixmith: Korean gene therapy company developing plasmid and viral vector-based therapeutics — comparable regional competitor and potential Korean partner with overlapping clinical-stage gene therapy pipeline.
• ToolGen: Korean genome-editing platform company developing CRISPR-based therapeutics that also relies on viral vector delivery — relevant regional peer for understanding Korean biotech vector demand and partnership dynamics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/biodesignlab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 Bio Design Lab