Curamys

What Curamys does

Curamys is a privately held clinical-stage biotechnology company founded in June 2018 in Seoul, South Korea, developing cell and gene therapies for rare intractable diseases using a proprietary cell fusion technology platform. The company's core technology employs fusogenic stem cells engineered to locate and fuse with dying cells, transferring healthy genetic material to revive them; preclinical data show a 12-14x fusion rate versus non-fusogenic stem cells and approximately 66% reduction in cell apoptosis. The lead product candidate, CUR101 (also designated FM-022), is a cell fusion gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), with the pipeline also encompassing miRNA-based therapeutics for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and nonketotic hyperglycinemia, plus longer-term ambitions in heart failure, dementia, and Parkinson's disease.

Curamys plans to commercialize its own products rather than license out the underlying technology, targeting domestic approval through integrated Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials in South Korea under rare disease/orphan drug pathways with MFDS and FDA, and intends to establish local subsidiaries internationally for global market entry. The go-to-market model is essentially enterprise biotech field sales into rare disease specialist channels, supported by strategic manufacturing and platform partners: a 20 billion KRW CDMO agreement with Kangstem Biotech for CUR101 production (June 2022) and a strategic platform license with MaxCyte for electroporation-based cell engineering (December 2022). The company is funded by an initial 2 billion KRW seed round (2018, led by Daewoong Pharmaceutical and VC Pramer's Healthy Life Technology Startup Venture PEF), a Series A of approximately 10 billion KRW in August 2021 (with additional disclosed participation by DSC Investment, Hana Ventures, HB Investment, ID Ventures, Schmidt, and Union Investment Partners), and Korean government grants including the TIPS Program. Founded by Seoul National University neurology professor Jung-Joon Sung, the company remains pre-revenue with 11-50 employees and no products approved for sale.

Name

Curamys

Legal name

주식회사 큐라미스 (Curamys Inc.)

Website

https://curamys.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Curamys is a Seoul-based clinical-stage biotech developing proprietary cell fusion and miRNA-based therapies for rare intractable diseases, with lead candidate CUR101 targeting Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Pre-revenue, founded 2018 by a Seoul National University neurology professor.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cell and Gene Therapy

NAICS

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

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Neurology/CNS Gene Therapies (HLAAACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gene Therapy for Rare/Monogenic Diseases (HLAAACAE), Genetic & Genomic Rare Disease Therapeutics (HLAIAIAA)

Keywords

• Cell therapy
• Gene therapy
• Rare diseases
• Cell fusion technology
• MiRNA therapeutics

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Cell & Gene Therapy Product Sales: Curamys plans to commercialize its own cell and gene therapy products for rare diseases rather than pursuing technology out-licensing. The company aims to obtain domestic approval through integrated Phase 1&2 clinical trials leveraging rare disease regulatory pathways, and establish local subsidiaries internationally for global market presence.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Curamys develops cell and gene therapies using its proprietary fusogenic stem cell (cell fusion) technology targeting rare intractable diseases with no existing cures, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), Lou Gehrig's disease/ALS, and nonketotic hyperglycinemia. Its lead candidate CUR101 (also referred to as FM-022) is a cell fusion gene therapy for DMD, alongside an miRNA-based therapeutics program for multiple rare diseases. The company is also developing diagnostic solutions for genetic disorders.

Product overview

Curamys is a biopharmaceutical company developing cell and gene therapies for rare intractable diseases using its proprietary cell fusion technology platform. The core product in development is CUR101, a cell fusion gene therapy targeting Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The company also develops miRNA-based therapeutics for multiple rare diseases including DMD, Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS), and nonketotic hyperglycinemia. In addition to therapeutic development, Curamys is working on diagnostic solutions for genetic disorders. The company operates from South Korea with strategic partnerships including a CDMO agreement with Kangstem Biotech and a platform license with MaxCyte.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CUR101 (FM-022) - DMD Cell Fusion Gene Therapy Cell fusion gene therapy designed to facilitate cell fusion between fusogenic stem cells and target cells. Primary indication is Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), with plans to expand to various muscle disorders and other diseases. The treatment uses fusogenic stem cells that fuse with dying cells to revive them and restore function. Targeted at patients with rare intractable diseases that currently have no cure.
• miRNA-based Therapeutics Program Therapeutic candidates leveraging specific miRNAs identified as key etiological factors in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Lou Gehrig's disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), and nonketotic hyperglycinemia. miRNAs selectively regulate specific genes, block disease progression, deliver genes more effectively than direct administration, and have fewer side effects because the material naturally exists within cells.
• Rare Genetic Disease Diagnostic Solutions Diagnostic solutions for rare genetic disorders that can identify the genetic causes of undiagnosed rare diseases, leveraging Curamys's cell fusion and genetic analysis capabilities. Targeted at clinicians and patients seeking diagnosis for rare genetic conditions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cell fusion rate increased 12-14x compared to non-fusogenic stem cells in experiments
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MaxCytecoreTechnology or Integration · 5 December 2022Strategic platform license agreement signed with MaxCyte to enable cell and gene therapies for the treatment of rare intractable diseases. MaxCyte provides its industry-leading electroporation technology platform to support Curamys's cell and gene therapy development programs. This enables Curamys to leverage MaxCyte's established platform for clinical and commercial cell engineering.
• Kangstem Biotech (강스템)coreTechnology or Integration · 10 June 2022CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) agreement worth 20억원 for the production of preclinical and clinical samples of Curamys's Duchenne muscular dystrophy cell-gene therapy candidate FM-022 (also referred to as CUR101). Kangstem Biotech handles development and manufacturing of clinical trial materials.
• Daewoong Pharmaceutical (대웅제약)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2018Joint research contract established between Curamys and Daewoong Pharmaceutical for collaborative research in cell and gene therapy development. Daewoong Pharmaceutical also participated as an investor in Curamys's seed funding round.
• Seoul National University Hospital (서울대학교병원)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeoul National University Hospital is the origin institution of Curamys's core cell fusion technology. Curamys's CEO, Professor Jung-Joon Sung (성정준), is a neurology professor at Seoul National University College of Medicine and Hospital. Core technology patent was transferred from Seoul National University Hospital to Curamys in 2020.
• Korea University College of Medicine (고려대학교 의과대학)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for research collaboration in rare disease therapeutics.
• Korea Basic Science Institute (한국기초과학지원연구소)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership for gene medicine and basic science research collaboration.
• Chungnam National University Innovation Center for Gene Medicine (충남대학교 유전자의약센터)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership for gene medicine development.
• Innovation Center for Gene Medicine (유전자의학센터)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on gene medicine research and development.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Helixmith: Korean gene therapy company (formerly ViroMed) developing plasmid-based gene therapies for rare diseases including diabetic neuropathy; directly comparable as a Korean-domiciled rare-disease gene therapy peer.
• ToolGen: Korean genome editing company developing CRISPR-based therapies; comparable as a Korea-based gene therapy/genome editing platform company targeting similar therapeutic areas.

Direct peers

• Krystal Biotech: Approved rare-disease gene therapy company (Vyjuvek for dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa); comparable as a focused rare-disease gene therapy developer that has successfully navigated from platform to commercial approval.
• Voyager Therapeutics: Gene therapy company focused on CNS/neurological diseases including ALS and other neurological indications; comparable to Curamys in CNS-focused gene therapy approach and rare disease targeting.
• Solid Biosciences: Clinical-stage gene therapy company developing treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy; directly comparable to Curamys's CUR101 program targeting the same DMD indication with a different delivery modality.
• BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics: Developer of NurOwn, an autologous cell therapy for ALS that has been in late-stage clinical trials; directly comparable to Curamys's ALS cell-gene therapy program in both modality and indication.
• Capricor Therapeutics: Cell therapy developer with late-stage DMD program (CAP-1002) and pipeline in rare diseases; comparable to Curamys in approach (cell-based) and target indication (DMD), with the benefit of more advanced clinical stage.

Broad incumbents

• PTC Therapeutics: Commercial-stage rare disease company with multiple DMD products (Emflaza, Translarna) and gene therapy pipeline; comparable as a competitor in DMD and broader rare disease drug developer with established commercial infrastructure.
• uniQure: Established gene therapy company with approved product (Hemgenix for hemophilia B) and pipeline across multiple rare diseases; comparable as a broader gene therapy platform player pursuing rare monogenic disease markets.
• Sarepta Therapeutics: Approved leader in DMD gene therapy (Elevidys), directly comparable as Curamys's primary indication DMD overlaps with Sarepta's franchise; serves as both competitive benchmark and potential acquirer of complementary approaches.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/curamys

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors7 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 Curamys