What BIOPOA does

BIOPOA (주식회사 바이오포아) is a South Korean veterinary biopharmaceutical company founded in February 2007 by CEO Cho Sun-hee, specializing in animal vaccine development based on proprietary reverse genetics (역유전학) platform technology. The company's core innovation is SAVE (Synthetic Attenuated Virus Engineering) — the world's first reverse genetics platform applied to PRRS (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome) vaccine manufacturing — combined with Codon Pair Deoptimization (CPD) to control pathogenicity without amino acid modification while maintaining strong immune response. The commercial portfolio centers on two PoaVac-branded live vaccines: PoaVac PRRS (launched April 2021, the first domestically developed Korean PRRS live vaccine using locally isolated North American-type strains) and PoaVac Gumboro/IBD (approved August 2025 for poultry), with a sow-specific PRRS variant added in February 2025.

The business model operates through three revenue streams: direct B2B vaccine product sales, technology licensing and royalties, and contract research services. Domestically, products are sold exclusively through Korea SomeBeth (한국썸벧), a Harim Group subsidiary that is also an equity investor. Internationally, BIOPOA operates a technology transfer model with global animal pharmaceutical company CEVA (France), which handles product registration and distribution across Cambodia, Thailand, Mexico, and Vietnam. Manufacturing occurs at KVGMP-certified facilities in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, with both egg-based (2020) and cell culture-based (2021) GMP approvals.

The company has received multiple certifications validating its technology platform: NeT (New Technology) certification from the Ministry of Agriculture for SAVE technology (2022), INNO Biz AA grade (2022), and NICE D&B preliminary technology assessment A grade (2022). Government recognition in 2025 included the Green Bio Best Award from the Minister of Agriculture and the Animal Drug Self-Inspection Best Company award from the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency. BIOPOA completed a pre-IPO funding round in July 2024 at a reported 560 billion KRW (~$400M) enterprise value, with investors including Meta Investment, L&S Venture Investment, Korea Somevet, and CEVA, signaling preparation for a public listing.

Name

BIOPOA

Legal name

(주)바이오포아

Website

https://biopoa.co.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

BIOPOA is a South Korean veterinary biopharmaceutical company that develops animal vaccines using proprietary reverse genetics SAVE technology, primarily for PRRS in pigs and Gumboro disease in poultry, distributing domestically through Korea SomeBeth and internationally via technology transfer partner CEVA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterinary Pharmaceuticals (Animal Vaccines)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterinary Vaccines (Biologics) (HLAMAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vaccine Technology Platforms (Live, Inactivated, Subunit, Vector, mRNA/DNA) (HLAMAKAH), Livestock Vaccines (Cattle, Swine, Sheep & Goats) (HLAMAKAB), Poultry Vaccines (HLAMAKAC), Vaccine R&D, Clinical/Field Trials & Regulatory Affairs (HLAMAKAM)

Keywords

• Animal vaccine development
• Reverse genetics technology
• Porcine respiratory vaccines
• Veterinary pharmaceuticals
• Live attenuated vaccines

Headquarters

HQ city

Jangan

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Vaccine Product Sales: Direct sales of animal vaccines including PRRS live vaccine (포아백 PRRS 생백신) and Gumboro live vaccine (포아백 감보로 생백신) to pig and poultry farms through domestic distributor Korea SomeBeth and international channels.
2. Technology Licensing: Technology transfer agreements with global animal pharmaceutical companies. Initial technology contract payment received from CEVA in December 2022 for PRRS vaccine technology. Joint vaccine strain development and manufacturing technology cooperation with CEVA for European markets.
3. Contract Research Services: Self-testing commissioned work for multinational animal pharmaceutical companies, providing laboratory testing and validation services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

BIOPOA develops and manufactures animal vaccines using proprietary reverse genetics SAVE (Synthetic Attenuated Virus Engineering) technology. Its core product is the PoaVac PRRS Live Vaccine (포아백 PRRS 생백신) for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, supplemented by the PoaVac Gumboro Live Vaccine (포아백 감보로 생백신) for poultry infectious bursal disease. Products are sold to commercial pig and poultry farms through exclusive Korean distributor Korea SomeBeth and international technology partner CEVA.

Product overview

BIOPOA is a veterinary pharmaceutical company specializing in animal vaccines developed using proprietary reverse genetics (역유전학) technology. The core product portfolio centers on two main vaccine brands: 포아백 PRRS 생백신 (PoaVac PRRS Live Vaccine) for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome in pigs, and 포아백 감보로 생백신 (PoaVac Gumboro Live Vaccine) for Infectious Bursal Disease in poultry. The company also produced the PoaCheck COVID-19 diagnostic kit. All vaccines leverage the innovative SAVE (Synthetic Attenuated Virus Engineering) platform for superior safety and immunogenicity. Products are manufactured in KVGMP-certified facilities and distributed domestically through Korea Somvet (한국썸벧), with international distribution via technology transfer partner CEVA to markets including Cambodia, Thailand, Mexico, and Vietnam.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 포아백(PoaVac): Vaccine product brand under BioPoa, including '포아백 PRRS 생백신' (PRRS live vaccine) and '포아백 감보로 생백신' (Gumboro live vaccine). Marketed through distribution partner Hansome벧 (한국썸벧).
• PoaCheck

Products and services

• PoaVac PRRS Live Vaccine (포아백 PRRS 생백신) World's first PRRS (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome) live vaccine developed using reverse genetics SAVE technology. Combines two North American-type PRRS virus strains from domestic isolates for broad cross-immunity, uses codon pair deoptimization to control pathogenicity while maintaining immunogenicity, prevents farm-to-farm circulation, and reduces reversion risk. Sold in 100ml bottles (50 pig dose basis).
• PoaVac PRRS Live Vaccine for Sows (포아백 PRRS 생백신 모돈용) Sow-specific variant of the PoaVac PRRS Live Vaccine targeting high-pathogenicity PRRS control in breeding pigs and sows, addressing reproductive failure prevention.
• PoaVac Gumboro Live Vaccine (포아백 감보로 생백신) Live vaccine for chicken Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD/Gumboro disease) using domestically circulating intermediate-toxin IBDV strain with reverse genetics technology to overcome maternal-derived antibodies (MDA), targeting variant strains (G2d, G2b) prevalent in Korea.
• PoaCheck COVID-19 Diagnostic Kit In vitro diagnostic kit for COVID-19 detection. Received CE certification and export approval August 2020 with first overseas export to Uzbekistan in January 2021.
• Contract Research and Laboratory Testing Services Self-testing commissioned work and laboratory testing and validation services provided to multinational animal pharmaceutical companies, leveraging designation as an animal drug testing institution and livestock disease diagnostic institution.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99%+ virus inhibition in vaccinated pigs compared to control group
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Harim (하림)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 April 2026MOU signed for joint development of poultry disease platform vaccines targeting avian influenza (AI), infectious bronchitis (IB), and Newcastle disease (ND). Collaboration aims to enhance field-based vaccine development using farm data and establish rapid response system for livestock diseases. Joint clinical evaluation and commercialization planned by 2026.
• CEVAcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 October 2022Technology transfer agreement for 포아백 PRRS 생백신 to global animal pharmaceutical company CEVA (headquartered in France). Initial contract payment received December 2022. CEVA handling product registration and distribution in international markets including Cambodia, Thailand, Mexico, and Vietnam. Joint development of European-adapted vaccine strains and manufacturing technology cooperation.
• Korea SomeBeth (한국썸벧)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDomestic distribution partnership for 포아백 PRRS 생백신 and other vaccines. SomeBeth handles domestic sales to pig and poultry farms. Investment from Harim Group subsidiary SomeBeth received in December 2020.
• Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (농림축산검역본부)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research partnership for PRRS vaccine development since 2016. Collaborative development of 포아백 PRRS 생백신 - jointly developed with quarantine agency. Cooperative research for product registration and export certification.
• Seoul National University Agriculture and Life Sciences Venture Center (서울대 농업생명대학 창업 보육센터)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness incubation support received during early company stage - admitted to startup incubator in September 2005.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Zoetis: Largest pure-play animal health company globally with a broad swine and poultry vaccine portfolio including competitor products. Comparable as the scale benchmark BIOPOA must meet to win enterprise accounts and tenders.
• Phibro Animal Health: Animal health company with a swine vaccine portfolio including PRRS-related products. Comparable as a mid-to-large animal health competitor with similar species focus but broader global footprint than BIOPOA.
• Merck Animal Health: Major multinational animal health competitor with PRRS vaccine offerings (e.g., PRIME PAC PRRS) and integrated global manufacturing and distribution. Comparable as an established incumbent that BIOPOA competes against in international tenders.
• Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health: One of the largest global animal health companies and incumbent leader in PRRS vaccines via Ingelvac PRRS. Comparable as the dominant multinational competitor BIOPOA is attempting to displace in domestic Korean and regional Asian markets.

Direct peers

• HIPRA: Spanish animal health company specializing in vaccines and diagnostics for swine and poultry, with comparable product categories to BIOPOA (PRRS, Gumboro). Direct mid-sized specialist competitor that mirrors BIOPOA's niche-led, technology-focused business model.
• Ceva Santé Animale: Global animal health company headquartered in France and BIOPOA's technology transfer and equity partner for PRRS vaccines. Directly competes in veterinary vaccines across swine and poultry, making it both a partner and the most direct competitive comparable for BIOPOA's commercial model.
• Komipharm International: Korean animal vaccine and pharmaceutical manufacturer with overlapping product categories in veterinary biologicals. Direct domestic comparable in the Korean animal vaccine market where BIOPOA competes for share and distribution partnerships.
• Choong Ang Vaccine Laboratories (CAVC): Korean veterinary vaccine manufacturer with comparable product portfolio in livestock and poultry vaccines. Direct domestic peer competing for the same Korean animal health accounts and government vaccine programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 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 BIOPOA