What Epibiotech does

Epibiotech (에피바이오텍, KONEX: 446440) is a South Korean biotech company founded in 2015 (originally as Stemore Co., Ltd., renamed in 2021) that operates as the only Korean firm exclusively dedicated to hair loss therapeutics development. The company is built around its proprietary Hair.I. integrated drug discovery platform, which combines three modules: EPIGene (Korea's only alopecia-specific genomic database with single-cell RNAseq resolution across disease types and species), AlopeciAI (a multi-target AI screening platform with drug repurposing capability), and EPICacy (a hair growth efficacy evaluation platform using Korea's largest collection of alopecia animal models). Epibiotech runs a multi-modality therapeutic pipeline spanning autologous and allogeneic dermal papilla cell therapies (EPI-001 in Phase 1/2a clinical trials; EPI-008 in preclinical with a cell bank scalable to 100,000 patients), a CXCL12 neutralizing antibody (EPI-005), and drug repurposing candidates for chemotherapy-induced alopecia (EPI-011) and topical small molecule treatment (EPI-002).

The company generates revenue across four streams: (1) CRO services for hair growth efficacy evaluation and mechanism studies (30+ contract studies annually, fee-for-service, quote-based pricing), (2) cell line product sales (STC001-STC011 covering dermal papilla cells, ORS cells, adipose-derived stem cells, and engineered reporter cell lines), (3) CDMO services for GMP cell therapy manufacturing from a 495m² GMP facility in Songdo, and (4) hair health functional food evaluation services aligned with Korean regulatory guidelines. Customer segments include pharmaceutical and biotech companies (primary, for preclinical CRO and CDMO), research institutions and academia, and cosmetics and functional food companies. Distribution combines direct B2B field sales, global partnering conference presence (BIO Europe, BIO Japan, WCHR, KDRA), website-based inquiry for CRO/cell line sales, and an exclusive China-market partnership with Beijing Northland. The company holds advanced biopharmaceutical manufacturing, cell processing, and human cell management licenses, has been designated an Outstanding R&D Center by Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT, and has received awards from KHIDI, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and AbbVie Korea.

Name

Epibiotech

Legal name

주식회사 에피바이오텍 (Epibiotech Co., Ltd.)

Website

https://epibiotech.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Epibiotech is South Korea's only company exclusively dedicated to hair loss therapeutics, operating an AI-driven drug discovery platform (Hair.I.) across cell therapy, antibody, and small molecule pipelines, complemented by a leading domestic non-clinical CRO, CDMO services, and cell line product sales for pharmaceutical and biotech clients globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hair Loss Therapeutics & Preclinical Drug Discovery CRO

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

AI/ML-Enabled Biologic Discovery Platforms (computational design, in silico screening) (HLAAAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

AI/ML Platforms for Drug Discovery & Experiment Optimization (HLAGAJAO), Epigenomics & Chromatin Profiling Services (HLAGANAF)

Keywords

• Hair loss therapeutics
• Drug discovery platform
• Preclinical CRO services
• Cell therapy manufacturing
• Dermal papilla cells

Headquarters

HQ city

Incheon

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. CRO (Contract Research Organization) Services: Hair growth efficacy evaluation and preclinical research services provided to pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and research institutions. Services include in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models for androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, and chemotherapy-induced alopecia. Revenue generated through fee-for-service contracts. Conducted 30+ studies annually with overseas expansion via Beijing Northland partnership.
2. Cell Line Sales: Sale of hair follicle cell lines including immortalized DPCs, primary DPCs, primary ORS cells, adipose-derived stem cells, and reporter gene cell lines (STC001-STC011). Cells are sold to research institutions and pharmaceutical companies for in vitro hair loss research.
3. CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing): GMP cell therapy manufacturing services for clinical-grade advanced biopharmaceutical production. Includes process development, tech transfer, and manufacturing for cell therapy products. Part of one-stop service from raw material to finished product.
4. Hair Health Functional Food Evaluation: Efficacy evaluation services for hair health functional foods following Korean regulatory guidelines. Includes clinical evaluation, nutrient supply, hair cycle regulation, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cell proliferation assessments.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Epibiotech develops novel hair loss therapeutics (cell therapy, antibody, small molecule) using its proprietary Hair.I. AI drug discovery platform, which combines a single-cell hair loss genomic database (EPIGene), multi-target AI screening (AlopeciAI), and preclinical efficacy validation (EPICacy). Beyond internal pipeline development, the company provides preclinical CRO services for hair growth efficacy evaluation, GMP cell therapy CDMO manufacturing, and sells research-grade hair follicle cell lines to pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic customers globally.

Product overview

Epibiotech is Korea's only company exclusively dedicated to hair loss therapeutics and research services, operating a multi-pronged business across drug development, CRO services, and CDMO manufacturing. Its proprietary Hair.I. platform (EPIGene, AlopeciAI, EPICacy) integrates big data genomics, AI-driven drug screening, and preclinical efficacy validation for full-stack hair loss drug discovery. The therapeutic pipeline spans three modalities: cell therapies (EPI-001, autologous dermal papilla cells, Phase 1/2a; EPI-008, allogeneic dermal papilla cells), antibody therapy (EPI-005, CXCL12 neutralizing antibody), and small molecule / drug repurposing (EPI-002, EPI-011 for chemotherapy-induced alopecia). The company operates Korea's leading non-clinical CRO for hair growth efficacy evaluation, offering in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro services plus single-cell RNA sequencing analysis. A CDMO division provides GMP cell therapy manufacturing. Cell line products (STC001–STC011) covering dermal papilla, ORS, and engineered reporter cell lines are sold for research use. All divisions are unified by the Hair.I. AI platform that powers both internal drug development and client-facing service delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hair Loss Efficacy CRO Services (EPICacy) Preclinical contract research services for hair growth efficacy evaluation offered to pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic clients. Encompasses in vivo animal models (including Korea's only alopecia areata model), ex vivo human and mouse hair follicle organ culture, and in vitro dermal papilla cell / ORS cell functional assays. The company conducts 30+ contract studies annually for external clients.
• CDMO Services (Cell Therapy Manufacturing) Contract development and manufacturing organization services for advanced biopharmaceuticals including cell therapies. Provides GMP clinical-grade manufacturing from raw material through finished product, GMP consulting for clinical entry, and operates a 495m² GMP facility (GMP Suite 1) with culture rooms, separation room, cell bank storage, and QC lab. Holds advanced biopharmaceutical manufacturing license, cell processing facility license, and human cell management business license.
• Hair Follicle Cell Line Products (STC001-STC011) Eleven hair follicle constituent cell lines sold for research use: immortalized dermal papilla cells (STC001), primary DPC (STC002), primary ORS cells (STC003), adipose-derived stem cells (STC004), β-Catenin-Luc-iDPC (STC005), SOX2-Luc-iDPC (STC006), mouse vibrissa dermal papilla cell line (STC007), β-Catenin-Luc-293T (STC008), SOX2-Luc-293T (STC009), β-Catenin-Luc-HaCaT (STC010), and SOX2-Luc-HaCaT (STC011). Sold to research institutions and pharmaceutical companies for in vitro hair loss research.
• Hair Health Functional Food Evaluation Services Efficacy evaluation services aligned with Korean health functional food guidelines for hair health. Covers clinical evaluation (in vivo hair growth tests, visual assessment), nutrient supply promotion (IGF-1, HGF, VEGF, EGF markers), hair cycle regulation, antioxidant activity (SOD, CAT, GPx), anti-inflammatory activity (IL-1, TNF-alpha), and cell proliferation (CCK assay). Sold to functional food and cosmetics companies requiring regulatory-compliant efficacy substantiation.
• Single-Cell RNA Sequencing (scRNA-seq) Analysis Services Single-cell transcriptomics service for hair loss mechanism research and therapeutic development. Analyzes gene expression in diverse follicular cell populations (DP, DF, DS, immune cells) at single-cell resolution, and delivers cell composition changes, ligand-receptor signaling network analysis, disease-specific target discovery, mechanism analysis, and treatment response prediction.
• Hair.I. Integrated Drug Discovery Platform AI-driven integrated hair loss drug discovery platform combining three modules: EPIGene (single-cell hair loss genomic database), AlopeciAI (multi-target AI screening and drug repurposing), and EPICacy (preclinical efficacy validation). Sold to / partnered with global pharma and biotech companies for end-to-end hair loss drug development from target identification through preclinical validation.
• EPI-001 (Autologous Dermal Papilla Cell Therapy) Autologous dermal papilla cell therapy for androgenetic alopecia. Dermal papilla cells collected from the patient's occipital scalp are mass-cultured and re-injected to stimulate weakened hair follicles and promote new hair growth. Currently in Phase 1/2a clinical trial.
• EPI-008 (Allogeneic Dermal Papilla Cell Therapy) Allogeneic dermal papilla cell therapy for androgenetic alopecia using cultured allogeneic cells enabling immediate patient use without individual cell harvesting. Cell bank capable of serving 100,000 patients from a single donor.
• EPI-005 (CXCL12 Neutralizing Antibody Therapy) CXCL12 neutralizing antibody therapy for androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata, administered via subcutaneous injection and designed for 4-6 doses per year. Inactivates the CXCL12 hair loss gene, reduces androgen receptor expression in human hair follicles, and demonstrated >6 weeks efficacy with single injection in pig experiments.
• EPI-011 (Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia Treatment) Chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) treatment developed via drug repurposing using the Hair.I. platform. Protects hair follicle microenvironment and regulates inflammatory response under chemotherapy stress conditions.
• EPI-002 (Low Molecular Weight Hair Loss Treatment) Low molecular weight hair loss treatment candidate targeting RIPK1, developed as a topical formulation. Co-developed with QMINE (RIPK1 siRNA-based hair loss therapeutics; MOU signed November 2025). Preclinical studies completed.

Quantifiable outcome

• EPI-005 (CXCL12 neutralizing antibody) showed >6 weeks efficacy with single injection in pig experiments
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

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 capability5 records

Feature4 records

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Eli Lilly: Eli Lilly acquired Dice Therapeutics for IL-17 immunology and has a growing dermatology pipeline including baricitinib (used off-label for alopecia areata). Broad incumbent developing autoimmune and dermatology therapies overlapping with hair loss indications.
• Charles River Laboratories: Charles River Laboratories is a global preclinical CRO offering efficacy and safety studies across multiple therapeutic areas. Comparable to Epibiotech's CRO services division, though Charles River operates across many indications beyond hair loss.
• Lonza Group: Lonza is the world's largest cell therapy CDMO with extensive GMP manufacturing capacity. Comparable to Epibiotech's CDMO division as a cell therapy contract manufacturer, though Lonza operates at vastly greater scale across multiple modalities.
• Pfizer: Pfizer has approved Litfulo (ritlecitinib) for alopecia areata and through its acquisition of Arena Pharmaceuticals has a strong dermatology franchise. Represents the major pharma competition and potential exit partner for Epibiotech's hair loss assets.
• AbbVie: AbbVie has a major dermatology franchise (Skyrizi, Rinvoq) and through the joint KHIDI-AbbVie Biotech Innovator Award has signaled interest in Epibiotech's EPI-005. Large pharma dermatology incumbent representing both competition and potential licensing partner.

Direct peers

• Aclaris Therapeutics: Aclaris Therapeutics is a US clinical-stage company developing treatments for alopecia areata and androgenetic alopecia, including JAK inhibitors. Comparable to Epibiotech as a small-cap focused hair loss therapeutics developer with multiple candidate modalities.
• Histogen: Histogen is a US clinical-stage biotech developing novel hair growth treatments including cell-conditioned media and follicle-stimulating approaches. Directly comparable as a small hair loss therapeutics company pursuing regeneration-based therapies.
• Stemson Therapeutics: Stemson Therapeutics is a US-based biotech developing iPSC-derived hair follicle regeneration therapies for hair loss. Directly comparable to Epibiotech's EPI-001/EPI-008 cell therapy approach, both pursuing cell-based hair restoration as a novel therapeutic modality.
• Follica: Follica is a clinical-stage biotech developing a hair follicle neogenesis platform for androgenetic alopecia. Directly competes with Epibiotech as a dedicated hair loss therapeutics company pursuing novel mechanisms rather than reformulations of existing drugs.
• Sun Pharmaceutical (Concert Pharmaceuticals): Sun Pharma acquired Concert Pharmaceuticals and is developing deuruxolitinib for alopecia areata. Directly competes with Epibiotech's antibody therapy approach (EPI-005 CXCL12) in the alopecia areata space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLYUD6_Yvo8vUL-QipUb6_BuD6-CytWlP0
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/epibiotech

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors6 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 Epibiotech