GC Biopharma

What GC Biopharma does

GC Biopharma (주식회사 녹십자 / Green Cross Corporation, KSE: 006280) is a South Korea-headquartered, vertically integrated biopharmaceutical company founded in 1967 and headquartered in Yongin-si. It develops, manufactures, and commercializes plasma-derived therapeutics, vaccines, rare-disease therapies, and consumer health products across more than 20 countries. Its three Korean manufacturing plants — Ochang (plasma/recombinant/gene therapy), Hwasun (vaccines), and Eumseong (OTC) — are WHO GMP-certified and supply both Korean institutional channels and international procurement programs including PAHO.

Core products include Alyglo / IV-Globulin SN 10% (IVIG for primary humoral immunodeficiency, FDA-approved 2023), Hunterase / Hunterase ICV (world's second Hunter syndrome enzyme replacement and first intraventricular injection product), GC Flu Quadrivalent (WHO PQ-approved quadrivalent influenza vaccine with cumulative ~300 million doses produced), BARYCELA (world's first antibiotic-free varicella vaccine using proprietary MAV/06 strain, WHO PQ-recognized interchangeable with Oka), BARYTHRAX (world's first recombinant anthrax vaccine with capacity up to 10 million doses annually), the GC4006A COVID-19 mRNA vaccine (in Phase 1 trials in Korea as of December 2025), and consumer products led by Bimax high-dose vitamin B. Underlying technology platforms include a 50-year plasma fractionation capability, a proprietary mRNA-LNP platform with AI-based codon optimization and SAR-based lipid design, a bispecific antibody ADC platform (EGFR x cMET GC1148A), and a 2019-patented clotting-factor removal technology for IVIG safety.

Revenue is generated through direct prescription sales to hospitals and clinics in Korea, a 224+ SKU pharmacy network, North American distribution via the wholly-owned GC Biopharma USA subsidiary (Teaneck, NJ) and Latin American distribution via GC DO BRASIL (São Paulo), CMO fill-and-finish services for global pharma companies, and—increasingly—licensing, milestone, and royalty income exemplified by the Curevo Vaccine divestiture to Eli Lilly for up to $1.5 billion in May 2026. Customer segments span immunology/IVIG patients, rare-disease patients (Hunter, Fabry, Sanfilippo syndromes; Glanzmann thrombasthenia; Alagille syndrome), vaccine recipients/public health (influenza, varicella, COVID-19, anthrax, shingles via Curevo amezosvatein CMO rights), and global pharma CMO clients. R&D spend reached ₩171.9 billion in 2025, with reported 2025 consolidated revenue of approximately ₩1,991 billion (~₩2 trillion).

Name

GC Biopharma

Legal name

주식회사 녹십자 (Green Cross Corporation)

Website

https://gcbiopharma.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

GC Biopharma is a South Korean biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and distributes plasma-derived therapeutics (Alyglo IVIG), vaccines (influenza, varicella, anthrax, mRNA COVID-19), rare-disease treatments (Hunterase for Hunter syndrome), and OTC consumer health products across Korea, the US, Brazil, and international WHO/PAHO procurement markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biopharmaceuticals

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Immunoglobulins & Passive Immunization Biologics (IVIG, hyperimmune globulins, antitoxins) (HLAAAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vaccines & Cold-Chain Pharmaceutical Distributors (HLAIAJAG), mRNA & Nucleic Acid Manufacturing Services (mRNA/saRNA/Plasmid DNA) (HLAGAGAC), Immunology & Inflammation Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAD)

Keywords

• Plasma-derived therapeutics
• Vaccine manufacturing
• Rare disease treatments
• Contract manufacturing services
• Immunoglobulin therapies

Headquarters

HQ city

Gyeongju

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Prescription pharmaceutical products: Revenue from prescription drugs including plasma derivatives (IVIG, hemophilia treatments), vaccines (influenza, varicella, anthrax), and rare disease therapies (Hunterase). Distributed via hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies in Korea and internationally.
2. Vaccine products: Revenue from influenza vaccines (GC FLU Quadrivalent), varicella vaccines (BARYCELA), anthrax vaccine (BARYTHRAX), and pipeline vaccines. Sold domestically and internationally through WHO procurement and private markets.
3. CMO (Contract Manufacturing) services: Vial and PFS (pre-filled syringe) Fill & Finish CMO services and DP Development services from Ochang and Hwasun plants; 50 years of manufacturing experience; supports global pharmaceutical companies.
4. Licensing, milestone payments, and royalties (Curevo Transaction): GC Biopharma sold its 20.3% stake in Curevo Vaccine to Eli Lilly for ~459.9 billion won (~$303.92 million) upfront, with total deal up to $1.5 billion including milestone payments. Future royalty income and potential CMO revenue from amezosvatein production.
5. OTC (Over-the-counter) consumer health products: Revenue from consumer health products including Bimax (high-dose vitamin B complex), distributed through pharmacy channels.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

GC Biopharma manufactures and sells biopharmaceutical products including plasma-derived therapeutics (IVIG/Alyglo for primary immunodeficiency, coagulation factors for hemophilia), vaccines (influenza, varicella, anthrax, mRNA COVID-19), and rare disease enzyme replacement therapies (Hunterase for Hunter syndrome). The company also provides contract manufacturing (CMO) fill-finish services for global pharma clients and markets OTC consumer health products such as the Bimax vitamin line through Korean pharmacies.

Product overview

GC Biopharma (GC녹십자, 006280 KS) is a South Korean biopharmaceutical company operating as a vertically integrated drug developer and manufacturer. The company maintains three core business segments: (1) plasma-derived therapeutics — including intravenous immunoglobulin therapies (Alyglo/IV-Globulin SN with G-XI technology) for primary immunodeficiency, and rare disease enzymes such as Hunterase (idursulfase-beta) for Hunter syndrome; (2) vaccines — spanning quadrivalent influenza vaccines (GC Flu Quadrivalent, ~300M doses produced), varicella vaccine (BARYCELA using proprietary MAV/06 strain, WHO PQ-approved, first antibiotic-free varicella vaccine globally), recombinant anthrax vaccine (BARYTHRAX, world's first recombinant), and mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (GC4006A in clinical development); and (3) contract manufacturing services — fill-and-finish CMO at Ochang (plasma/gene therapy) and Hwasun (vaccines) plants. The company also markets over-the-counter products including the Bimax vitamin B line. Pipeline programs span immunology, vaccines, rare diseases (including Fabry, Sanfilippo, Glanzmann's thrombasthenia, Alagille syndrome, von Willebrand disease), and next-generation modalities including mRNA/LNP and ADC platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Alyglo (알리글로): US FDA-approved blood product for treatment of primary humoral immunodeficiency (PI) in adults. Known as IV-Globulin SN Injection 10% in Korea.
• Hunterase (헌터라제)
• GC FLU Quadrivalent (지씨플루)
• BARYCELA (배리셀라)
• BARYTHRAX (배리트락스)
• IV-Globulin SN (아이비글로불린)
• GreenGene F (그린진에프)
• Bimax (비맥스)

Products and services

• Alyglo (IV-Globulin SN Injection 10%) Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy for treatment of primary humoral immunodeficiency (PI) in adults. Plasma-derived product purified from human blood incorporating G-XI clotting factor removal technology.
• Hunterase (Idursulfase-beta) Recombinant enzyme replacement therapy for Hunter syndrome (Mucopolysaccharidosis Type II), a rare lysosomal storage disease. World's second Hunter syndrome treatment; also available as Hunterase ICV for intraventricular administration.
• GC Flu Quadrivalent Quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine in pre-filled syringe formulation for prevention of influenza disease. WHO PQ-approved with over 300 million cumulative doses produced.
• BARYCELA Inj. (Varicella Vaccine) Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine using proprietary MAV/06 strain. World's first varicella vaccine manufactured through an entirely antibiotic-free process. WHO PQ-certified and supplied to 20+ countries with 30M+ doses.
• BARYTHRAX inj. (Recombinant Anthrax Vaccine) Recombinant anthrax vaccine developed in collaboration with Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) for national biosecurity stockpiling. Phase 2 clinical trial demonstrated safety and immunogenicity.
• GC4006A COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine COVID-19 mRNA vaccine candidate developed using GC Biopharma's proprietary mRNA-LNP platform with AI-based codon optimization software. First Korean company to independently execute entire mRNA vaccine process from discovery to manufacturing.
• Bimax Meta High-potency active vitamin B complex supplement for fatigue management. Contains methycobalamin, benfotiamine, bisbentiamine, and multiple B vitamins. Distributed through Korean pharmacies.
• Neofen (Fenofibrate) Hyperlipidemia treatment containing fenofibrate 145mg and 48mg formulations for reducing triglycerides and LDL cholesterol.
• Neocex (Fexofenadine) Antihistamine medication containing fexofenadine hydrochloride (120mg and 180mg) for treatment of allergic rhinitis and related symptoms.
• Dabiveo (Ezetimibe/Rosuvastatin) Combination dyslipidemia treatment containing ezetimibe 10mg and rosuvastatin 10mg for patients with hypercholesterolemia requiring LDL reduction beyond statin monotherapy.
• Livmarli (Maralixibat Chloride) Oral solution of maralixibat chloride for treatment of cholestatic pruritus in patients 3 months and older with Alagille syndrome (ALGS), a rare liver disease.
• CMO Fill & Finish Services Contract manufacturing organization services covering vial and pre-filled syringe (PFS) fill-and-finish, and drug product development. Provided at Ochang Plant (plasma-derived and gene therapy products) and Hwasun Plant (vaccines) for global pharmaceutical companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• MAV/06-based varicella vaccines achieve 99-100% neutralizing antibody rates with 0.41-0.57 adverse events per 100,000 doses; supplied to 20+ countries with 30M+ doses
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability10 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AppsClon (아펅클론)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026Strategic joint R&D agreement for in vivo CAR-T therapy development. GC Biopharma contributes its mRNA-LNP platform for cell-specific expression and GMP manufacturing capabilities; AppsClon contributes its proprietary CAR-T technology, T-cell specific antibodies, and clinical experience. The collaboration aims to develop 'off-the-shelf' in vivo CAR-T therapies that can be administered like vaccines, enabling same-day treatment without patient cell extraction. Jointly developing candidates for hematologic malignancies.
• Merck Life SciencecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2026Strategic MOU signed in Seoul to expand cooperation in biopharmaceutical manufacturing and supply chain. Merck will supply critical raw materials and provide manufacturing expertise to strengthen GC Biopharma's production of key therapies including Alyglo and Hunterase. Partnership includes building an end-to-end supply system and exploring joint R&D opportunities.
• GaluxcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026Collaboration to develop AI-designed antibody therapeutics for autoimmune diseases. Galux applies its AI platform for de novo antibody design; GC Biopharma provides R&D capabilities in oncology, immunology, and rare diseases. Galux designs and optimizes AI-generated antibody candidates; GC Biopharma conducts experimental validation to assess biological activity and development potential.
• Curevo VaccinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2025Contract manufacturing agreement for amezosvatein (CRV-101), a recombinant shingles vaccine candidate. GC Biopharma secured CMO rights for the vaccine, which aims to offer a differentiated tolerability profile vs. GSK's Shingrix. Curevo is conducting Phase 2 trials expected to conclude by 2026. Following Eli Lilly's acquisition of Curevo (up to $1.5B), GC Biopharma retains potential CMO manufacturing revenue and royalty income.
• Hanmi Pharmaceutical (한미약품)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of GC1134A/HM15421, a Fabry disease treatment. Phase 1/2 clinical trial underway in the US, Korea, and Argentina. Cohort 1 showed no serious adverse events; dose escalation in Cohort 2 planned.
• Mokam Life Science Institute (목암생명과학연구소)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMokam Institute (GC Biopharma's nonprofit research foundation) selected as participating research institution for Korea's national AI drug discovery project. The project aims to build an end-to-end multi-agent AI platform for drug discovery using LLM-based AI agents. Mokam Institute develops preclinical-stage AI agents and target identification models in collaboration with KRIBB (Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology), and designs the autonomy framework for end-to-end decision-making.
• Kanaph Therapeutics (카나프 테라퓨틱스)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on next-generation ADC (antibody-drug conjugate) linker technologies. Kanaph holds core ADC linker technology; GC Biopharma R&D presented ADC pipeline trends at Lotte Biologics innovation forum. Joint EGFR x cMET ADC (GC1148A) development in progress for solid tumor treatment.
• Lotte BiologicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on ADC (antibody-drug conjugate) technology. GC Biopharma R&D participated in Lotte Biologics' Future Innovation Technology Development Forum, presenting on ADC pipelines and collaboration with Kanaph Therapeutics for next-generation ADC linker technologies. Lotte Biologics showcased its SoluFlex Link conjugation platform.
• Ajou University and Sungkyunkwan UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration on the comprehensive 30-year review of GC Biopharma's proprietary MAV/06 varicella vaccine strain. Research jointly conducted with researchers from both universities, published in SCIE-indexed journal Human Vaccines & Therapeutics.
• Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKDCA selected GC Biopharma for clinical research support under its pandemic preparedness project. GC Biopharma's COVID-19 mRNA vaccine GC4006A was developed using the company's proprietary mRNA-LNP platform. KDCA supported Phase 1 clinical trial of GC4006A.
• Korea Hemophilia Foundation / Seoul National University / Samsung Seoul HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint project under the Ministry of Welfare's Advanced Biotech Convergence Talent Cultivation program to develop the world's first AI-based hemophilia arthropathy prediction CDSS. Using 30 years of Korean patient RWD and ~3,000 X-ray images to train AI models for predicting joint damage progression.
• Kanaph TherapeuticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLicensing and joint R&D collaboration. Kanaph has established 5 licensing agreements with Korean pharma companies worth approximately 774.8 billion won in cumulative deal value. GC Biopharma is listed among Kanaph's partners for relay-style preclinical out-licensing followed by clinical development and global out-licensing.
• Yuhan Corporation and Chong Kun Dang (Korea Ministry of SMEs and Startups program)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGC Biopharma participates in the Korean Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) '2026 public-private cooperation open innovation support: everyone's challenge bio' program. The program pairs biotech startups with major domestic pharmaceutical companies including Yuhan, GC Biopharma, and Chong Kun Dang. Selected startups receive up to 1 billion won in commercialization funds plus technical advice, POC opportunities, and pathways for joint R&D and overseas market entry.
• Ministry of Science and ICT / Yonsei University / Eigen / Hits / Mogam Institute / KRIBBcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGC Biopharma selected as core research institution for the Ministry's 'AI-Medicine drug discovery full-cycle multi-agent AI platform construction and demonstration' project (57 months, ~17.7 billion KRW government support). Yonsei University leads; Eigen/Hits/Mogam Institute/KRIBB develop AI platforms; GC Biopharma validates AI-derived drug candidates experimentally, optimizing for drug activity and efficacy evaluation through preclinical research.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Emerging players

• Samsung Biologics: Korean biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) competing with GC Biopharma's CMO services for global fill-finish and biologics manufacturing contracts. Similar geographic footprint and overlap in serving multinational pharmaceutical companies from Korean manufacturing bases.

Broad incumbents

• GSK: Global vaccines and biopharmaceutical incumbent; Shingrix (shingles) is the benchmark against which Curevo's amezosvatein (CMO'd by GC Biopharma) was clinically tested. Comparable vaccine R&D scale and global commercial reach overlapping with GC's vaccine ambitions, though GC operates in a much narrower portfolio.
• Sanofi (Sanofi Pasteur): Global vaccines leader (Fluzone, FluQuadri influenza franchises) and major biopharmaceutical incumbent; competes with GC Biopharma's vaccine portfolio in international tenders and shares overlapping capabilities in plasma-derived therapies through broader portfolio, though vaccines are not GC's specialty niche.

Direct peers

• Grifols: Global leader in plasma-derived therapies including IVIG (Flebogamma, Gamunex), directly competing with GC Biopharma's Alyglo in the US primary immunodeficiency market. Both operate vertically integrated plasma collection-to-fractionation models and serve similar hospital and specialty pharmacy channels.
• CSL Limited (CSL Behring): World's largest IVIG manufacturer (Privigen, Hizentra) and a major plasma fractionator; the most direct competitor to GC Biopharma's Alyglo/IV-Globulin SN franchise. Both companies target primary immunodeficiency and autoimmune indications with plasma-derived immunoglobulin therapies and share regulatory and plasma-supply dynamics.
• Takeda Pharmaceutical: Through its Shire acquisition, Takeda is a major plasma-derived products manufacturer (Gammagard, Hyqvia) and operates rare disease and vaccines franchises overlapping GC Biopharma's Hunterase (Hunter syndrome) and vaccine portfolios. Comparable global biopharma footprint with established plasma fractionation scale.
• Octapharma: Privately held Swiss-headquartered manufacturer of plasma-derived therapies including IVIG (Octagam, Panzyga) and coagulation factors. Directly competes with GC Biopharma in the IVIG/immunoglobulin market and shares a similar focus on therapeutic proteins and rare disease hematology.
• Kedrion Biopharma: Italian-headquartered plasma products manufacturer producing IVIG (Kiovig) and coagulation factors, directly competing with GC Biopharma's plasma-derived portfolio. Comparable vertically integrated plasma collection-to-fractionation model and similar customer base of hospitals and specialty distributors.
• SK Bioscience: South Korean vaccine manufacturer developing influenza, COVID-19, and other vaccines; directly comparable to GC Biopharma's vaccine business (GC Flu Quadrivalent, BARYCELA) in the same domestic market and competing for similar government procurement and WHO PQ-enabled international tenders.
• Celltrion: Korean biopharmaceutical peer with biosimilar and novel biologic development programs, comparable R&D intensity, and parallel expansion into global markets (Celltrion USA, Celltrion Europe). Both companies target similar investor base, contract manufacturing models, and pipeline of biologic therapeutics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@GC-ih2yo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gc-pharma-cmo
• Facebookfacebook.com/GC.bio

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A1 record

Investments19 records

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Frequently asked questions about GC Biopharma