GI CELL
GI CELL is a South Korean clinical-stage biotechnology company developing allogeneic NK cell and regulatory T cell therapies for solid tumors, hematologic cancers, and autoimmune diseases using proprietary feeder-cell-free, dual-cytokine expansion platforms and a GMP smart factory.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersSeongnam, South Korea
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What GI CELL does
GI CELL (주식회사 지아이셀) is a clinical-stage South Korean biotechnology company founded in October 2018 in Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, as a subsidiary of GI Innovation (지아이이노베이션). The company develops immune cell therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases, anchored by a proprietary dual-function cytokine fusion protein platform — branded as the Immune CellPure Expander — which underpins the NKPURE Expander® (feeder-cell-free, non-genetically-modified allogeneic NK cell production) and TregPure Expander™ (regulatory T cell expansion) sub-platforms. In February 2022, GI CELL achieved a world-first 200L bioreactor scale-up of NK cells, a milestone that anchors its differentiated manufacturing position, with one batch capable of yielding up to 400 vials of clinical product at 1 billion NK cells per dose.
The clinical pipeline comprises T.O.P. NK (GIC-102, an off-the-shelf NK therapy in Phase 2a for solid tumors and hematologic cancers), Nano NK (GIC-101, NK cells carrying drug-loaded nanoparticles for solid tumor targeting), Drone Treg (GIC-302, tissue-homing Tregs for inflammatory bowel disease), and a CAR-NK program developed in collaboration with HK inno.N and Y-Biologics. Phase 1 results reported tumor reduction in a heavily pretreated rectal cancer patient and complete remission in a lymphoma patient who had failed prior antibody and targeted therapy. GI CELL holds MFDS manufacturing and human cell management licenses, operates a ~3,400 m² GMP smart factory, and has secured patent protection in 8+ countries including Korea, EU, Japan, Taiwan, and the US.
GI CELL's revenue model is built on three pillars: (1) technology out-licensing with upfront fees, milestone payments, and double-digit royalties (exemplified by the November 2024 TCT Health Technologies LOI for Turkey and CIS countries); (2) CDMO services leveraging the GMP facility for third-party cell therapy manufacturing; and (3) future pharmaceutical commercialization of proprietary cell therapy candidates either independently or through co-development partnerships. The company is pre-revenue and has been funded primarily through Korean VC channels, with Daily Partners as lead investor across seed, Series A (26B KRW), and Series B (50B KRW) rounds, plus follow-on participation from Aju IB, Cloud IB, JW Partners, Kiwoom Securities, and Brain Asset Management, totaling approximately 1.2 trillion KRW (~$900M) in cumulative funding.
GI CELL firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GI CELL
- Legal name
- 주식회사 지아이셀 (GI CELL Inc.)
- Website
- https://gi-cell.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- GI CELL is a South Korean clinical-stage biotechnology company developing allogeneic NK cell and regulatory T cell therapies for solid tumors, hematologic cancers, and autoimmune diseases using proprietary feeder-cell-free, dual-cytokine expansion platforms and a GMP smart factory.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GI CELL industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cell Therapy / Cancer Immunotherapy
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- NK Cell Therapies (HLAAABAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cell Therapy Developers (Allogeneic/Off-the-shelf) (HLAAABAB), Cell Therapy Manufacturing Services (GMP, autologous/allogeneic) (HLAAAKAC), Stem Cell Therapies (MSC/iPSC/HSC-derived) (HLAAABAE), Cell Therapy Enabling Technologies (gene editing, cell engineering, delivery methods) (HLAAABAL)
Keywords
Where GI CELL is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seongnam
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
GI CELL business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Technology Licensing / Out-licensing: GI CELL generates revenue by licensing its proprietary NK cell culture technology and T.O.P. NK® platform to international partners. The company receives upfront non-refundable contract fees upon signing, ongoing milestone payments tied to development and regulatory achievements, and double-digit royalties on net sales. Example: Technology export agreement with Turkey's TCT Health Technologies.
- CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) Services: GI CELL operates its GMP facility for third-party cell therapy manufacturing. The company holds advanced biopharmaceutical manufacturing and human cell management licenses, enabling it to provide contract manufacturing services to other biotech companies requiring cell therapy production capabilities.
- Pharmaceutical / Drug Development: Development of proprietary cell therapy drug candidates (T.O.P. NK, Drone Treg, Nano NK, CAR-NK) targeting cancer and autoimmune diseases. Revenue would be generated upon regulatory approval and commercialization, either independently or through co-development partnerships.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
GI CELL product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GI CELL develops allogeneic (off-the-shelf) immune cell therapies, primarily natural killer (NK) cell and regulatory T cell (Treg) therapies, for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. The company leverages proprietary feeder-cell-free, non-genetically-modified cell expansion platforms (NKPURE Expander, TregPure Expander, Immune CellPure Expander) to manufacture cell therapy products at commercial scale (world's first 200L NK cell culture). Revenue is generated through technology licensing and out-licensing deals, CDMO services using its GMP-certified smart factory, and planned commercialization of cell therapy drug candidates including T.O.P. NK (GIC-102), GIC-101 (Nano NK), GIC-302 (Drone Treg), and CAR-NK therapies.
Product overview
GI CELL is a cell therapy development company offering a portfolio of immune cell therapy products and platforms. The core product lineup includes T.O.P. NK (GIC-102), an allogeneic NK cell therapy for solid and hematologic cancers in Phase 2a; GIC-101 (Nano NK), an enhanced NK cell therapy with nanoparticle-delivered chemotherapy for solid tumors; GIC-302 (Drone Treg), a patient-customized regulatory T cell therapy for inflammatory bowel disease; and CAR-NK, a next-generation CAR-modified NK cell therapy developed in partnership. These products are underpinned by proprietary technology platforms: the NKPURE Expander Platform (feeder-cell-free NK cell culture), the TregPure Expander Platform (Treg cell culture), and the broader Immune Cell Expander Platform (dual-fusion protein-based immune cell activation and expansion). GI CELL also offers contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) services leveraging its GMP-certified smart factory facility.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- T.O.P. NK (GIC-102) Allogeneic (off-the-shelf) NK cell therapy for solid tumors and hematologic cancers, produced without feeder cells or viral vectors using the NKPURE Expander Platform. Demonstrates high tumor-targeting and cancer-cell killing efficiency. Currently in Phase 2a clinical trial in Korea after completing Phase 1 with efficacy signals including tumor reduction in a rectal cancer patient (13.5% reduction after 16 weeks) and complete remission in a lymphoma patient who had failed prior antibody and targeted therapy.
- GIC-101 (Nano NK) Enhanced off-the-shelf NK cell therapy based on the T.O.P. NK platform with chemotherapeutic-loaded nanoparticles attached to the NK cell surface. Leverages NK cell tumor-homing and immunological synapse formation to achieve tumor-specific drug delivery with stronger anticancer effect against solid tumors. Developed using NKPURE Expander Platform in collaboration with POSTECH professor Kim Won-jong.
- GIC-302 (Drone Treg) Regulatory T cell (Treg) therapy for inflammatory bowel disease and autoimmune conditions, featuring organ-homing receptors (CCR9, α4β7) overexpressed during culture and high FoxP3 expression for targeted treatment. Developed using the TregPure Expander Platform. Targets patients refractory to TNF inhibitors such as Humira and addresses Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
- CAR-NK Next-generation off-the-shelf CAR-NK cell therapy with chimeric antigen receptor attached, developed in collaboration with HK inno.N, Y-Biologics, and Cartexell. Leverages GI CELL's large-scale NK cell culture and mass production technology combined with partners' antibody discovery platforms for solid tumor targeting.
- CDMO Contract Manufacturing Services Contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) services for third-party cell therapy developers, leveraging GI CELL's GMP-certified smart factory facility (~3,400 m²) and advanced biopharmaceutical manufacturing license. Provides immune cell production capabilities to biotech companies that require cell therapy manufacturing but lack their own GMP infrastructure.
Quantifiable outcome
- World's first successful 200L NK cell culture in February 2022
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use GI CELL
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
GI CELL technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
GI CELL partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- TCT Health Technologies (Türkiye)coreGI CELL signed a letter of intent with TCT Health Technologies, a Turkish venture capital investment fund, for technology export of its allogeneic NK cell therapy (T.O.P. NK®). TCT will have commercialization rights in Turkey and neighboring CIS countries, bearing all development and clinical costs. GI CELL receives non-refundable upfront fees and double-digit royalties on net sales. Agreement for definitive technology transfer contract planned for March 2025. Led by Dr. Adil Mardinoglu, CSO of TCT and Professor at King's College London.
- Y-Bio Logics (와이바이오로직스)coreGI CELL and Y-Bio Logics signed a business cooperation agreement (MOU) for co-development of CAR-NK anticancer therapy candidates. Y-Bio Logics contributes its antibody discovery platform technology and nanobody library (Ymax-ABL, Ymax-Nano, pH-sensitive antibody technology, ALiCE T-cell bispecific platform) to develop novel tumor-targeting CAR-NK products combined with GI CELL's NK cell expansion and mass culture capabilities.
- OmniaMed (옴니아메드)minorGI CELL participates as co-development partner in a Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy-funded cross-disciplinary technology project with OmniaMed. OmniaMed is developing PNP (polymer nanoparticle) mRNA delivery platform technology; GI CELL contributes its NK cell therapy platform to develop next-generation allogeneic NK cell therapy with enhanced anticancer activity and in-vivo persistence through mRNA delivery technology. Project selected April 2023.
- HK inno.N (HK이노엔)coreGI CELL and HK inno.N entered a joint R&D agreement for allogeneic CAR-NK candidate development. The partnership leverages GI CELL's large-scale immune cell culture technology and HK inno.N's development and commercialization experience. Companies plan to develop multiple CAR-NK programs targeting clinical entry by 2024. HK inno.N brings GMP facilities and extensive pharmaceutical development capabilities.
- HelixmithminorGI CELL signed MOU with Helixmith and Cartexell for joint development of innovative cell therapies using the Immune Cell Expander Platform. Collaboration involves joint research on gene materials needed for cell therapy development, with potential for separate contract manufacturing agreements.
- CartexellminorGI CELL signed MOU with Helixmith and Cartexell for joint development of innovative cell therapies using the Immune Cell Expander Platform. Collaboration involves joint research on gene materials needed for cell therapy development.
- Yonsei University Health System / Severance Hospital (연세대학교 의료원/세브란스병원)coreGI Innovation, GI CELL, and Yonsei University Health System signed MOU to establish a cell therapy center at Severance Hospital and Songdo Severance Hospital. The partnership aims to build GMP facilities within hospital sites and establish a seamless process for research, production, clinical trials, and regulatory approval of advanced biopharmaceuticals including cell therapies.
- Ewha Womans University Medical Center (이화여자대학교 의료원)minorGI CELL and Ewha Womans University Medical Center signed MOU for biohealth industry promotion and development. Cooperation areas include anticancer immune cell therapy translational and clinical research, COVID-19 vaccine candidate development, clinical trial consulting, and new drug co-research.
- International Vaccine Institute (IVI, 국제백신연구소)minorGI CELL signed MOU with IVI for co-development of COVID-19 vaccine candidate. IVI facilitates international clinical development and global supply of vaccines. GI CELL contributes its vaccine development capabilities. The partnership targets vaccine development with variant responsiveness, safety, and patient convenience.
- GI Innovation Group / Yonsei University College of Medicine (지아이그룹/연세대학교 의과대학)coreGI Innovation, GI CELL, GI Biome, and Yonsei University College of Medicine signed MOU for innovative new drug development. GI CELL contributes immune cell therapy expertise; Yonsei contributes clinical research capabilities. Partnership includes joint research center establishment, academic conferences, and joint seminars.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
GI CELL competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Nkarta Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing allogeneic NK cell therapies for cancer using engineered NK cells. Direct competitor in allogeneic NK cell therapy modality with overlapping target indications in solid tumors and hematologic malignancies.
- Fate Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing off-the-shelf iPSC-derived NK cell and T-cell therapies. Closely comparable in modality (off-the-shelf allogeneic cell therapy) and target indications, with established partnerships with major pharma companies.
- Century Therapeutics: Clinical-stage company developing allogeneic cell therapies including NK and T cells derived from iPSCs. Direct competitor in off-the-shelf engineered cell therapy for oncology with comparable pipeline stage and target indications.
- Shoreline Biosciences: Developer of allogeneic NK cell and macrophage cell therapies derived from iPSCs. Competes directly with GI CELL in the allogeneic NK cell therapy space with platform technology focused on scalable off-the-shelf production.
- Cellectis: Clinical-stage biotech developing allogeneic CAR-T and other engineered cell therapies using gene editing. Comparable in developing off-the-shelf cell therapies, though focused on T cells with TALEN gene editing technology.
- Atara Biotherapeutics: Allogeneic T-cell immunotherapy company with marketed product Ebvallo and pipeline in oncology and autoimmune. Comparable in allogeneic off-the-shelf cell therapy modality and target indications including autoimmune disease.
Broad incumbents
- Adaptimmune Therapeutics: Commercial-stage cell therapy company developing engineered T-cell therapies for solid tumors with approved product Tecelra. Broader incumbent in cell therapy space with overlapping oncology focus and established manufacturing capabilities.
- Crispr Therapeutics: Clinical-stage gene editing company developing gene-edited cell therapies including allogeneic CAR-T candidates. Operates more broadly across gene editing modalities but overlaps in engineered cell therapy development for oncology.
- Kite Pharma (Gilead Sciences): Established commercial cell therapy leader with approved CAR-T products Yescarta and Tecartus. Larger industry incumbent serving as both a competitor and potential acquirer/partnership target for next-generation cell therapy developers.
Others
- GI Innovation: Parent company of GI CELL and developer of fusion protein-based biopharmaceuticals. Closely related entity providing the dual-function cytokine fusion protein technology that underpins GI CELL's cell expansion platforms, also a strategic partner.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GI CELL social profiles
Digital presenceGI CELL compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
GI CELL financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GI CELL leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
GI CELL funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GI CELL M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GI CELL
What does GI CELL do?
GI CELL develops allogeneic (off-the-shelf) immune cell therapies, primarily natural killer (NK) cell and regulatory T cell (Treg) therapies, for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. The company leverages proprietary feeder-cell-free, non-genetically-modified cell expansion platforms (NKPURE Expander, TregPure Expander, Immune CellPure Expander) to manufacture cell therapy products at commercial scale (world's first 200L NK cell culture). Revenue is generated through technology licensing and out-licensing deals, CDMO services using its GMP-certified smart factory, and planned commercialization of cell therapy drug candidates including T.O.P. NK (GIC-102), GIC-101 (Nano NK), GIC-302 (Drone Treg), and CAR-NK therapies.
Is GI CELL a public or private company?
GI CELL is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was GI CELL founded?
GI CELL was founded in 2018. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is GI CELL based?
GI CELL is headquartered in Seongnam, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does GI CELL make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Technology Licensing / Out-licensing is the primary driver. The others are CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) Services and pharmaceutical / Drug Development.
Who are GI CELL's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Nkarta Therapeutics, Fate Therapeutics, Century Therapeutics, Shoreline Biosciences, Cellectis and Atara Biotherapeutics. Broad incumbents are Adaptimmune Therapeutics, Crispr Therapeutics and Kite Pharma (Gilead Sciences). GI Innovation is listed as an others.
Does GI CELL have an API?
No public API is recorded for GI CELL.
What industry is GI CELL in?
GI CELL's product category is Cell Therapy / Cancer Immunotherapy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAABAD, NK Cell Therapies, with a secondary code of HLAAABAB, Cell Therapy Developers (Allogeneic/Off-the-shelf). Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2836.