Animascure
AniMusCure is a South Korean clinical-stage biotech developing first-in-class therapeutics for sarcopenia, DMD, ALS, and other muscle diseases using proprietary AI-powered MyoCheck and hiPSC organoid platforms, monetizing through pharma licensing and co-development with Dongwha, REYON, and Il-Yang.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersCheongcheon, South Korea
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Animascure does
AniMusCure is a South Korea-based, clinical-stage biotechnology company founded in 2020 by two academic co-founders (Professor Bae Gyu-Un of Sookmyung Women's University and Professor Jongsoon Kang of Sungkyunkwan University) that develops first-in-class therapeutics targeting muscle diseases. The company's core scientific thesis is that its proprietary target-gene approach can simultaneously increase muscle mass, enhance muscle strength, and improve muscle function — a triple-action profile that the company states major pharmaceutical players have been unable to achieve. Its lead candidate AMC6156 is in a Phase 2 trial in Korea for age-related sarcopenia (results expected June 2026) and has received FDA Orphan Drug Designation for ALS; AMC8012 has FDA Orphan Drug Designation for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy; additional pipeline assets address metabolic sarcopenia (AMC9005), obesity combination therapy (AMC8011, evaluated in GLP-1 combinations), and cancer cachexia (AMC6133).
Underlying R&D is anchored by two proprietary platforms: the AI-powered MyoCheck drug discovery system, which integrates a compound library with big-data analytics and in vitro/in vivo validation to identify lead compounds in 3-6 months, and an hiPSC-based organoid platform that includes what the company describes as the world's first heart organoid recapitulating cardiac tube formation, looping, and twisting, plus a NeuroMuscular organoid exhibiting synchronous contractile activity for aging, toxicity, and disease modeling with deep-learning image analysis. Multiple patent applications have been filed in Korea and via PCT, and joint patent applications exist with Dongwha Pharmaceutical.
The business model is B2B pharmaceutical licensing and co-development: the company partners with Korean pharmaceutical firms (Dongwha, REYON, Il-Yang, Samik Pharma) who contribute synthesis, formulation, and commercialization capabilities while AniMusCure contributes mechanism research and AI-led lead optimization, with future revenue expected from licensing royalties and overseas technology export. Clinical operations are outsourced via a CRO agreement with Novotech, and Phase 2 trials are conducted at Seoul National University Hospital and three other Korean sites. A complementary consumer revenue stream was added in December 2024 with the launch of M-Qure Plus, a liquid magnesium health functional food, representing a non-Rx, channel-based sales motion alongside the prescription pipeline.
Animascure firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Animascure
- Legal name
- AnimusCure Inc. (애니머스큐어 주식회사)
- Website
- https://animuscure.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- AniMusCure is a South Korean clinical-stage biotech developing first-in-class therapeutics for sarcopenia, DMD, ALS, and other muscle diseases using proprietary AI-powered MyoCheck and hiPSC organoid platforms, monetizing through pharma licensing and co-development with Dongwha, REYON, and Il-Yang.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Animascure industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Muscle Disease Therapeutics R&D
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Neuromuscular Medicine (ALS, Myasthenia, Neuropathy) (HLAKAIAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cardiology & Vascular Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAG), Cardiometabolic Pharmaceuticals (Cardiovascular/Diabetes/Obesity) (HLAIAAAE), Organoids & Organ-on-Chip (regenerative models) (HLAAAGAD), Weight Gain & Muscle-Building Nutrition (HSADAFAC)
Keywords
Where Animascure is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cheongcheon
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
Animascure business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Drug Development and Licensing: Pre-revenue biotech company focused on developing novel therapeutics for muscle diseases including sarcopenia, DMD, ALS, and cardiovascular conditions. Revenue expected through licensing deals with global pharmaceutical companies, co-development agreements, and eventual product commercialization.
- Health Functional Food Sales: Launched M-Qure Plus liquid magnesium product in December 2024 for muscle health, representing a consumer health product revenue stream.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Animascure product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Animascure is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class small-molecule drug candidates that simultaneously increase muscle mass, enhance muscle strength, and improve muscle function for sarcopenia, DMD, ALS, cancer cachexia, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular indications. Its drug discovery is powered by the proprietary AI-driven MyoCheck® platform and hiPSC-based NeuroMuscular and Heart Organoid modeling platforms, with future revenue expected from out-licensing and co-development deals with global pharmaceutical partners and a current consumer revenue stream from the M-Qure Plus liquid magnesium health supplement.
Product overview
AnimusCure is a muscle-focused R&D biotechnology company developing a portfolio of drug candidates for muscle-related diseases. The core product pipeline includes AMC6156 for sarcopenia and ALS, AMC8012 for DMD, AMC9005 for metabolic syndrome, AMC8011 for obesity combination therapy, and AMC6133 for cancer cachexia. The company operates two technology platforms: the AI-powered MyoCheck® Platform for drug discovery enabling rapid candidate identification within 3-6 months, and the Organoid Platform using hiPSC-based neuromuscular and heart organoids for disease modeling and drug evaluation. Additionally, the company launched M-Qure Plus, a liquid magnesium health supplement for muscle health in January 2025.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- M-Qure Plus: Health functional food - liquid magnesium supplement for muscle health launched in December 2024
Products and services
- AMC6156 Lead small-molecule drug candidate targeting age-related sarcopenia with a first-in-class triple-action mechanism that simultaneously increases muscle mass, enhances muscle strength, and improves muscle function. Currently in Phase 2 clinical trials in Korea for sarcopenia and has received FDA Orphan Drug Designation for ALS.
- AMC8012 Drug candidate for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a rare congenital muscle disease, with FDA Orphan Drug Designation. Targets progressive muscle degeneration in pediatric and rare-disease populations.
- AMC9005 Drug candidate for metabolic syndrome including obesity treatment, with FDA Orphan Drug Designation approved. Developed through the proprietary core target gene-based therapeutic approach.
- AMC8011 Obesity combination therapy drug candidate designed to address muscle-loss side effects associated with GLP-1 weight-loss drugs; third-party efficacy study completed in combination with GLP-1.
- AMC6133 Drug candidate targeting cancer cachexia, the muscle-wasting syndrome associated with malignancy and oncology treatments.
- M-Qure Plus Liquid magnesium dietary supplement marketed as a health functional food for muscle health, providing a consumer-facing revenue stream alongside the pharmaceutical pipeline.
Quantifiable outcome
- Candidate compound identification within 3-6 months using MyoCheck platform
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Animascure
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Animascure technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Animascure partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- REYON Pharmaceutical (이연제약)coreJoint research agreement signed for age-related sarcopenia treatment development. Both companies utilizing their strengths to conduct joint R&D with goals of overseas technology export and domestic approval acquisition.
- Il-Yang PharmaceuticalcoreMemorandum of understanding signed for joint R&D on age-related sarcopenia therapeutics. Partnership aims for overseas technology export and domestic regulatory approval.
- NovotechcoreCRO agreement for Phase 2a clinical trial of AMC6156 sarcopenia treatment. Novotech serves as clinical research organization for trial conduct and management.
- Dongwha PharmaceuticalcoreJoint research agreement for sarcopenia treatment development. Dongwha Pharmaceutical synthesizes and derives sarcopenia treatment candidates using low-molecule compound-based new drug development capabilities. AniMusCure conducts efficacy evaluation and mechanism research. Joint patent applications filed with Dongwha receiving commercialization rights.
- Samik Pharma (삼익제약)minorAcademic-industry collaboration with Sookmyung Pharmacy School and AniMusCure for muscle disease therapeutic development. Samik Pharma invests research funding and handles drug characterization, formulation optimization, and IND filing. AniMusCure conducts mechanism of action research and AI-based lead optimization.
- Sookmyung Women's UniversitycoreAcademic research partner hosting AniMusCure's headquarters and 2nd Research Institute at the university. CEO Bae Gyu-Un serves as professor at the College of Pharmacy and directs the Muscle Physiome Research Center (MRC).
- Sungkyunkwan UniversitycoreAcademic research partner hosting AniMusCure's 1st Research Institute at the School of Medicine. CTO Jongsoon Kang serves as professor at the School of Medicine and leads ARPA-H project for sarcopenia therapeutics.
- Zuellig PharmaminorListed as partner in company materials, nature of partnership not detailed in available sources.
- PiramalminorListed as partner in company materials, nature of partnership not detailed in available sources.
- AsymchemminorListed as partner in company materials, nature of partnership not detailed in available sources.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Animascure competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sarepta Therapeutics: Commercial-stage leader in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy with multiple approved RNA-based therapies (Elevidys, Exondys 51, Vyondys 53). Directly comparable for the DMD program (AMC8012) given same indication and rare-disease commercial dynamics.
- Keros Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing therapeutics targeting TGF-beta superfamily for blood disorders and muscle/bone diseases. Comparable given shared muscle-biology focus and similar clinical-stage profile.
- Avidity Biosciences: Clinical-stage biotech developing Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates for rare muscle diseases including DMD, FSHD, and DM1. Directly comparable given shared DMD focus and rare muscle-disease strategy.
- BioAge Labs: Clinical-stage biotech developing therapeutics that target the molecular mechanisms of aging, with a lead program for sarcopenia. Most directly comparable to AnimusCure given shared sarcopenia focus, AI-driven discovery, and similar stage of development.
- Cytokinetics: Late-stage biotech specializing in muscle biology and cardiac contractility, with approved cardiac myosin inhibitor and pipeline in HCM and muscle function. Directly comparable for muscle-targeted therapeutics development and clinical execution.
- Scholar Rock: Clinical-stage biotech developing monoclonal antibodies targeting latent myostatin and TGF-beta superfamily for muscle disorders including SMA and DMD. Closely comparable given muscle-disease focus and similar therapeutic modality ambition.
Broad incumbents
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Large-cap biotech with muscle-related programs (e.g., garetosmab for fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva) and broad rare-disease portfolio. Comparable as a potential global partner/acquirer with the capital to in-license sarcopenia assets.
- Biogen: Large biotech with established ALS franchise (Spinraza, Relyvrio withdrawal) and active neuromuscular pipeline. Comparable as a likely acquirer/licensor for AnimusCure's ALS program and as a broad neuromuscular incumbent.
- Insmed: Commercial rare-disease biotech with approved ARIKAYCE and pipeline in pulmonary and rare diseases. Comparable given rare-disease commercialization playbook and orphan-drug expertise applicable to AnimusCure's DMD/ALS programs.
Emerging players
- Lexeo Therapeutics: Clinical-stage gene therapy company with focus on genetic cardiomyopathies and rare diseases. Comparable as a platform-oriented biotech tackling muscle/cardiovascular rare diseases at similar stage.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Animascure social profiles
Digital presenceAnimascure compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Animascure financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Animascure leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Animascure funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Animascure 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 Animascure
What does Animascure do?
Animascure is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class small-molecule drug candidates that simultaneously increase muscle mass, enhance muscle strength, and improve muscle function for sarcopenia, DMD, ALS, cancer cachexia, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular indications. Its drug discovery is powered by the proprietary AI-driven MyoCheck® platform and hiPSC-based NeuroMuscular and Heart Organoid modeling platforms, with future revenue expected from out-licensing and co-development deals with global pharmaceutical partners and a current consumer revenue stream from the M-Qure Plus liquid magnesium health supplement.
Is Animascure a public or private company?
Animascure is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Animascure founded?
Animascure was founded in 2020.
Where is Animascure based?
Animascure is headquartered in Cheongcheon, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does Animascure make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Drug Development and Licensing is the primary driver. The others are health Functional Food Sales.
Who are Animascure's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sarepta Therapeutics, Keros Therapeutics, Avidity Biosciences, BioAge Labs, Cytokinetics and Scholar Rock. Broad incumbents are Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Biogen and Insmed. Lexeo Therapeutics is listed as an emerging player.
Does Animascure have an API?
No public API is recorded for Animascure.
What industry is Animascure in?
Animascure's product category is Muscle Disease Therapeutics R&D. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAKAIAD, Neuromuscular Medicine (ALS, Myasthenia, Neuropathy), with a secondary code of HLAIACAG, Cardiology & Vascular Specialty Pharmaceuticals. Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 8731.