Cho Pharma

What Cho Pharma does

CHO PHARMA INC. (醣基) is a Taiwan-based biotechnology company founded in 2013 and listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE: 6586). It is built around a proprietary enzymatic glycoengineering platform called CHOptimax™, which uses a one-pot reaction with a single enzyme and a single substrate to convert off-the-shelf antibodies into either glycoengineered biobetters or glycosite-specific antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). The company is led by Chairman Dr. Chao-Long Chen and President & CEO Dr. Chung-Yi Wu, with scientific origins in Academia Sinica's glycoscience research community, including lineage to Prof. Chi-Huey Wong. Its IP portfolio comprises 60+ granted patents and 20+ pending applications covering the platform, proprietary enzymes, and product compositions.

The company's product portfolio spans glycoengineered biobetter antibodies (CHO-H01 targeting CD20 in refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma, in Phase I/IIa; CHO-H02 targeting HER2; CHO-H03 for autoimmune indications), a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting SSEA-4 on cancer stem cells (CHO-A04, Phase I/IIa in advanced solid tumors), and a bivalent carbohydrate-conjugate vaccine against Klebsiella pneumoniae serotypes K1 and K2 (CHO-V08, Phase 1). CHO-H01 is described as the world's first glycoengineered biobetter, with preclinical data showing a 30–50 fold increase in ADCC activity versus non-glycoengineered rituximab. The company also offers contract manufacturing services to produce glycoengineered antibodies and glycosite-specific ADCs for research and pre-clinical use by external partners.

CHO PHARMA is pre-commercial. Its revenue model rests on three pillars: (1) licensing of the CHOptimax™ platform technology to pharmaceutical partners, (2) co-development of biobetters and ADCs with strategic partners for downstream commercialization economics, and (3) contract research and manufacturing services for glycoengineered antibodies and ADCs. Operating revenue to date has been episodic and modest, in the low single-digit US$ million range on an annualized basis, with reported EBITDA and operating income deeply negative across 2021–2025 reflecting continued heavy R&D investment. The principal customers in its current model are pharmaceutical partners seeking to license the platform or co-develop products, with end-patient populations (oncology, autoimmune, infectious disease) being downstream beneficiaries rather than direct customers. Capital is being raised in part through a private placement of up to 30,000,000 new shares, with major institutional shareholders including Fubon Financial, Fubon Life, and Nestor Capital.

Name

Cho Pharma

Legal name

CHO PHARMA INC. 醣基

Website

https://chopharma.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CHO PHARMA INC. (Taiwan, TWSE: 6586) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing glycoengineered biobetter antibodies, glycosite-specific ADCs, and carbohydrate-conjugate vaccines using its proprietary one-pot enzymatic CHOptimax™ platform, licensing the technology and co-developing products with pharmaceutical partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biopharmaceuticals (Glycoengineered Antibody Drugs)

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Antibody Discovery & Engineering Platforms (display tech, bispecifics, Fc engineering) (HLAAAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) & Antibody Conjugates (HLAAAAAE), Monoclonal Antibody Therapeutics (mAbs) (HLAAAAAA), Immunology & Inflammation Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAD), Clinical Development & Regulatory for Vaccines (trials, pharmacovigilance, lot release) (HLAAAEAK)

Keywords

• Glycoengineering platform
• Antibody drug conjugates
• Glycoengineered biobetter
• Biopharmaceutical drug development
• Glycan-based vaccines

Headquarters

HQ city

Taipei

HQ country

Taiwan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Technology Licensing: CHOptimax™ platform technology licensing to pharmaceutical partners for drug development.
2. Product Co-development: Co-development of glycoengineered biobetters and ADCs with strategic partners, potentially leading to product commercialization revenue.
3. Contract Research Services: Providing services to produce glycoengineered antibodies and glycosite-specific ADCs for research and pre-clinical evaluation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CHO Pharma develops the proprietary CHOptimax™ one-pot enzymatic glycoengineering platform to convert naked antibodies into glycoengineered biobetters or glycosite-specific antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) in a single step. The company operates a clinical-stage pipeline of glycoengineered antibody drug candidates (CHO-H01, CHO-H02, CHO-H03, CHO-A04) and a carbohydrate-based bivalent vaccine (CHO-V08) targeting B-cell malignancies, solid tumors, autoimmune diseases, and Klebsiella pneumoniae infections. It also licenses its platform technology, co-develops products with partners, and offers contract research services to produce glycoengineered antibodies and ADCs for pre-clinical evaluation.

Product overview

Cho Pharma is a Taiwan-based biotechnology company founded in 2013, traded on TWSE (6586), specializing in glycoengineering platform technologies for drug development. The core technology is CHOptimax™, a proprietary one-pot enzymatic platform that enables precise glycosylation control of antibodies. The product portfolio includes glycoengineered biobetter antibodies (CHO-H01, CHO-H02, CHO-H03, CHO-A04) targeting CD20, HER2, undisclosed, and SSEA-4 respectively, a bivalent vaccine (CHO-V08) against Klebsiella pneumonia, and glycosite-specific ADC candidates. CHO-H01 is the world's first glycoengineered biobetter. The company also offers contract manufacturing services for glycoengineered antibodies and ADCs for research and preclinical evaluation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CHOptimax™: Proprietary glycoengineering platform technology that enables one-step enzymatic conversion of antibodies into glycoengineered biobetters or glycosite-specific ADCs.

Products and services

• CHOptimax™ Glycoengineering Platform Proprietary one-pot enzymatic platform technology that uses one enzyme and one substrate to convert antibodies into glycoengineered biobetters or glycosite-specific ADCs in a single step, with GMP process completion within 24 hours and scalable homogeneous production. Available for technology licensing, co-development, and contract research services for pharmaceutical partners.
• CHO-H01 (Glycoengineered Anti-CD20 Biobetter) Anti-CD20 glycoengineered biobetter antibody drug candidate that delivers a 30-50 fold increase in ADCC activity versus non-glycoengineered Rituximab and shows potent activity against Rituximab-resistant B lymphoma cells. Indicated for B-cell malignancies including refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
• CHO-H02 (HER2-Targeted Glycoengineered Antibody/ADC) Next-generation HER2-targeted antibody drug candidate comprising glycoengineered biobetter and glycosite-specific ADC variants using CHOptimax™ technology. Preclinical development for breast, bladder, pancreatic, ovarian, and gastric cancers.
• CHO-H03 (Anti-Autoimmune Antibody) Antibody drug candidate engineered via CHOptimax™ to increase FcγR binding and induce regulatory macrophages for treatment of autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease.
• CHO-A04 (Anti-SSEA-4 Antibody) Humanized monoclonal antibody targeting SSEA-4, a glycosphingolipid highly expressed on tumor cells and cancer stem cells. Currently in Phase I/IIa clinical trial for advanced solid tumors.
• CHO-V08 (Klebsiella pneumoniae Bivalent Vaccine) Bivalent carbohydrate-based conjugate vaccine targeting Klebsiella pneumoniae serotypes K1 and K2 to prevent nosocomial infections. Currently in Phase 1 clinical trial.
• Glycoengineered Antibody Manufacturing Service Contract manufacturing services using the CHOptimax™ platform to produce glycoengineered antibodies and glycosite-specific ADCs for research and pre-clinical evaluation by pharmaceutical partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30-50 fold increase in ADCC activity compared to non-glycoengineered Rituximab in preclinical studies
• +5 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Strategic Partners (Seeking)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHO Pharma is actively seeking strategic partners with complementary technologies and services to achieve mutual benefits. The company offers CHOptimax™ licensing, product co-development opportunities, and strategic alliance partnerships to bring life-changing medicines for patients with limited or inadequate treatment options.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• OBI Pharma: Taiwan-based, TWSE-listed clinical-stage biotechnology company developing antibody-drug conjugates and glycan-targeted oncology therapeutics. Operates in the same Taiwan oncology biologics ecosystem with a comparable pre-commercial profile and product-platform hybrid structure.
• LegoChem Biosciences: Korean clinical-stage biotech operating a proprietary ADC platform technology (ConjuAll) with site-specific conjugation chemistry and licensing-based monetization. Highly comparable to CHOptimax™ as both are ADC platform plays monetized via partnerships and licensing deals.
• Sutro Biopharma: US-based clinical-stage biotech with cell-free protein synthesis platform for site-specific antibody and ADC development. Operates a hybrid model of internal pipeline plus partner-funded programs, closely mirroring CHO Pharma's technology licensing and co-development strategy.
• AbCellera Biologics: Canadian antibody discovery and engineering platform that partners with biopharma to develop therapeutic antibodies using its proprietary screening technology. Comparable as a platform-revenue model biotech with similar technology-licensing, co-development, and partnership-driven revenue streams.
• Innate Pharma: French clinical-stage immuno-oncology company leveraging antibody platform technologies (NK-cell engagers, ADC payloads) with both internal pipeline and pharma partnerships. Comparable as a non-revenue antibody platform biotech pursuing oncology indications.

Broad incumbents

• Genmab: Danish commercial-stage antibody therapeutics company with proprietary DuoBody (bispecific) and HexaBody platforms that license to major pharma partners. A mature incumbent demonstrating the platform-licensing business model at scale, with multiple validating partnerships.
• ImmunoGen: US-based pioneer in ADC development with proprietary linker-payload technology and multiple approved/partnered ADC assets, now part of AbbVie. Represents the validation endpoint and ultimate exit model for ADC platform companies.

Regional players

• Acepodia: Taiwan-based clinical-stage biotech with antibody-drug conjugate (ACC) and antibody-cell effector (ACE) platform technologies targeting oncology. Regional direct peer operating in the same Taiwan biotech ecosystem with adjacent antibody platform technology.
• PharmaEssentia: Taiwan-based, TWSE-listed specialty biotech (mkt-listed) with a commercially launched biologic (Besremi) and ongoing pipeline. Comparable as a Taiwan-headquartered, exchange-listed biotech investor benchmark, though at a more advanced commercial stage.

Others

• WuXi Biologics: China-headquartered global biologics CDMO operating large-scale antibody manufacturing services for pharma partners. Relevant as an enabling service provider/ecosystem participant that CHO Pharma's contract research offering competes against or partners with.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cho-pharma

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Cho Pharma