Kainos Medicine

What Kainos Medicine does

Kainos Medicine (주식회사 카이노스메드, Kainos Medicine Inc.) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2007 in South Korea that develops novel small-molecule therapeutics across neurodegeneration, oncology, metabolic disease, and antiviral indications. The company operates research and corporate centers in Seoul/Pangyo Techno Valley (Seongnam) and Morrisville, North Carolina (via its wholly-owned subsidiary FAScinate Therapeutics), and listed on KOSDAQ in June 2020 through a SPAC merger with Hana Financial Investment 11th SPAC. Its R&D leadership is anchored by personnel who were inventors and developers of commercialized global drugs including Tamiflu (oseltamivir), Fuzeon (HIV fusion inhibitor), and Januvia (sitagliptin), supplemented by a Scientific Advisory Board that includes Dr. Carolyn Barlow for Parkinson's clinical development.

The company's pipeline rests on three proprietary mechanistic platforms. The lead is FAF1 protein modulation — a first-in-class approach that activates autophagy to drive alpha-synuclein degradation — embodied in KM-819, currently in US Phase 2 for Parkinson's disease and Korean Phase 2/3 for Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). The second is an epigenetic and targeted-oncology platform spanning a DNMT inhibitor (KM101) with improved pharmacokinetics, a BRD4 dual-inhibitor, cytotoxic nucleoside derivatives, an immuno-oncology program, and partnered work on IRAK4 (with Emmauz) and a FAF1 mRNA "bio-drone" (with MDimune). The third covers metabolic and antiviral assets: KM001 (DGAT1 inhibitor) for diabetes/obesity and KM-023/ACC008, a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor for HIV/AIDS that was approved in China in 2021 and listed on Chinese health insurance. Additional programs include an HBV drug co-developed with Institut Pasteur Korea.

Commercially, Kainos pursues a licensing-out rather than direct-sales model, with the only material commercial event being the China out-licensing of KM-023 to Jangsu ID in 2021 (via a JV that was later liquidated in favor of a pure licensing structure). The company has generated no material recurring revenue to date. It is in active financial distress: it received a KOSDAQ delisting notice in January 2026 citing capital erosion and failure to meet listing/audit requirements, is contesting that action legally, and has been attempting to recapitalize through very large third-party share issuances (167 billion KRW in December 2024 from a UN-affiliated organization and other investors, followed by 71.7 billion KRW in early 2025) while its multi-year operating losses continue.

Name

Kainos Medicine

Legal name

주식회사 카이노스메드 (Kainos Medicine Inc.)

Website

https://kainosmedicine.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Kainos Medicine (주식회사 카이노스메드), founded 2007 in South Korea, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing proprietary small-molecule drugs for Parkinson's disease, Multiple System Atrophy, HIV/AIDS, cancer, and metabolic disorders, with operations in Korea and the United States and a pipeline out-licensed primarily to Chinese and US partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clinical-Stage Biopharmaceutical Drug Development

NAICS

Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rare Neurology & Neurodegenerative Disorder Therapies (HLAIAIAD), Endocrinology & Metabolic Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAD)

Keywords

• Small molecule drug development
• Parkinson's disease therapeutics
• HIV antiretroviral therapy
• Epigenetic cancer therapy
• Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical

Headquarters

HQ city

Seongnam

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Technology Licensing Royalties: Pre-revenue biopharmaceutical company expecting initial royalty income from licensed-out AIDS treatment (KM-023/ACC008) in China through partner Jangsu ID. The company receives royalties when products are commercialized in overseas markets.
2. Future Product Sales: Pending FDA and Korean approvals for Parkinson's disease treatment (KM-819) and other pipeline products. Expected to generate revenue through product sales upon regulatory approvals.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kainos Medicine is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops novel small molecule drug candidates for neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson's disease, Multiple System Atrophy), viral infections (HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B), cancer (epigenetic, targeted, cytotoxic, immuno-oncology), and metabolic disorders (diabetes, obesity). Its lead assets include KM-819 (FAF1 inhibitor in Phase 2 for Parkinson's/MSA), KM-023/ACC008 (NNRTI approved for HIV/AIDS in China and out-licensed), and preclinical/early-stage oncology and metabolic programs. Revenue is generated through out-licensing of drug candidates, technology transfer fees, and expected future product royalties and sales.

Product overview

Kainos Medicine is a global drug research and development company focused on discovering innovative treatments for cancer, metabolic diseases, and infectious diseases. The company operates new drug development centers in Korea (Seoul) and the United States (Morrisville, North Carolina). The core product portfolio includes KM-819 for Parkinson's disease (FAF1 inhibitor in Phase 2), KM-023/ACC008 for HIV/AIDS (NNRTI approved in China), KM001 for diabetes/obesity (DGAT1 inhibitor), and a pipeline of anti-cancer agents including DNMT inhibitors (KM101), BRD4 inhibitors, cytotoxic agents, and immuno-oncology drugs. Additional programs include HBV treatment developed with Institut Pasteur Korea. The R&D team includes inventors and developers of approved drugs such as Fuzeon (AIDS treatment) and Januvia (diabetes treatment).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KM-819 (FAF1 inhibitor for Parkinson's disease) Investigational small molecule that inhibits the FAF1 (Fas-associated factor 1) protein, activating autophagy and promoting alpha-synuclein degradation to inhibit aggregation and slow Parkinson's disease progression; in clinical development also for Multiple System Atrophy (MSA).
• KM-023 / ACC008 (HIV/AIDS NNRTI) Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) for HIV/AIDS; completed Phase 1 successfully and received regulatory approval for marketing in China with a superior safety profile compared to the efavirenz comparator.
• KM001 (DGAT1 inhibitor for diabetes/obesity) Diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) inhibitor that reduces triglyceride synthesis; preclinical efficacy demonstrated in diet-induced obesity mouse models; pursued as a first-in-class diabetes and obesity candidate.
• DNMT Inhibitor (KM101) - epigenetic anti-cancer drug Orally bioavailable DNA methyltransferase inhibitor that reduces hypermethylation and reactivates tumor suppressor genes; positioned with improved pharmacokinetics and lower toxicity than incumbent DNMT inhibitors.
• BRD4 Inhibitor (anti-cancer agent) Dual bromodomain BRD4 inhibitor designed to maximize efficacy and immune engagement in oncology; targets cancer through gene-expression regulation mechanisms distinct from cytotoxic chemotherapy.
• Cytotoxic Anti-Cancer Agent (nucleoside derivative) Next-generation nucleoside-based cytotoxic agent targeting hematological cancers and solid tumors; supports both oral and intravenous administration.
• Immuno-Oncologic Agent Third-generation immuno-oncology candidate that activates patient immune cells to attack cancer cells; applicable across hematological malignancies and solid tumors.
• HBV Medication Hepatitis B drug candidate developed through joint research with Institut Pasteur Korea; targets the population of approximately 240 million chronic hepatitis B patients worldwide.

Quantifiable outcome

• KM-819 demonstrated efficacy in inhibiting alpha-synuclein aggregation in preclinical and clinical studies
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Paraxel (파렉셀)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 19 September 2022Clinical Research Organization (CRO) partnership with Paraxel CNS team for Parkinson's disease clinical trials in the US. Phase 2 clinical trials conducted at Paraxel clinical center hospitals.
• MDimmun (엠디뮨)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 October 2021Joint research and license contract for FAF1 mRNA-loaded bio-drone anticancer therapy. Partnership for developing novel anticancer treatment using mRNA technology.
• Jangsu ID (장수아이디)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2021Strategic partnership with Chinese pharmaceutical company Jangsu ID for AIDS treatment (KM-023/ACC008). Joint venture established in 2021 for overseas co-expansion. Partner responsible for clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization in China. ACC008 received Chinese health insurance listing and sales approval in 2021.
• Emmauz (엠마우스)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2021MOU for IRAK4 inhibition anticancer drug co-development. Total deal value of $15.5 million including technology transfer expansion contract signed in November 2021.
• FAScinate Therapeutics (패시네이트 테라퓨틱스)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 June 2020US subsidiary established to develop CNS drugs including Parkinson's disease treatment. Through this subsidiary, Kainos aims to be the first Korean company to enter US Phase 2 clinical trials for Parkinson's disease treatment.
• Dr. Noah Biotech (닥터노아바이오텍)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 March 2020Research agreement for AI platform drug development. Partnership to leverage artificial intelligence in novel drug discovery.
• US Parkinson Institute (PICC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2018Collaboration with US Parkinson Institute for Parkinson's disease treatment clinical development. Partnership with world-renowned Parkinson's clinical development expert Dr. Carolyn Barlow as Scientific Advisory Board member.
• Institut Pasteur KoreacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2016Joint research program with Institut Pasteur Korea for discovery of novel Hepatitis B (HBV) drug. Combines Kainos medicinal chemistry and drug development expertise with Institut Pasteur Korea's basic science research competencies and screening skills.
• SincellTech Bio (신테카바이오)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2016Joint research for Parkinson's disease treatment development leveraging big data capabilities. Partnership announced in 2016 for data-driven drug development.
• Hanmi Pharmaceutical (한미약품)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 February 2013Joint research agreement for new drug development using platform technology. Historical partnership from 2013.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Anavex Life Sciences: Clinical-stage biotech developing small molecules for neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's and rare disorders such as Rett syndrome. Comparable to Kainos in CNS focus, small-molecule platform, and pre-revenue clinical execution.
• Acadia Pharmaceuticals: Specialty CNS biopharma with approved and pipeline assets targeting Parkinson's disease psychosis, Rett syndrome, and other neurological disorders. Closely comparable to Kainos in CNS focus and orphan neurology strategy.
• Prothena Biosciences: Clinical-stage biotech focused on protein-misfolding neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease and AL amyloidosis. Comparable pipeline orientation around synucleinopathies and rare CNS indications.
• Denali Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing therapies for neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's and ALS, with a focus on novel mechanisms targeting lysosomal function and protein aggregation. Highly comparable to KM-819's autophagy-based alpha-synuclein approach.

Emerging players

• Ionis Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage antisense biotech with programs in rare neurodegenerative disorders and infectious disease. Comparable pipeline breadth and rare-disease focus, though differentiated by antisense modality.
• Sage Therapeutics: CNS-focused biopharma developing therapies for depression, epilepsy, and neurodegenerative disorders. Comparable in CNS clinical focus but with earlier-stage small-molecule pipeline.

Broad incumbents

• Gilead Sciences: Global biopharma with leading HIV franchise plus oncology and antiviral portfolio. Provides broad-market context for KM-023's competitive positioning and out-licensing comparable.
• ViiV Healthcare: Global HIV-focused pharma (majority-owned by GSK) and dominant player in antiretroviral therapy. Comparable to Kainos on the KM-023/ACC008 HIV NNRTI asset; serves as the dominant benchmark for commercial potential and competitive dynamics.

Regional players

• SK Biopharmaceuticals: Korean CNS-focused biopharma with global out-licensing track record (e.g., cenobamate to Angelini). Closest Asian comparable to Kainos in CNS development, KOSDAQ/KOSPI listing profile, and licensing-out business model.
• Hanmi Pharmaceutical: Major Korean pharma with historical joint research agreement with Kainos. Comparable as a Korean-headquartered biopharma with diversified pipeline, though larger and more commercially mature.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Kainos Medicine