GeneOne Life Science
GeneOne Life Science is a South Korean biopharmaceutical R&D company developing DNA and mRNA vaccines and therapeutics, with a wholly-owned US CDMO subsidiary (VGXI) providing cGMP plasmid DNA contract manufacturing services globally.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersSoeul, South Korea
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What GeneOne Life Science does
GeneOne Life Science (진원생명과학, KOSPI: 011000) is a Seoul-based biopharmaceutical R&D company founded in 1976 that develops nucleic acid-based vaccines and therapeutics, including DNA vaccines, mRNA vaccines, and gene therapy products. Its wholly-owned US subsidiary VGXI, Inc. (Houston, Texas) operates a cGMP plasmid DNA contract manufacturing organization (CDMO), serving as the company's commercial arm and generating contract revenue from global biotech and pharmaceutical clients. The internal pipeline spans infectious disease vaccines (Zika GLS-5700, MERS GLS-5300, SFTS GLS-5140, COVID-19 GLS-5310, Hepatitis B/C, shingles GLS-5100), oncology candidates (HER2-positive breast cancer GLS-7000, personalized neoantigen therapy via Geneos partnership), and rare disease therapeutics (Hemophilia A GLS-7100).
The company's technology platform centers on proprietary nucleic acid design and manufacturing capabilities. The Gene-Derm device is a suction-based intradermal delivery system that activates the CLIC/GEEC endocytosis pathway for needle-free DNA vaccine administration, published in Science Advances. VGXI's AirMix process is an automated cGMP manufacturing technique for high-quality plasmid DNA with short lead times. The company holds exclusive mRNA vaccine technology licensed from Houston Methodist Hospital and collaborates with Rutgers University on a microfluidic electroporation single-cell delivery system achieving 95% gene delivery efficiency for CAR-T applications. Patents span the US, Europe, Japan, and India, with clinical results published in NEJM (Zika), Lancet Infectious Diseases (MERS), and Nature Communications (SFTS).
GeneOne generates revenue through three primary streams: CDMO contract manufacturing services (VGXI supplies plasmid DNA and mRNA via contracts typically ranging $1.3M–$3.8M per agreement), licensing and milestone payments (notably the 2013 Roche hepatitis B vaccine deal valued at $3M upfront plus up to $220M in milestones and royalties), and non-dilutive government grants (Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare, CEPI, DARPA, Korea CDC, IVI). The company sells directly to enterprise pharmaceutical clients, government health agencies, and research institutions. Manufacturing operations span the existing Houston facility (~500L, at full capacity since 2019) and a new Conroe, Texas facility under construction with 5,000L capacity (10x scale), with 21 additional acres secured for expansion to 7,500L. The company underwent significant restructuring in 2026, including an 81B KRW capital raise with Dongbang Growth Investment Fund No. 1 becoming the largest shareholder.
GeneOne Life Science firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GeneOne Life Science
- Legal name
- 진원생명과학(주)
- Website
- https://genels.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- GeneOne Life Science is a South Korean biopharmaceutical R&D company developing DNA and mRNA vaccines and therapeutics, with a wholly-owned US CDMO subsidiary (VGXI) providing cGMP plasmid DNA contract manufacturing services globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GeneOne Life Science industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biopharmaceuticals
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Gene Therapy CDMO (Viral Vector Manufacturing) (HLAGAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Gene Therapy Vector Manufacturing & CDMO Services (HLAAACAJ), Gene Therapy CMC/Process Development Platforms (capsid engineering, producer cell lines, plasmids, upstream/downstream) (HLAAACAN), Gene Therapy Delivery Devices & Administration Systems (catheters, intrathecal, ocular delivery) (HLAAACAL)
Keywords
Where GeneOne Life Science is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Soeul
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
GeneOne Life Science business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Operations
Revenue model
- CDMO/Contract Manufacturing Services: GeneOne operates through its US subsidiary VGXI, a cGMP plasmid DNA contract manufacturing organization. VGXI produces plasmid DNA as raw material for gene therapies, mRNA vaccines, DNA vaccines, and CAR-T therapies for clients globally. Revenue comes from supply contracts with US biotech companies, multinational pharma, and research institutions. Multiple supply contracts documented ranging from $1.3M to $3.8M per contract.
- Licensing and Milestone Payments: GeneOne receives milestone payments from licensing deals. Notable examples include Roche licensing chronic hepatitis B DNA vaccine ($3M milestone + up to $220M additional milestones + royalties), CEPI funding for MERS vaccine, and government grants. Also receives milestone payments from international collaborations like the $73B won government research funding for COVID-19 vaccine.
- Government Grants and Research Funding: Significant non-dilutive funding from Korean government agencies (Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency) and international organizations (CEPI, International Vaccine Institute). Examples include 7.3B KRW for COVID-19 vaccine development and ongoing support for SFTS and MERS vaccine programs.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
GeneOne Life Science product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GeneOne Life Science is a biopharmaceutical R&D company that designs and develops nucleic acid-based medicines, including DNA vaccines, mRNA vaccines, and gene therapy therapeutics targeting infectious diseases, cancer, and rare disorders. Through its US subsidiary VGXI, it also operates a cGMP plasmid DNA and mRNA contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) serving global biotech and pharmaceutical clients.
Product overview
GeneOne Life Science is a biopharmaceutical R&D company specializing in nucleic acid-based medicines including DNA and RNA vaccines, along with contract manufacturing services. The company operates through two main business segments: (1) an internal pipeline of nucleic acid vaccines and therapeutics developed for infectious diseases (GLS-5100, GLS-5140, GLS-5300, GLS-5700, GLS-6100, GLS-6150, GLS-3000, GLS-5310), small molecule drugs (GLS-1027), and monoclonal antibody therapeutics (GLS-7000, GLS-7100, GLS-8000, GLS-8100); and (2) a contract manufacturing subsidiary VGXI offering cGMP plasmid DNA and mRNA production services. Key technology platforms include the Gene-Derm suction-based intradermal delivery device for DNA vaccines and AirMix automated manufacturing process.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Gene-Derm: Suction-based intradermal DNA vaccine delivery medical device used for COVID-19 DNA vaccine (GLS-5310) administration
- GLS-5100
- GLS-5140
- GLS-5300
- GLS-5700
- GLS-6100/GLS-6150
- GLS-5310
- GLS-1027
- GLS-1200
Products and services
- GLS-5100
Quantifiable outcome
- COVID-19 DNA vaccine GLS-5310: 93% seroconversion rate in Phase 1 interim results
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use GeneOne Life Science
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
GeneOne Life Science technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
GeneOne Life Science partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Wistar Institute (USA)coreTechnology transfer agreement for Nipah and Powassan virus vaccine candidates. GeneOne to develop DNA and mRNA vaccines using its nucleic acid platform. Wistar developed vaccines during CSO Kar Muthumani's tenure at Wistar.
- Rutgers University (USA)coreJoint development of microfluidic electroporation single-cell delivery system for CAR-T therapy applications. Patents granted in US, Europe, Japan, India. Also collaborated on Gene-Derm suction-based intradermal delivery platform published in Science Advances.
- Hanmi PharmaceuticalcoreSigned comprehensive cooperation agreement for mRNA vaccine large-scale production and global business network. Collaboration on next-generation production technology, COVID-19 and emerging infectious disease mRNA vaccines, and building a global nucleic acid business network.
- Geneos Therapeutics (USA)coreVGXI supplies cGMP plasmid DNA for Geneos' GT-30 personalized neoantigen cancer vaccine (GT-EPIC platform) for hepatocellular carcinoma. VGXI completed rapid 5-day cGMP production for first patient. Long-term supply agreement in place.
- Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)minorJoint patent application for SFTS DNA vaccine GLS-5140. Results published in Nature Communications 2019.
- University of Pennsylvania (USA)coreLicensed bitter taste receptor technology for respiratory treatment from UPenn. GLS-1200 developed based on this technology for sinusitis and COVID-19 prophylaxis. Also collaborated on CAR-T delivery technology.
- Houston Methodist Hospital / HMRI (USA)coreExclusive license for mRNA vaccine technology and production. VGXI licensed mRNA vaccine design and research technology and cGMP production capabilities. Ongoing collaboration on COVID-19 RNA vaccine (GLS-3000) and mRNA production process development.
- International Vaccine Institute (IVI)coreCo-developing MERS DNA vaccine GLS-5300 with full clinical development funding. IVI provided full domestic clinical development costs and coordinates emergency stockpile supply. Received multiple milestone payments including 2.1B KRW and 2.1B KRW additional tranches.
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR)coreJointly conducted MERS DNA vaccine Phase 1 clinical trial with WRAIR. Results published in Lancet Infectious Diseases 2019.
- AstraZeneca / MedImmuneminorParticipated in DARPA-funded Ebola Eradication Program alongside MedImmune (AstraZeneca subsidiary), University of Pennsylvania, Emory University, and Vanderbilt University.
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals (USA)core13+ year strategic manufacturing and co-development partnership. Jointly developing multiple DNA vaccine candidates including MERS (GLS-5300), Zika (GLS-5700), COVID-19 (GLS-5310), and Ebola vaccines. VGXI produces clinical materials for Inovio's global trials. Also collaborated on HIV vaccine (PENNVAX-GP) and HPV cancer vaccine.
- Korea University / Seoul National University Hospital / Bundang Seoul National University HospitalcoreKorea University Guro Hospital and Bundang Seoul National University Hospital serving as clinical trial sites for MERS vaccine Phase 1/2a trials and COVID-19 vaccine trials. Yonsei University Severance Hospital and Busan National University Hospital for Hepatitis C vaccine trials.
- Laval University (Canada)minorCollaborated on Zika vaccine GLS-5700 research including male infertility prevention effects of the vaccine.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
GeneOne Life Science competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Genexine: Korean biopharmaceutical company developing DNA vaccines and biologics with similar nucleic acid-based therapeutic approach. Competes in the Korean market for government funding and clinical partnerships.
- Samsung Biologics: Korean CDMO and biopharmaceutical manufacturer. Comparable as a Korea-headquartered large-scale biomanufacturing organization, though focused on biologics rather than plasmid DNA. Relevant regional peer with similar government and customer relationships in Asia.
- SK bioscience: Korean vaccine developer and manufacturer with infectious disease pipeline (including COVID-19 vaccines). Comparable in vaccine development focus and operating in the same Korean government procurement and public health ecosystem as GeneOne.
- Hanmi Pharmaceutical: Korean pharmaceutical company that signed a comprehensive mRNA cooperation agreement with GeneOne in 2021. Comparable in nucleic acid biopharmaceutical focus and operates in the same Korean market with similar enterprise customer segments.
Broad incumbents
- BioNTech: Major mRNA-based biopharmaceutical company with COVID-19 vaccine and oncology pipeline. Comparable nucleic acid technology focus and similar therapeutic target areas (infectious disease, cancer) to GeneOne's pipeline.
- Moderna: Leading mRNA vaccine and therapeutics developer. Comparable to GeneOne's expanding mRNA platform but operates at vastly greater scale and has established commercial mRNA products. Both rely on plasmid DNA as a critical raw material.
Direct peers
- Cobra Biologics (Charles River Laboratories): CDMO providing plasmid DNA, viral vector and protein services for gene therapy and vaccine developers. Competes directly with VGXI in the cGMP plasmid DNA manufacturing space.
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals: Long-term manufacturing and co-development partner of GeneOne for DNA vaccines (MERS, Zika, COVID-19, Ebola, HPV). Both companies focus on nucleic acid-based vaccines with overlapping technology platforms and clinical pipelines, making them highly comparable as DNA vaccine developers.
- Aldevron: Major plasmid DNA CDMO serving gene therapy and vaccine developers globally. Directly comparable to VGXI in cGMP plasmid DNA contract manufacturing — both are key suppliers to biotechs needing clinical and commercial-scale DNA production.
- VGXI, Inc. (subsidiary itself — relevant as standalone comparison): GeneOne's wholly-owned US subsidiary that is itself a peer-level cGMP plasmid DNA CDMO. Listed separately as a peer because customers and market participants evaluate VGXI as a standalone CDMO brand alongside competitors like Aldevron and Cobra.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GeneOne Life Science social profiles
Digital presenceGeneOne Life Science compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
GeneOne Life Science financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GeneOne Life Science leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
GeneOne Life Science subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
GeneOne Life Science funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GeneOne Life Science 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 GeneOne Life Science
What does GeneOne Life Science do?
GeneOne Life Science is a biopharmaceutical R&D company that designs and develops nucleic acid-based medicines, including DNA vaccines, mRNA vaccines, and gene therapy therapeutics targeting infectious diseases, cancer, and rare disorders. Through its US subsidiary VGXI, it also operates a cGMP plasmid DNA and mRNA contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) serving global biotech and pharmaceutical clients.
Is GeneOne Life Science a public or private company?
GeneOne Life Science is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was GeneOne Life Science founded?
GeneOne Life Science was founded in 1976.
Where is GeneOne Life Science based?
GeneOne Life Science is headquartered in Soeul, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does GeneOne Life Science make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. CDMO/Contract Manufacturing Services are the primary driver. The others are licensing and Milestone Payments and government Grants and Research Funding.
Who are GeneOne Life Science's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Genexine, Samsung Biologics, SK bioscience and Hanmi Pharmaceutical. Broad incumbents are BioNTech and Moderna. Direct peers are Cobra Biologics (Charles River Laboratories), Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Aldevron and VGXI, Inc. (subsidiary itself — relevant as standalone comparison).
Does GeneOne Life Science have an API?
No public API is recorded for GeneOne Life Science.
What industry is GeneOne Life Science in?
GeneOne Life Science's product category is Biopharmaceuticals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAGAB, Gene Therapy CDMO (Viral Vector Manufacturing), with a secondary code of HLAAACAJ, Gene Therapy Vector Manufacturing & CDMO Services. Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 8731.