GC Cell

What GC Cell does

GC Cell is a publicly traded (KOSDAQ) South Korean cell and gene therapy company headquartered in Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, operating as part of the Green Cross pharmaceutical group. Its core commercial product is Immuncell-LC, an autologous Cytokine-Induced Killer (CIK) cell therapy approved in Korea since 2007 as adjuvant treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma following curative resection, with over 10,000 patients treated and demonstrated 37% recurrence risk reduction and 79% mortality decrease in Phase 3 trials. The company is building a pipeline of allogeneic CAR-NK candidates (GCC2005 CD5 CAR-NK, GCC2003 HER2 CAR-NK, GCC2004 CD19 CAR-NK, GCC4001/AB-101 naive NK) using a proprietary eHut78 feeder cell manufacturing platform capable of producing up to 5,000 doses from a single cord blood unit.

The business model spans five revenue streams: commercial sales of Immuncell-LC to Korean hospitals and oncology centers (administered as 16 cycles per patient), end-to-end CDMO services for cell and gene therapy developers from APAC (Yongin, 20,806 m² with 14 clean rooms) and US facilities (Princeton and Newark, NJ, totaling 75,000 sq.ft. with 8 ISO-7 clean rooms), bio-logistics and cold chain distribution to 45 countries via the G-HUB real-time tracking platform, diagnostic specimen testing through a network of 5,000+ Korean medical institutions (62 branches, 400+ coordinators) partnered with GC Labs, and subscription-based cord blood banking services (LifeLine green). The company pursues international expansion through licensing and technology transfer agreements, including a 15-year exclusive license with Indonesia's PT Bifarma Adiluhung (signed September 2024), strategic cooperation with Taiwan's Lukas Biomedical (July 2024), and global NK cell therapy development through its US subsidiary Artiva Biotherapeutics.

The company has multiple wholly-owned subsidiaries (Artiva Biotherapeutics US, Made Scientific US, GC Lymphotec Japan, GCCL clinical lab) and is expanding from its Korean base into Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, and the broader US biotech CDMO market. Recent strategic priorities include advancing the CAR-NK pipeline (GCC2005 Phase 1 initiated March 2025), securing regulatory certifications in new jurisdictions (Japan MHLW CPC certification May 2026), and pursuing combination therapy studies (e.g., cosibelimab + Immuncell-LC with Checkpoint Therapeutics). Disclosed 2023 revenue was KRW 157,544 million (~$118M USD), down from KRW 236,120 million in 2022, with operating income compressed to KRW 4,077 million.

Name

GC Cell

Legal name

GC Cell

Website

https://gccell.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

GC Cell is a South Korean cell and gene therapy company developing autologous CIK immunotherapy (Immuncell-LC) and allogeneic CAR-NK pipeline candidates, offering CDMO, cold chain logistics, diagnostic testing, and cord blood banking services to hospitals, biotech firms, and medical institutions globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cell and Gene Therapy CDMO and Biopharmaceuticals

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Medical Laboratories (621511), Blood and Organ Banks (621991), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Cell Therapy Developers (Autologous) (HLAAABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cell Therapy CDMO (HLAGABAD), NK Cell Therapies (HLAAABAD), Cell & Gene Therapy Chain-of-Identity/Chain-of-Custody Logistics (HLAGAMAE), Cell Therapy Manufacturing Platforms & Automation (closed systems, bioreactors, fill-finish) (HLAAABAG)

Keywords

• Cell therapy CDMO
• CAR-NK therapy
• Autologous immunotherapy
• Bio logistics services
• Cord blood banking

Headquarters

HQ city

Yongin

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Commercialized Cell Therapy Product Sales (Immuncell-LC): GC Cell generates revenue from sales of its proprietary FDA-approved (Korea MFDS) autologous CIK cell therapy Immuncell-LC for hepatocellular carcinoma adjuvant treatment. The product has been administered to over 10,000 patients. Revenue from this product contributes to the company's total revenue of KRW 157,544 million in 2023.
2. CDMO Services (Contract Manufacturing): GC Cell provides end-to-end CDMO services for cell and gene therapy developers, including process development, clinical and commercial manufacturing, analytical testing, regulatory consulting, and tech transfer. The company operates GMP facilities in Korea (APAC) and the US (Princeton and Newark, NJ) with a combined capacity of over 20,806 m² and multiple clean rooms.
3. Diagnostic Testing Services: GC Cell provides specimen testing services through its network of over 5,000 medical institutions nationwide, with 62 branches and 400+ coordinators. Tests are conducted by GC Labs, Korea's top clinical testing institution, which performs over 100 million tests annually across 5,000 test items.
4. Cord Blood Banking Services: GC Cell operates a cord blood banking service (GC Cell Life Line green) for families, providing collection, processing, cryogenic storage, and genetic testing services for cord blood and umbilical cord tissue. Monthly cell viability testing is conducted to ensure storage quality.
5. Bio-Logistics Services: GC Cell provides cold chain logistics, warehousing, and distribution services for pharmaceuticals, biologics, vaccines, cell and gene therapies, and medical devices. Services include clinical trial logistics, commercial product distribution, and global forwarding with validated transport routes to 45 countries.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

GC Cell is an integrated cell and gene therapy company that develops, manufactures, and commercializes autologous CIK cell therapies (Immuncell-LC, approved in Korea since 2007 for hepatocellular carcinoma adjuvant therapy) and allogeneic CAR-NK candidates, while providing end-to-end CDMO services for cell and gene therapy developers across its APAC (Yongin) and US (Princeton/Newark, NJ) GMP facilities. The company also operates bio-logistics and cold chain distribution, diagnostic specimen testing through a 5,000+ medical institution network, and cord blood banking services for families.

Product overview

GC Cell is an integrated cell and gene therapy company with a commercialized product portfolio and comprehensive bio healthcare solutions. The core product is Immuncell-LC, an FDA orphan-designated autologous CIK cell therapy approved in Korea for hepatocellular carcinoma adjuvant treatment. Pipeline includes allogeneic CAR-NK therapies (GCC2005 for T-cell lymphoma, GCC2003 for HER2+ solid tumors, GCC4001 for lymphoma/Lupus), and Immuncell-LC expansion to pancreatic cancer. Services span CDMO manufacturing (APAC and US facilities), cold chain bio logistics, diagnostic testing services through 5,000+ medical institution network, and cord blood banking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Artiva Biotherapeutics: Subsidiary focused on NK cell therapy development and commercialization for global markets
• Made Scientific
• GC Lymphotec
• GCCL
• GC Labs
• G-HUB
• CELL TRACK
• CELL PATH

Products and services

• Immuncell-LC Autologous Cytokine-Induced Killer (CIK) cell therapy for adjuvant treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma patients after curative resection, administered as 16 cycles per patient in an outpatient setting. Demonstrated 37% recurrence risk reduction and 79% mortality decrease vs. control in Phase 3 HCC trial, with HR for RFS 0.63 and HR for OS 0.21. Approved in Korea since 2007 and granted FDA orphan drug designation for liver, brain, and pancreatic cancers. Administered to 10,000+ patients with no treatment-related serious adverse events reported.
• CDMO Services End-to-end Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization services for cell and gene therapy developers, covering process development, tech transfer, GMP clinical and commercial manufacturing, analytical testing, quality control, stability studies, regulatory consulting, and aseptic fill and finish. Operates from the APAC site (20,806 m², 14 clean rooms, capacity of 18,000 packs/year based on Immuncell-LC) and US sites (Princeton 60,000 sq.ft., 6 ISO-7 clean rooms; Newark 15,000 sq.ft., 2 ISO-7 clean rooms). Sells to pharmaceutical and biotech companies globally.
• Bio Logistics Cold chain logistics, warehousing, and distribution services for pharmaceuticals, biologics, vaccines, cell and gene therapies, and medical devices. Includes clinical trial logistics (global), cell and gene therapy logistics, commercial product distribution, and global forwarding with validated transport routes to 45 countries and 286 cities. Supports end-to-end visibility through the proprietary G-HUB, CELL TRACK, and CELL PATH systems with temperature record downloads, shipment status alarms, and tracking services.
• Diagnostic Testing Service Specimen collection, transportation, testing, and results delivery services for medical institutions nationwide, leveraging partner GC Labs (Asia's largest automated clinical laboratory using the Labinno Track system and performing over 100 million tests annually across 5,000 test items). Reaches over 5,000 medical institutions through 62 domestic branch offices and more than 400 professional coordinators for sample collection and transportation.
• Cell Banking (Life Line) Cord blood banking service providing collection, processing, cryogenic storage (17-40 years), monthly cell viability testing, and genetic testing for hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from cord blood and mesenchymal cells (MSCs) from umbilical cord tissue. Targeted at families and expectant parents seeking to preserve stem cells for potential future medical treatment of blood disorders, immune deficiencies, and genetic diseases.

Quantifiable outcome

• 37% reduction in recurrence risk and 79% decrease in mortality risk vs. control group in Phase 3 HCC adjuvant clinical trial (HR for RFS: 0.63, HR for OS: 0.21)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• VisMederi S.r.l.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 April 2026GCCL (GC Cell's clinical trial sample analysis subsidiary) and VisMederi (an Italian GCLP-certified bioanalytical company) signed a MOU at the World Vaccine Congress 2026 in Washington D.C. to collaborate on vaccine development analytics. The partnership links GCCL's APAC clinical trial sample analysis capabilities and GCLP-accredited services with VisMederi's European regulatory science expertise and vaccine/infectious disease analysis infrastructure. The companies plan to jointly support global vaccine development projects including pandemic preparedness, combining BL2-3 research facilities and specialized assay development capabilities.
• Artiva Biotherapeutics, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2025GC Cell and Artiva Biotherapeutics are collaborating on the global development of NK cell therapy candidates. Artiva, GC Cell's US subsidiary established in 2019 and based in San Diego, CA, is advancing AB-101 (CBNK/naive NK cell), AB-201 (HER2 CAR-NK), AB-202 (CD19 CAR-NK), and AB-205/GCC2005 (CD5 CAR-NK) through global clinical development. The partnership involves Phase 1 trial initiation for GCC2005 in relapsed/refractory NK and T-cell malignancies, with Artiva providing ex-APAC development and commercialization rights. GCC2005 received funding recognition from a Korea Drug Development Fund program for global market entry support.
• PT Bifarma Adiluhung (Bifarma)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 11 September 2024GC Cell signed a 15-year exclusive Technology Transfer and License Agreement with PT Bifarma Adiluhung, an Indonesian cell therapy company and subsidiary of PT Kalbe Farma (KALBE group), to develop, manufacture, and commercialize Immuncell-LC in Indonesia. Bifarma operates Indonesia's first GMP-certified cell therapy production facility and has a comprehensive oncology sales infrastructure including cold chain logistics and hospital network. The partnership aims to launch Immuncell-LC in Indonesia by the following year, addressing approximately 23,000 new HCC patients annually in the country.
• Lukas Biomedical Co., Ltd. (TWSE: 6814)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2024GC Cell and Lukas Biomedical signed an international strategic cooperation agreement to collaborate on autologous T cell therapy awareness and patient access expansion. The partnership includes sharing clinical trial data, regulatory knowledge, exploring clinical research in multiple countries, and discussing cross-licensing and joint clinical trials (IITs and SITs). Lukas's LuLym-T memory T cell technology, licensed from GC LTEC (Lymphotec, a GC Group subsidiary), is being advanced in Taiwan where Lukas has agreements with 13 medical institutions including National Taiwan University Hospital for Phase II trials on liver cancer recurrence prevention. Taiwan's Regenerative Medicine Act enacted June 2024 supports their market entry.
• Checkpoint TherapeuticscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 2024GC Cell and Checkpoint Therapeutics announced a collaboration to explore the combined therapeutic potential of cosibelimab (Checkpoint's anti-PD-L1 antibody with dual mechanism of action including ADCC) with Immuncell-LC (GC Cell's autologous CIK T cell therapy). The collaboration focuses on in vitro combination studies to evaluate synergistic effects on cancer cell destruction, with positive preliminary data potentially paving the way for future in vivo research and clinical studies. The expected synergy leverages cosibelimab's ADCC mechanism with Immuncell-LC's robust CIK T cell response.
• PT Bifarma Adiluhung — ReGeniC DivisioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 June 2024Prior to the final license agreement (signed September 2024), GC Cell and PT Bifarma Adiluhung signed an MOU in June 2024 establishing a strategic partnership to facilitate the entry of Immuncell-LC into the Indonesian market, including discussions on technology transfer and cooperation on NK cell therapy pipeline development. Bifarma operates Indonesia's first and largest cell-based therapy provider through its ReGeniC division, holding GMP certification from Indonesia's FDA and a Ministry of Health operating license for clinical-grade manufacturing of stem cells.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Adicet Bio: Developer of allogeneic CAR-NK and gamma-delta T-cell therapies for cancer and autoimmune disease, competing in the same allogeneic NK cell therapy category as GC Cell's GCC2003/2004/2005/4001 programs.
• Helixmith: Korean clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing gene and cell therapies, comparable as a domestic Korean cell/gene therapy peer with overlapping pipeline risk profile and capital needs.
• Fate Therapeutics: Pioneer in iPSC-derived NK and T-cell therapies, directly comparable to GC Cell's CAR-NK platform in target indications, manufacturing approach, and allogeneic off-the-shelf business model.
• Century Therapeutics: iPSC-derived allogeneic cell therapy developer for cancer and autoimmune disease, a direct allogeneic cell therapy peer with overlapping pipeline targets to GC Cell's CAR-NK and naive NK programs.
• Medipost: Korean cell therapy company commercializing Cartistem (umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs), a domestic peer to GC Cell in Korea's commercialized cell therapy market with a similar hospital-channel commercialization approach.
• Allogene Therapeutics: Allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy developer with a focus on off-the-shelf cell therapies for hematologic malignancies; comparable in allogeneic platform strategy and pipeline ambition to GC Cell.
• Nkarta Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing allogeneic CAR-NK cell therapies for hematologic malignancies and autoimmune disease, with a similar allogeneic, off-the-shelf manufacturing model to GC Cell's CAR-NK pipeline.

Broad incumbents

• Lonza: Global leader in cell and gene therapy CDMO services with substantially greater scale and breadth than GC Cell's CDMO business, but competing for the same biotech client wallet and serving as the benchmark for the industry.
• Catalent: Major CDMO with deep cell therapy manufacturing capabilities, directly competing with GC Cell's Made Scientific subsidiary and APAC facility for clinical and commercial cell therapy contracts.

Regional players

• Samsung Biologics: Korean-headquartered biologics CDMO with growing cell and gene therapy capabilities, a regional peer competing for Korean and global biotech CDMO contracts and serving as a benchmark for Korean biomanufacturing scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gc-pharma-cmo

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GC Cell