Apures
APURES is a South Korean biotech firm that breeds and commercializes MICROPIG, an FAO-registered minipig breed, for preclinical drug testing, xenotransplantation research, and standardized bio-material production. It serves pharmaceutical companies, CROs, research institutes, universities, and hospitals across Asia.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersChungbuk, South Korea
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Apures does
APURES Co., Ltd. is a South Korea-based preclinical biotechnology company that has built an integrated commercial platform around its proprietary MICROPIG minipig breed. Founded in 2001 as Medikinetics and rebranded at its 2019 KONEX listing (ticker 149300), the company breeds and sells four genetically fixed minipig variants (ET, T, M, L types) under SPF/DPF pathogen-controlled conditions. APURES is one of only three globally recognized commercial minipig breeders alongside Sinclair (USA) and Göttingen (Denmark), and its MICROPIG T-Type and M-Type are the only FAO DAD-IS-registered minipig breeds originating in Korea (registered 2015). The company is headquartered in Pyeongtaek-si, with a dedicated MICROPIG breeding center capable of producing 1,000+ animals per year.
The company's product portfolio extends well beyond the animal model itself into standardized derivatives for research and clinical use: 108 types of primary cells, 37 types of organs and tissues, an artificial skin membrane (FCM) for cosmetics and pharmaceutical testing, decellularized ECM scaffolds, bio-resource raw materials (heparin, hyaluronic acid, collagen), and xenograft materials for transplantation research. APURES also offers non-clinical CRO services spanning in-vitro assays, in-vivo efficacy studies, pharmacokinetics/ADME, and toxicology. Underlying these products is a CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing license from the Broad Institute, an 8-patent portfolio, and a suite of regulatory credentials (AAALAC International, KELAS, ISO 9001/14001). In August 2023, the company acquired worldwide exclusive rights to the JVS-100 (ELX-1000) gene therapy candidate from Elexxium Therapeutics for heart failure and peripheral artery disease (FDA Fast Track), marking a strategic pivot into therapeutic development.
APURES generates revenue through a mix of unit-priced product sales (MICROPIG animals, primary cells, FCM, bio-materials), project-based CRO services, and — prospectively — licensing royalties and milestone payments from the JVS-100 program. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company employs a sales-led go-to-market combining direct domestic sales, an Alliance partner program with referral commissions, and international distribution agreements with Itochu (global), Fujifilm Wako (Japan), and Deru Consulting Group (China). Customer segments include pharmaceutical companies, CROs, government research institutes (KRIBB, National Institute of Animal Science), university hospitals (Samsung Medical Center, Seoul Asan Hospital, Korea University Hospital, Kyung Hee University Hospital), cosmetics companies, and biotech startups.
Apures firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Apures
- Legal name
- 아퓨어스 주식회사 (APURES Co., Ltd.)
- Website
- https://apures.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- APURES is a South Korean biotech firm that breeds and commercializes MICROPIG, an FAO-registered minipig breed, for preclinical drug testing, xenotransplantation research, and standardized bio-material production. It serves pharmaceutical companies, CROs, research institutes, universities, and hospitals across Asia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Apures industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Preclinical Research Models
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)
- SIC
- Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Organoids & Organ-on-Chip (regenerative models) (HLAAAGAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Pharmacovigilance, Risk Management & Medical Affairs CROs (HLAGAAAH), Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) & Blood-Derived Orthobiologics (HLAMANAB)
Keywords
Where Apures is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chungbuk
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Apures business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- MICROPIG Sales: Sale of medical/experimental minipigs (MICROPIG) to pharmaceutical companies, CROs, research institutes, universities, and hospitals. Products include ET-Type, T-Type, M-Type, and L-Type minipigs with SPF or DPF grade pathogen control. Revenue generated from one-time animal sales with recurring customer relationships.
- Primary Cell Products: Sale of 108 types of standardized primary cells derived from MICROPIG. Products include various cell types from organs including brain, liver, heart, kidney, skin, and more. Sold as research reagents for drug discovery, toxicity testing, and biomedical research.
- FCM (Franz Cell Membrane) Sales: Sale of artificial skin membrane for skin absorption testing, safety evaluation, and medical device testing. Standardized products in various sizes and thicknesses.
- CRO Services: Non-clinical research services including in-vitro cell-based assays and in-vivo efficacy evaluation using MICROPIG models. Services include pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, ADME studies, and toxicology testing for drug development.
- Bio Resource Materials: Sale of raw biomaterials including heparin, hyaluronic acid, collagen, and other medical/pharmaceutical ingredients derived from MICROPIG. Focus on domestic production and safety-enhanced materials.
- Gene Therapy Development: Development and potential commercialization of gene therapy candidates including ELX-1000 for heart failure and peripheral artery disease. Revenue potential through licensing out, clinical development, and eventual product commercialization.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | MICROPIG animals - Customized pricing based on type and specifications |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Primary Cell products - Standardized cell products |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | FCM products - Size and thickness based pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Apures product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Apures (formerly Medikinetics, founded 2001) is a South Korean biotech company that breeds and supplies the internationally registered MICROPIG minipig breed for preclinical research, and produces related biological research products including primary cells, organ/tissue samples, FCM (full-thickness cultured skin), scaffolds, xenografts, and transgenic animal models. The company also offers contract research (CRO) services covering gene editing, pharmacokinetic studies, and bio-material development for pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and academic customers.
Product overview
Apures is a biotech company offering a comprehensive platform centered on MICROPIG, an internationally registered minipig breed. The product portfolio includes MICROPIG animal models (available in 4 types: ET, T, M, L with SPF/DPF grades), 37 types of organs and tissues, 108 types of primary cells, and FCM (Franz Cell Membrane) for artificial skin testing. The company provides CRO research services for preclinical studies, along with bio materials including 51 types of pharmaceutical raw materials, scaffolds for tissue engineering, and xenograft materials for transplantation research. Advanced offerings include transgenic models with genetic modifications for disease research and xenotransplantation applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MICROPIG: Internationally registered medical and research mini-pig breed developed by APURES, registered with FAO DAD-IS in 2015 with T-type and M-type variants. Used for preclinical studies, drug efficacy evaluation, and xenotransplantation research.
- mpCell
Products and services
- MICROPIG Minipig
- Organ and Tissue Products
- Primary Cells
- FCM (Full-thickness Cultured Model)
- CRO Services (Contract Research)
- Medicine (Bio Material)
- Scaffold
- Xenograft
- Transgenic Animal Models
Quantifiable outcome
- 1 MICROPIG replaces 10,000+ mice in animal testing equivalent
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Apures
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Apures technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Apures partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- RedJin (레드진)coreMOU for artificial blood R&D collaboration signed May 31, 2022. Partnership combines APURES' MICROPIG animal resources with RedJin's artificial blood technology and research infrastructure to develop artificial blood products suitable for both animal and human use.
- Deru Consulting GroupmajorMOU for China market technology commercialization. Partnership aims to expand APURES' presence in Chinese biotechnology and research markets.
- Fujifilm WakomajorSupply agreement for experimental bio materials to Japanese market. Fujifilm Wako distributes APURES' primary cell and bio material products in Japan.
- ItochumajorGlobal sales cooperation agreement for distributing APURES' biotechnology products internationally. Itochu leverages its global distribution network to expand APURES' market reach.
- National Institute of Animal SciencecoreCollaboration for xenotransplantation animal development and transgenic animal breeding research. Partnership leverages NIAS's expertise in animal biotechnology for developing transplant-grade MICROPIG models.
- Broad InstitutecoreTechnology licensing agreement for CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology for developing transgenic animal models. Enables APURES to create humanized MICROPIG models for various disease research applications.
- Korea Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB)coreJoint research collaboration for xenotransplantation resource development and transgenic model creation. KRIBB's Future Animal Resource Center provides expertise in developing immunodeficient animal models.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Apures competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Inotiv: US-based preclinical services and research models company that acquired Sinclair Bio Resources. Offers minipigs plus broader contract research and safety assessment services comparable to APURES' CRO offerings.
- Crown Bioscience: Global preclinical CRO offering translational platforms including patient-derived xenograft models and preclinical services. Comparable to APURES' CRO services business serving pharma drug development.
- WuXi AppTec: Major Asian CRO/CDMO providing preclinical research services including animal model studies and bio-resource products. Broadly comparable to APURES' CRO offerings and laboratory animal services.
- Pharmaron: China-based preclinical CRO offering drug discovery and development services including animal model studies. Comparable to APURES' CRO services for pharma customers seeking preclinical efficacy and safety evaluation.
- Jackson Laboratory: Leading nonprofit biomedical research institution providing genetically defined mice and related services. Comparable to APURES in the research animal models category, though focused on mouse models and genomics.
- Charles River Laboratories: Major preclinical CRO and research models provider with extensive animal model portfolio (including minipig offerings), primary cells, and bio-resource products. Larger incumbent offering broader services across drug discovery and safety assessment.
Direct peers
- Taconic Biosciences: Provider of genetically engineered research animal models and associated services. Comparable to APURES in the transgenic/laboratory animal models business, though primarily focused on rodent models rather than minipigs.
- Sinclair Bio Resources (Inotiv): One of the three globally commercialized minipig breeders (alongside APURES and Göttingen), now part of Inotiv. Directly comparable as a primary competitor in the laboratory minipig space serving pharma, CROs, and academic researchers.
- Ellegaard Göttingen Minipigs: Danish-based provider of the Göttingen minipig — the third FAO-registered commercial minipig breed. Direct competitor to APURES' MICROPIG with strong European pharma relationships and similar product positioning.
Emerging players
- Cyagen Biosciences: China-based provider of transgenic animal models, cell products, and CRO services. Comparable to APURES in the transgenic model and primary cell product categories, with focus on rodent models.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Apures social profiles
Digital presenceApures compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
Apures financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Apures leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Apures funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Apures 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 Apures
What does Apures do?
Apures (formerly Medikinetics, founded 2001) is a South Korean biotech company that breeds and supplies the internationally registered MICROPIG minipig breed for preclinical research, and produces related biological research products including primary cells, organ/tissue samples, FCM (full-thickness cultured skin), scaffolds, xenografts, and transgenic animal models. The company also offers contract research (CRO) services covering gene editing, pharmacokinetic studies, and bio-material development for pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and academic customers.
Is Apures a public or private company?
Apures is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Apures founded?
Apures was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Apures based?
Apures is headquartered in Chungbuk, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does Apures make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. MICROPIG Sales are the primary driver. The others are primary Cell Products, FCM (Franz Cell Membrane) Sales, CRO Services, bio Resource Materials and gene Therapy Development.
Who are Apures's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Inotiv, Crown Bioscience, WuXi AppTec, Pharmaron, Jackson Laboratory and Charles River Laboratories. Direct peers are Taconic Biosciences, Sinclair Bio Resources (Inotiv) and Ellegaard Göttingen Minipigs. Cyagen Biosciences is listed as an emerging player.
Does Apures have an API?
No public API is recorded for Apures.
What industry is Apures in?
Apures's product category is Preclinical Research Models. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAGAD, Organoids & Organ-on-Chip (regenerative models), with a secondary code of HLAGAAAH, Pharmacovigilance, Risk Management & Medical Affairs CROs. Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 3841.