AimedBio, a corporation developing antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) new drugs, announced on the 2nd that it has secured 51.1 billion won in pre-IPO investment.
This investment round was led by existing major investors Intervest, DS Asset Management, Samsung Life Insurance Foundation, and SMB Investment Partners. New investor Mirae Asset Securities participated.
Founded in 2018, AimedBio was established by Chairman Nam Do-hyun, a professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at Samsung Medical Center, based on research achievements and is developing various cancer drug candidates. CEO Heo Nam-goo, who previously served as a research professor at Sungkyunkwan University and a principal researcher at Samsung Medical Center, oversees management.
The company plans to accelerate the development of next-generation ADC pipelines and focus on preparations for entering global clinical trials based on this investment. ADC is a therapeutic technology that delivers drugs precisely to cancer cells by attaching them to antibodies. It is akin to a missile (antibody) swiftly and accurately flying to its target (cancer cell) to explode the warhead (drug). This method is said to cause little damage to other cells, resulting in fewer side effects yet high therapeutic efficacy.
The company transferred the ADC candidate substance AMB302 to Biohaven in the United States last December. The company plans to concentrate on the preclinical development of AMB303 and AMB304.
It also hinted at the possibility of additional successful technology exports soon. The company expects to achieve continuous operational profit from the second half of 2024 into the first half of 2025 based on its technology export performance.
A company official noted, “This pre-IPO round reflects shareholders' high confidence in AimedBio and the market’s expectations,” adding, “We will significantly expand our preclinical pipeline to accelerate high-speed growth.”
Meanwhile, the company raised 40 billion won in the series B investment round completed last year.