- CEO
- Byoung-Chul Lee
- Full Time Employees
- 23
- Sector
- Health technology
- Industry
- Pharmaceuticals: major
- Address
- Seoul South Korea
- IPO Date
- Mar 16, 2026
- Business
- Kanaph Therapeutics Inc. is a South Korea-based clinical-stage biotechnology company that engages in the discovery, research, and development of innovative therapeutics for oncology, autoimmune disorders, and retinal diseases. Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, the company operates within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sector, focusing on the generation of next-generation biologic and targeted small-molecule therapeutics. Kanaph Therapeutics utilizes proprietary drug discovery platforms, including its Tumor Microenvironment Activating Cytokine (TMEAK) platform, to engineer targeted immunotherapies that selectively modulate cytokine signaling and stimulate anti-tumor immune responses while minimizing systemic toxicity.
The company's core product and developmental pipeline is organized across immuno-oncology, autoimmune, and ophthalmic indications; its pipeline includes KNP-301, a tumor microenvironment-targeted cytokine fusion protein engineered for solid tumor immuno-oncology; KNP-302, an advanced cytokine-based biologic candidate designed for refractory cancer indications; KNP-501, a targeted therapeutic candidate under development for chronic inflammatory and autoimmune conditions; KNP-502, a dual-action fusion protein candidate targeting retinal vascular disorders, including neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema; targeted small-molecule oncology programs focusing on selective kinase and intracellular enzyme inhibition; and preclinical discovery programs comprising multi-specific fusion proteins, bispecific antibodies, and immuno-modulatory biologics.
Kanaph Therapeutics targets global healthcare markets, commercial biopharmaceutical partners, and clinical oncology and ophthalmology sectors. The company conducts research, discovery, and clinical development activities primarily in South Korea while executing clinical development and partnering strategies across North America and the broader Asia-Pacific region. In recent company developments, Kanaph Therapeutics has advanced its strategic alliance network through collaborative research, co-development, and licensing agreements with leading pharmaceutical companies, including partnership programs with Dong-A ST Co., Ltd., Yuhan Corporation, and Oscotec Inc. for the joint development and commercialization of oncology and inflammatory pipeline assets. Furthermore, the company has completed institutional funding rounds from life science venture capital syndicates to accelerate its clinical pipeline progression, advanced multi-asset regulatory filings toward Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials, and executed strategic listing preparations on the Korea Exchange under the ticker KRX:0082N0.