CUREVERSE

About CUREVERSE

Cureverse Inc. is a South Korean clinical-stage biotechnology company established in 2021 as a spin-off from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). It was co-founded by CEO Sung Jin Cho, a researcher with a biotech background, and Dr. Ki-Duk Park, a technology developer from KIST. The company focuses on the research and development of innovative small-molecule drugs for treating intractable diseases, particularly those affecting the central nervous system (CNS) like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

Cureverse's core business revolves around its proprietary 'Right Structure' research philosophy, which aims to create drugs with an ideal balance of efficacy, safety, and drug-like properties. The company has built its own compound library, which is designed to ensure blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and ease of formulation. Its business model involves discovering novel drug candidates and then pursuing licensing, co-development, and technology transfer opportunities with larger pharmaceutical companies.

The company's lead asset is CV-01, a first-in-class oral therapy targeting the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway to control neuroinflammation. This investigational compound is being developed as a potential disease-modifying treatment for brain disorders, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and epilepsy. In October 2024, Cureverse entered into a significant exclusive option agreement with the Italian pharmaceutical company Angelini Pharma for the global development and commercialization of CV-01. This deal, potentially worth up to $360 million plus royalties, grants Angelini Pharma rights to CV-01 outside of South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, which Cureverse retains. CV-01 entered a Phase 1 clinical trial in South Korea.

Other pipeline products include CV-02, a biased S1P1 agonist ready for Investigational New Drug (IND) application, aimed at treating multiple sclerosis, and CV-03, designed to modulate the tumor immune microenvironment. The company has secured Series B funding and aims for a KOSDAQ listing in 2027.