Intherapeutics

About Intherapeutics

Intherapeutics is a South Korean biotechnology firm established in October 2020 as a spin-off from Daewoong Pharmaceutical. The company was founded to specifically advance the development of an ion channel drug discovery platform, a non-opioid analgesic for Nav1.7, and treatments for hearing loss and neurological diseases that were initially developed within Daewoong. This strategic spin-out allows for greater research and development flexibility and a concentrated focus on its specialized area. The company is led by CEO Park Jong-deok, who brings extensive experience from roles at Kolon Pharma, Bayer Schering, and Novartis.

The core of Intherapeutics' operations is its proprietary VITVO™ platform, a one-stop evaluation system for ion channel drug discovery. This platform overcomes the traditionally high difficulty and low efficiency of ion channel research, which requires specialized electrophysiological analysis. The business model is centered on leveraging this platform to develop a pipeline of first-in-class drugs targeting intractable neurological conditions. The company targets diseases with significant unmet needs, including chronic pain from osteoarthritis, noise-induced hearing loss, epilepsy, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Revenue generation is anticipated through licensing agreements with global pharmaceutical companies upon successful clinical trials, with a long-term goal of an Initial Public Offering (IPO) targeted for 2025.

The lead product candidate, iN1011-N17, is a non-narcotic analgesic targeting the Nav1.7 ion channel for the treatment of osteoarthritis pain. Pre-clinical studies have demonstrated superior efficacy compared to both NSAIDs and the opioid tramadol. The drug has progressed to Phase 1 clinical trials in Australia. Intherapeutics has built a robust pipeline of eight additional candidates targeting various neurological disorders. The company has successfully secured significant funding to advance its clinical programs, including a Series A round of 14 billion KRW in February 2021 and a subsequent bridge investment of 26 billion KRW in February 2022 from a consortium of domestic institutional investors.