Karis Bio

About Karis Bio

Karis Bio, a South Korean biotechnology firm founded in 2020 by Dr. Young-sup Yoon, is focused on developing cell-based therapies for cardiovascular diseases. Dr. Yoon, who also serves as CEO, has a background in researching cardiovascular regeneration and leads the company with a vision of creating treatments for conditions with currently limited options. The company is headquartered in Seoul and maintains a US presence in Atlanta.

The core of Karis Bio's work revolves around its patented technology for generating and differentiating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into endothelial cells (iPSC-ECs). This technology aims to grow new blood vessels, a process known as neovascularization, to treat diseases caused by ischemia, or lack of blood flow. The company's primary market is patients suffering from severe cardiovascular conditions for which traditional treatments like angioplasty or vascular surgery are not always effective. Karis Bio is developing both autologous (using the patient's own cells) and allogeneic (using donor cells) therapies. The initial autologous approach is designed to avoid immunological rejection.

The company's lead product candidate is a first-in-class cell therapy using these hiPSC-ECs to treat critical limb ischemia (CLI), a severe form of peripheral artery disease (PAD) that carries a high risk of amputation. Beyond CLI, the platform has potential applications in treating ischemic heart disease, wound healing, cerebrovascular disease, and diabetic complications. To support its clinical trials, Karis Bio established a cGMP (cleanroom) manufacturing facility in the Seoul Digital Industrial Complex. The company has advanced its therapies into clinical trials, with some in Phase 1. A significant milestone is a strategic collaboration initiated in April 2025 with US-based Cellino to industrialize the manufacturing process for its autologous iPSC-derived cell therapy, aiming to accelerate its path to commercial scale.

Since its founding, Karis Bio has secured $95.3M in funding through multiple rounds, including Series A and B, from investors such as Korea Venture Investment, Devsisters Ventures, and Premier Partners. This capital supports its research, clinical development, and facility expansion. The business model is centered on the research, development, and eventual commercialization of its proprietary cell therapies.