Nex-i

About Nex-i

NEX-I, Inc. is a South Korean biotechnology firm established in April 2021 by founder and CEO Yoon Kyoung Wan. The company directs its efforts toward the immuno-oncology sector, specifically creating next-generation therapies for cancers that show resistance to current treatments. Yoon's personal motivation to protect family and loved ones from cancer shaped the company's mission. NEX-I operates on a lean business model, focusing on strategic research and development to efficiently advance its pipeline.

The company's core technology is its proprietary ONCOKINE® platform, a target discovery program designed to identify factors that cause cancer cells to resist immunotherapy. This platform led to the development of its primary drug candidate, NXI-101, a first-in-class antibody targeting ONCOKINE-1, a protein that helps cancer cells evade the immune system. NXI-101 is being investigated for its potential efficacy against multiple cancer types, including those that do not respond to existing treatments.

NEX-I's business model is centered on discovering novel drug targets, developing antibody candidates, and then out-licensing these assets to global pharmaceutical partners for further clinical development and commercialization. This strategy was validated in 2024 through a significant licensing agreement with Japan's Ono Pharmaceutical, which acquired exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize NXI-101. The agreement includes upfront payments, development and commercialization milestones, and tiered royalties on net sales for NEX-I. The company is also advancing follow-up pipelines, such as NXI-201, to present to other major pharmaceutical companies.

Since its inception, NEX-I has demonstrated strong capital attraction. It secured KRW 5 billion in a pre-Series A round in 2021, followed by a KRW 22 billion Series A in 2022. In August 2025, the company announced the completion of a Series B funding round of KRW 61 billion, bringing its cumulative investment to KRW 88 billion. With these resources, NEX-I is preparing for an initial public offering (IPO) on the KOSDAQ market, targeting a listing in 2026.