KINE SCIENCES, a company specializing in the development of immune peptide drugs, has passed the technological evaluation for a special KOSDAQ listing and has entered the full listing process.
KINE SCIENCES noted on the 20th that it has completed the technological evaluation and is preparing for preliminary listing reviews with Mirae Asset Securities as its lead manager.
Founded in 2016, KINE SCIENCES is a bio venture company that develops innovative treatments for autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammatory diseases based on ultra-small immune peptide technology. Co-founders include Jo Dae-ho, a professor at Korea University, and Bang Sa-ik, a professor at Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine. Song Sang-yong, a former professor at Samsung Medical Center's Department of Pathology, has taken on overall business management ahead of his five-year retirement. Peptides are bio materials that regulate biological signal transmission and function, consisting of multiple amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins.
The technological evaluation is a mandatory procedure for a KOSDAQ special listing, designed to thoroughly evaluate the corporation's core technological capabilities, growth potential, and management strategies. To pass this, it must receive an evaluation of A grade and BBB grade or higher from two designated specialized evaluation agencies by the Korea Exchange.
KINE SCIENCES obtained A/BBB ratings from NICE Information Service and Korea Technology Credit Guarantee Fund, specialized evaluation agencies designated by the Korea Exchange, on 15th. The company plans to invest the funds secured from this listing into additional clinical research for main pipelines and the development of next-generation therapies.
The company's leading drug candidate, KINE-101, aims to treat chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). CIDP typically begins with muscle weakness, atrophy, and sensory loss, presenting in very diverse patterns. It mainly occurs in adults, with a higher incidence in men than in women.
KINE-101 features a unique mechanism that activates regulatory T cells (Treg) to modulate the immune system. According to the company, KINE-101 has demonstrated safety and efficacy in a clinical trial involving patients with CIDP who do not respond to existing steroid and immunoglobulin treatments at a low dose (120 mg), and it is preparing for clinical trials at a mid-dose (240 mg). Last month, KINE-101 injection was designated as a development-stage rare drug by the Korea Food and Drug Administration.
The company announced that it received an official invitation and participated in the 2025 JP Morgan Healthcare Conference held from the 13th to the 16th (local time), actively promoting the commercial value of KINE-101 technology and engaging in investment consultations with global pharmaceutical and bio investment firms.
Song Sang-yong, head of business operations (former professor at Samsung Medical Center), said, "The results of this technological evaluation recognize the excellence, growth potential, and capabilities of KINE SCIENCES' research and development technology," and added, "Since our technology has unique strengths, we expect further business achievements in the future." He stated, "We will progress according to the planned schedule toward the initial public offering (IPO) without delays."