Abion Venture Capital
Founded 2007 · 20 employees on LinkedIn · Public · 4 known investors
Abion is a biotech company focused on precision oncology, researching and developing novel anticancer drugs. It works to identify and commercialize new drug candidates and conduct global clinical trials for rare and hard-to-treat diseases, partnering with domestic and international biopharma companies.
Also known as Abion Inc. · 에이비온
Founders & leadership
Abion Venture Capital was founded in 2007 by Shin Young-ki.
Investors · 4
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Abion is a Korea-based biotechnology company developing anticancer therapeutics. The company describes itself as transitioning from a single-pipeline biotech into a platform-based oncology company centred on iRAC, an antibody-based platform that couples a tumour-targeting antibody with a proprietary interferon-beta (IFN-β) mutein. Abion positions iRAC as distinct from chemically conjugated antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), framing the approach as replacing cytotoxic payloads with an immunobiological payload.
The iRAC platform is described as modular: Trop-2 is the first target module, with the platform designed to extend to additional tumour-target antibodies including EGFR, HER2 and CLDN3, so that target and immune-payload strategy can be matched to tumour type. The company attributes three mechanisms to the molecule: direct tumour-cell killing via IFNAR–JAK–STAT signalling and activation of TRAIL/Fas death signalling; tumour selectivity from a pH-optimised IFN-β mutein engineered to have reduced activity at physiological blood pH and increased binding and activity in the acidic tumour microenvironment; and immune activation through dendritic cell maturation, remodelling of the myeloid immune environment, antigen presentation and cytotoxic CD8 T-cell activation intended to establish durable antitumour immune memory.
Abion states that its shares are listed on a Korea Exchange market; in a shareholder notice the company reported that trading in its stock was suspended following a disclosure that grounds for a listing-eligibility review had arisen after its quarterly report showed second-quarter revenue of less than KRW 300 million, with the exchange to weigh business continuity, financial soundness and future business plans.
Business model
Abion develops proprietary anticancer drug candidates and pursues licensing, co-development and clinical collaborations with global and local pharmaceutical companies, biotechs and investors, as indicated by its business development outreach.
Traction
The company reports preclinical results in which direct-killing mechanisms alone suppressed Trop-2-low tumours in immunodeficient models, immune-mediated mechanisms alone produced dose-dependent tumour suppression, and iRAC monotherapy exceeded the antitumour efficacy of an approved ADC combined with an immune checkpoint inhibitor in preclinical models.
Latest developments
Following submission of a recent quarterly report showing second-quarter revenue below KRW 300 million, the Korea Exchange disclosed grounds for a substantive listing-eligibility review of the company, and trading in Abion's shares was suspended pending the exchange's decision on whether the company is subject to review and whether an improvement period will be granted. The company said it is reviewing the matter, preparing materials for the review process and will disclose developments.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography
Market position
Abion presents itself as a platform-based oncology company in the "post-ADC" segment of precision oncology, positioning its immunobiological payload approach against established ADC and checkpoint-inhibitor modalities.
Abion contrasts iRAC with chemically conjugated ADCs, which it says have been associated with severe toxicity in multiple clinical settings, and with wild-type interferon therapies limited by haematological toxicity. Its IFN-β mutein is engineered at the level of receptor binding so that activity is dampened at physiological blood pH and enhanced in acidic tumour environments — the opposite of the reduced acidic-pH receptor binding it attributes to conventional IFN-α and IFN-β — creating two independent selectivity barriers (target expression level and tumour acidity). The company also cites a second, ADC-absent mechanism: type I interferon-driven immune activation operating independently of direct tumour-cell killing.
Technology
iRAC combines a tumour-targeting antibody with a proprietary IFN-β mutein rather than a chemically conjugated cytotoxic payload. The mutein's receptor-binding properties are re-engineered for pH-dependent activity, lowering activity at blood pH and increasing binding to cancer cells in acidic tumour microenvironments, which the company says reduces peripheral toxicity. IFN-β is described as active at low-picomolar levels; high TROP2 expression drives tumour-selective accumulation. Stated mechanisms include IFNAR–JAK–STAT-mediated growth inhibition, TRAIL/Fas death signalling, and immune activation converting immunologically "cold" tumours to "hot" while limiting exhaustion-like immune-cell phenotypes.
Go-to-market
The company solicits licensing, co-development and clinical collaboration partnerships in precision oncology through a dedicated business development team, targeting global and domestic pharmaceutical companies, biotechs and investors.
Global and local pharmaceutical companies, biotech companies and investors for licensing, co-development and clinical partnerships; ultimately cancer patients as the therapeutic end market.
Geography
Headquartered in South Korea, with stated engagement with both global and local pharmaceutical companies and biotechs.
Compiled by commissioned research from 4 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 1
launches, deals, and filingsThe company disclosed that trading in its shares was suspended after its quarterly report showed second-quarter revenue below KRW 300 million, triggering a Korea Exchange disclosure that grounds for a substantive listing-eligibility review had arisen. Trading remains halted until the exchange decides whether the company is subject to the review and whether an improvement period will be granted.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 4
primary sources listed
- Abion Venture Capitalabionbio.com · web
4 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Abion Venture Capital do?
- Korean biotech developing iRAC, an antibody–IFN-β mutein oncology platform positioned as a post-ADC alternative.
- Who founded Abion Venture Capital?
- Abion Venture Capital was founded by Shin Young-ki in 2007.
- Who are Abion Venture Capital's investors?
- Abion Venture Capital's investors include Atinum Investment Co. Ltd., Hyundai Venture Investment Corporation, IMM Investment Japan, Solidus Investment.