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Cjbioscience

Public · 1 known investors

Korean microbiome company developing AI-discovered live biotherapeutics for oncology and inflammatory bowel disease.

Also known as CJ Bioscience · CJ Bioscience, Inc.

Investors · 1

Company profile

researched Aug 2026

CJ Bioscience, Inc. is a Seoul, South Korea-based biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation microbiome-based therapeutics. The company examines relationships between the human microbiome and disease, applying bioinformatic and AI-driven analysis to identify bacterial strains that can be developed into live biotherapeutic products. Its therapeutic programs cover oncology (including non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma), inflammatory bowel disease and other indications.

The company's lead oncology asset is CJRB-101, a live biotherapeutic product with a TLR4 agonist mechanism being studied in a Phase 1/2 open-label safety and preliminary efficacy trial in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with selected advanced or metastatic cancers (NCT05877430, study CJB-101-01), conducted at multiple centers in the United States and the Republic of Korea. A second candidate, CJRB-201, is a proprietary Faecalibacterium strain for inflammatory bowel disease identified via the company's Ez-Mx AI drug discovery platform; preclinical data were presented at the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) 2025 congress in Berlin, with a first-in-human study planned for 2026. Drug pipeline records also associate the company with Blautix, an irritable bowel syndrome candidate originated by 4D Pharma Plc that has reached Phase 2.

CJ Bioscience is described as a subsidiary of CJ Group, a South Korean conglomerate founded in 1953 with businesses in food and food services, bio, logistics and retail, and entertainment and media. It trades on the KOSDAQ market under the code 311690.

Business model

The company operates as a drug developer, advancing proprietary microbiome-derived live biotherapeutic candidates through preclinical and clinical development; it is also listed by a contract services directory under service categories, indicating activity in bioinformatic analysis services alongside its pipeline work.

Traction

CJRB-101 is in a recruiting Phase 1/2 trial in combination with pembrolizumab in advanced or metastatic cancer, started in September 2023, run in the USA and Korea. CJRB-201 showed preclinical efficacy in multiple mouse models—reduced weight loss, lower disease activity index, histopathological improvement, suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines and improved colon length—reported as comparable to an antibody-based therapy, with clinical entry targeted for 2026. Patent/literature databases associate the company with 85 medical publications and three clinical trials.

Latest developments

In February 2025 the company announced preclinical data for CJRB-201 at ECCO 2025 in Berlin (February 19-22, 2025), stated plans to begin a first-in-human study in 2026, and disclosed research on dietary fibers using the SHIME system as well as a collaboration with Professor Jun Huh's team at Harvard Medical School to elucidate the candidate's mechanism of action.

Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history

Market position

CJ Bioscience is a KOSDAQ-listed microbiome therapeutics developer and a bio-segment subsidiary of CJ Group, with clinical-stage assets in oncology and preclinical assets in inflammatory bowel disease.

The company positions its oral live biotherapeutic candidates as alternatives to antibody-based therapies, citing preclinical efficacy comparable to an antibody therapy for IBD alongside advantages in safety and oral administration convenience, and it applies AI-based strain discovery (Ez-Mx) to select candidates from large metagenomic datasets.

Technology

CJ Bioscience uses bioinformatic and AI-driven microbiome analysis, centered on its Ez-Mx drug discovery platform, to screen strains and metagenomic datasets for therapeutic candidates. For CJRB-201, it analyzed 500 metagenomic datasets from IBD patients and healthy individuals and screened 60 Faecalibacterium strains for regulatory T cell induction. The company also uses the SHIME (Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem) system to identify dietary fibers that promote strain colonization in the gut.

Go-to-market

Patients with microbiome-linked diseases, including advanced or metastatic cancers (NSCLC, melanoma), inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome, reached through clinicians and the pharmaceutical development ecosystem.

Geography

Headquartered in Seoul, South Korea (14 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu), with two facilities in one country; clinical activity spans the United States and the Republic of Korea, and research collaboration extends to Harvard Medical School in the United States.

History

Company profiles report differing establishment references: a press release states CJ Bioscience was founded in 2022 as a CJ Group subsidiary, while directory and database profiles list 2009 for the entity. Earlier clinical activity associated with the company includes a microbiome assessment study in inflammatory bowel disease patients begun in October 2018.

Compiled by commissioned research from 5 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.

Key figures

latest reported
Clinical trials associated with companyMay 20253 trials
Employee count (range)May 2025100-250
FacilitiesJan 20252 facilities
Faecalibacterium strains screenedFeb 202560 strains
Medical literature associated with companyMay 202585 publications
Metagenomic datasets analyzed for CJRB-201 discoveryFeb 2025500 datasets
Stock listingFeb 2025KOSDAQ: 311690.KQ (KRX: 311690)

Company-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.

Timeline · 3

launches, deals, and filings
Feb 2025
Preclinical data on IBD candidate CJRB-201 presented at ECCO 2025

CJ Bioscience announced it would present preclinical data on CJRB-201, a proprietary Faecalibacterium strain for inflammatory bowel disease discovered via its Ez-Mx platform, at the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation congress in Berlin, February 19-22, 2025, with first-in-human study planned for 2026.

source ↗

Feb 2025
Research collaboration with Harvard Medical School on CJRB-201 mechanism of action

The company disclosed it is collaborating with Professor Jun Huh's research team at Harvard Medical School to elucidate the mechanism of action of CJRB-201.

source ↗

Sep 2023
Phase 1/2 trial of CJRB-101 with pembrolizumab begins

Study CJB-101-01 (NCT05877430), an open-label Phase 1/2 safety and preliminary efficacy study of live biotherapeutic product CJRB-101 combined with pembrolizumab in selected advanced or metastatic cancers, started at multiple centers in the USA and Republic of Korea; sponsored by CJ Bioscience.

source ↗

Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.

Research sources · 5

primary sources listed

5 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.

Frequently asked questions

What does Cjbioscience do?
Korean microbiome company developing AI-discovered live biotherapeutics for oncology and inflammatory bowel disease.
Who are Cjbioscience's investors?
Cjbioscience's investors include Atinum Investment Co. Ltd..