Ersteq
1 known investors
Korean AI drug discovery company using target-centric structural AI to design molecular glue degraders for undruggable targets.
Also known as ERSTEQ
Investors · 1
Company profile
researched Aug 2026ERSTEQ is a South Korean AI-based drug discovery company focused on targeted protein degradation (TPD) of proteins considered undruggable by conventional inhibitor design. The company builds target-centric artificial intelligence that quantifies three-dimensional structural information about a target and predicts functionally active interaction regions, in contrast to models based primarily on binding affinity. This approach is applied to the rational design of molecular glue degraders, protein-protein interaction modulators and other proximity-induced modalities.
The company describes three main technology components. GlueHunter analyses complementary binding surfaces between proteins to identify novel degradation targets (neo-substrates) and to design molecular glue candidates that induce selective degradation. LeadHunter maps dynamic protein structures at atomic-level 3D resolution to identify target-drug interaction patterns. A biological validation capability, described as GluePick and as ERST-LAB, verifies efficacy and mechanism of action of candidate compounds at cellular and animal levels and feeds results back into the AI models to improve prediction accuracy.
ERSTEQ's lead pipeline is in oncology and includes a molecular glue anti-cancer candidate discovered through GlueHunter, described by the company as Korea's first AI-derived molecular glue candidate. The compound is a small molecule under 500 Da that selectively degrades targets not addressable by conventional inhibitors and acts through a novel E3 ligase. Management states the platform's modality universality supports expansion into therapeutic areas beyond oncology, including central nervous system and inflammatory diseases.
Founding story
ERSTEQ was founded in September 2021 by three KAIST Ph.D. holders: CEO Boah Lee, from the Department of Bio and Brain Engineering at KAIST; Dr. Seungju Park, of the Department of Biological Sciences at KAIST, who serves as Research Institute Director; and Dr. Seulgi Lee.
Traction
Reported milestones include a pre-Series A investment in 2022, TIPS selection, recognition as a company-affiliated research institute, an industry award in 2022, multiple joint research programs with public institutes and universities in 2023-2024, joint research agreements with three Korean biotechnology companies, and selection for two Ministry of SMEs and Startups programs in 2025. A first-in-class molecular glue anti-cancer candidate has been generated from the platform.
Latest developments
In 2025 the company was selected for Phase 2 of an industry-university-institute collaboration R&D project jointly with the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine and for the Startup Scale-up Package Support Project, both administered by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and reported open innovation activity with listed Korean biotechnology firms and negotiations with major domestic pharmaceutical companies.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
The company states it is the only Korean company with a technology platform able to discover and validate AI-based molecular glue TPD candidates, and positions its lead asset as Korea's first AI-derived molecular glue anti-cancer candidate, with a next-generation mode of action intended to go beyond PROTAC-based degradation.
ERSTEQ contrasts its target-centric, pattern-recognition structural AI with conventional binding-affinity prediction models, arguing this enables rational design against structurally challenging and previously undruggable proteins. Additional stated differentiators include modality universality of the GlueHunter platform, an integrated AI-plus-wet-lab feedback loop through GluePick/ERST-LAB, use of a novel E3 ligase, and a small-molecule format under 500 Da said to offer delivery efficiency and metabolic stability.
Technology
The core technology is a pattern-recognition AI platform that differs from binding-affinity-based models by quantifying and training on target-centric 3D structural information in order to predict functionally active interaction areas. GlueHunter, the flagship platform, performs complementary binding-surface (pattern) analysis between proteins to identify neo-degradable targets and design molecular glue candidates. LeadHunter provides atomic-level 3D mapping of dynamic protein structures to identify potent target-drug interaction patterns. GluePick / ERST-LAB provides full-cycle wet-lab validation from in silico design to in vivo results, confirming efficacy and mode of action at cellular and animal levels and returning data to the AI models. The platform is presented as supporting degrader, stabilizer/modulator and blocker modalities.
Go-to-market
The company pursues collaborative research and open innovation, having signed joint research agreements with Korean biotechnology companies and conducted joint research with public research institutes and university medical schools. It reports ongoing open innovation with listed Korean biotechnology companies and negotiations with major domestic pharmaceutical companies, and participates in Korean government and public agency support programs.
Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies seeking drug candidates and discovery collaborations, alongside academic and government research institutes as joint research partners.
Geography
Headquartered in Daejeon, South Korea, at units D509 and 510, Techno 4-ro 17, Yuseong-gu, with research collaborations across Korean institutions; stated ambition to compete globally.
History
Founded in September 2021, the company secured a pre-Series A investment in 2022, was recognized as a company-affiliated research institute, was selected for the TIPS Startup Commercialization Project run by the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development, and won the 2022 Korea Enterprise Grand Prize in the AI new drug development category. In 2023 it conducted joint research with the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Chungnam National University College of Medicine and KAIST, and signed joint research agreements with three Korean biotechnology companies including Y-Biologics. In 2024 it carried out joint research with the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology and was selected for the Special Zone Enterprise Sustained Growth Rapid Support Project of the Korea Innovation Foundation and the Data Voucher Support Project of the Korea Data Industry Promotion Agency, and participated in the Medicine Research Center leading research center project of the National Research Foundation of Korea with Chungnam National University College of Medicine. In 2025 it was selected for Phase 2 of the industry-university-institute Collaboration R&D Project with the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine and for the Startup Scale-up Package Support Project, both under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
Compiled by commissioned research from 2 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 · 8
launches, deals, and filingsPhase 2 collaboration R&D project conducted jointly with the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine; both programs administered by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
Programs run by the Korea Innovation Foundation and the Korea Data Industry Promotion Agency; also participated in the National Research Foundation of Korea's Medicine Research Center leading research center project with Chungnam National University College of Medicine.
Signed joint research agreements with three Korean biotech companies, including Y-Biologics Co., Ltd.
The company reports securing a pre-A series investment in 2022.
Selected by the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development; also recognized as a company-affiliated research institute.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 2
primary sources listed
- ERSTEQersteq.com · web
2 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Ersteq do?
- Korean AI drug discovery company using target-centric structural AI to design molecular glue degraders for undruggable targets.
- Who are Ersteq's investors?
- Ersteq's investors include Ascendo Ventures.