Posvax
3 known investors
South Korean biotech developing virus-like particle (VLP) based prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines, led by a 9-valent HPV program.
Also known as POSVAX · POSVAX Co. Ltd.
Investors · 3
Company profile
researched Aug 2026POSVAX Co. Ltd. is a biopharmaceutical company developing prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines built on a virus-like particle (VLP) platform. Its stated prophylactic pipeline covers a nonavalent (9-valent) human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, an Alzheimer's disease vaccine, and respiratory disease targets including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). A therapeutic vaccine pipeline targets pancreatic, colorectal, and breast cancer, and the company also positions VLPs as a potential drug delivery system capable of carrying DNA, RNA, or peptide payloads.
The company frames its lead program as a 9-valent HPV vaccine intended to follow MSD's Gardasil-9, which covers HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58. As of the 2019 interview reported on its site, POSVAX planned to enter non-clinical testing in the second half of that year and to file for a clinical trial in 2020. POSVAX operates an R&D center and describes a vision of becoming a global vaccine and anticancer drug developer.
Founding story
POSVAX was founded by Professor Kim Hong-Jin, who serves as the company's technology general manager and is identified in company-published news as CEO. Before founding the company he worked as a researcher at Wyeth-Ayerst (now part of Pfizer) and at Hanmi Pharmaceuticals, and spent 15 years at the College of Medicine at Chung-Ang University, where he researched virus-like particle production technology that became the basis for the company's platform.
Traction
Company-published news items record an MOU signed with Daejeon Technopark in June 2019 and an interview with CEO Hong-Jin Kim in June 2023. The 9-valent HPV program was reported in 2019 as heading into non-clinical testing with a clinical trial application planned for 2020.
Latest developments
The most recent items published on the company's site are dated October 2023 and cover an interview with CEO Hong-Jin Kim conducted in June 2023 and the company's MOU with Daejeon Technopark.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography
Market position
POSVAX positions itself as attempting to become the first company after MSD to develop a 9-valent HPV vaccine. The company notes that since Gardasil-9's launch MSD has obtained approval in 77 countries and that national immunization guidelines in markets such as the U.S. and Canada have shifted to 9-valent products, making a 9-valent offering a prerequisite for market entry. Earlier VLP-based HPV vaccines cited include the bivalent Cervarix and quadrivalent Gardasil-4, commercialized in 2006 and covering roughly 70% of cervical cancers versus more than 90% for 9-valent products.
Technology
POSVAX's core technology is a yeast-based expression platform for producing high-purity viral capsid proteins that self-assemble into virus-like particles. The company states that VLPs contain no viral genes but display high-density viral surface proteins, giving high immunogenicity and cell penetration without infection risk. Its stated differentiator is control over the particle's spherical tertiary structure — described as requiring a complete assembly of 360 antigenic epitopes — achieved through protein structure analysis, genetic recombination, and enhanced culture and purification methods that raise VLP yield and purity. The yeast system was selected at the platform R&D stage with commercial-scale manufacturing in mind. The company also cites VLP stability against degrading enzymes as a basis for using the particles as a drug delivery vehicle.
Go-to-market
For its drug delivery applications, POSVAX says it expects early value creation through collaboration with domestic and overseas pharmaceutical companies or via technology transfer. Its stated target markets for the 9-valent HPV vaccine are both domestic (South Korea) and overseas.
Vaccine recipients across the life cycle from infants to the elderly, with pharmaceutical company partners and licensees as commercial counterparties for platform and drug delivery applications.
Geography
South Korea; the founder's academic affiliation is Chung-Ang University and the company signed an MOU with Daejeon Technopark.
Compiled by commissioned research from 3 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 · 2
launches, deals, and filingsCompany news lists an interview with Hong-Jin Kim, CEO of POSVAX, dated June 6, 2023.
Company news notice records an MOU contract signed with Daejeon Technopark on June 28, 2019.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 3
primary sources listed
- POSVAXposvax.com · web
3 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Posvax do?
- South Korean biotech developing virus-like particle (VLP) based prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines, led by a 9-valent HPV program.
- Who are Posvax's investors?
- Posvax's investors include Aju IB Invesment Corporation, Colopl Next, Kiwoom Investment.