Quadmedicine
1 known investors
South Korean developer of microneedle array patch (MAP) platforms for vaccine and drug delivery, with MAP CDMO services.
Also known as QuadMedicine, Inc. ยท ์ฟผ๋๋ฉ๋์จ
Investors ยท 1
Company profile
researched Aug 2026QuadMedicine, Inc. (์ฟผ๋๋ฉ๋์จ) is a South Korean biotech company developing microneedle array patch (MAP) platforms for medical and pharmaceutical applications. Its patches deliver drug substances and vaccines through the skin as an alternative to conventional intramuscular syringe injection; according to the company's CEO, the patch is applied for roughly 30 minutes and can induce an immune response with fewer antigens than intramuscular injection (cited example: 2-3 micrograms versus 10 micrograms).
The company combines formulation development, aseptic manufacturing and analytical quality control, and describes its work as an integration of multiple engineering and pharmaceutical disciplines. Alongside its own product development, QuadMedicine offers CDMO services spanning fundamental MAP research, prototyping and MAP production for clinical trials. Programs described publicly include a five-in-one pediatric combination vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Hib), a hepatitis B vaccine patch under an agreement with LG Chem, and stated intentions to apply the platform to synthetic drugs for indications such as osteoporosis and hair loss.
Founding story
QuadMedicine was founded in January 2017 by Baek Seung-ki (Seung-Ki Baek), who had worked on microneedle technology before starting the company and sought to extend microneedling beyond aesthetic uses into medical drug and vaccine delivery. He was joined by engineering specialists including Gachon University BioNano Research Institute professor Park Jung-hwan, who serves as CTO.
Business model
QuadMedicine develops its own MAP-based vaccine and drug products, works with pharmaceutical partners that supply drug and vaccine substances, and provides CDMO services covering MAP research, prototyping and clinical-trial-scale production.
The company has described a dual approach of pursuing public-benefit vaccine products alongside profit-generating synthetic drug applications of its microneedle platform, in addition to CDMO service work.
Traction
In July 2020 the Research Investment for Global Health Technology Fund began funding development of a pentavalent pediatric vaccine patch. The company signed an agreement with LG Chem covering a hepatitis B vaccine and, as of 2021, was about to enter phase 1 clinical trials; further phase 1 programs in osteoporosis and hair loss were planned with additional pharmaceutical partners.
Latest developments
As of a 2021 interview, the company planned to apply its microneedle platform to Covid-19 vaccines, though details were undecided and the CEO estimated about four more years before public use; it also intended to extend the platform to synthetic drugs and to expand pharmaceutical partnerships for phase 1 trials.
โธFull profile โ market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
QuadMedicine is an early-stage Korean microneedle specialist positioned in vaccine and transdermal drug delivery, working with partners including LG Chem and supported by the Research Investment for Global Health Technology Fund. Its CTO has served as president of the Korea Microneedle Research Association.
Stated advantages over conventional syringe injection include dose sparing (fewer antigens required for an equivalent immune response), longer room-temperature stability that reduces cold chain dependence, administration without medical professionals, reduced pain, avoidance of medical sharps waste disposal requirements, and a lower per-dose cost โ an estimated $1.1-$1.2 per microneedle patch versus about $1.7 per syringe.
Technology
The core technology is a microneedle array patch that penetrates the skin barrier to deliver vaccines and drugs. The company coats microneedles with DNA vaccines using localized micro electric current in a minimally invasive approach, described as an alternative to earlier electroporation methods that required high voltage and electric fields. Separate microneedle arrays can be coated with different vaccines to enable combination immunization in a single patch. Capabilities span formulation development, aseptic manufacturing and analytical quality control.
Go-to-market
The company advances programs through partnerships with pharmaceutical companies that provide drug and vaccine substances, seeks grant funding from global health technology funders, and offers CDMO services to third parties; global health applications are aimed at vaccine supply for less-developed countries.
Pharmaceutical and vaccine companies, contract development and manufacturing clients, and public health programs and international organizations supplying vaccines to less-developed countries.
Geography
Headquartered in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea (Jungwon-gu, Sagimakgol-ro). Its scientific advisory board includes academics in Korea and the United Kingdom, and target applications include vaccine supply to Africa and other less-developed regions.
History
Founded in January 2017, the company built microneedle-based drug delivery methods and pursued regulatory qualification of its patches as medical devices, a path complicated by the absence of a formal Korean microneedle guideline until the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety issued one in February 2021. In July 2020 the Research Investment for Global Health Technology Fund began funding development of a five-in-one pediatric vaccine patch, with vaccine substances supplied by LG Chem. As of mid-2021 the company had an agreement with LG Chem on a hepatitis B vaccine and was preparing to enter phase 1 clinical trials.
Risks & controversies
The company has cited engineering constraints including manufacturing equipment, the requirement to obtain medical device approval and demonstrate efficacy equivalent to existing delivery methods, and the prolonged absence of a formal regulatory guideline for microneedles in Korea until February 2021.
Compiled by commissioned research from 6 cited public sources โ 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 โ not independently audited.
Timeline ยท 2
launches, deals, and filingsQuadMedicine signed an agreement with LG Chem covering a hepatitis B vaccine and was, as of the 2021 interview, about to enter phase 1 clinical trials.
The Research Investment for Global Health Technology Fund recognized QuadMedicine's technology in July 2020 and began funding development of a microneedle patch delivering a five-in-one vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio and Hib for children in less-developed countries. Vaccine substances were provided by LG Chem.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
โธResearch sources ยท 6
primary sources listed
- ์ฟผ๋๋ฉ๋์จ | QuadMedicinequadmedicine.com ยท web
6 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Quadmedicine do?
- South Korean developer of microneedle array patch (MAP) platforms for vaccine and drug delivery, with MAP CDMO services.
- Who are Quadmedicine's investors?
- Quadmedicine's investors include Kiwoom Investment.