SparkBioPharma

Spark BioPharma Inc. is a clinical-stage drug discovery company based in Seoul, South Korea, that develops first-in-class, small-molecule therapeutics. The company was founded in January 2016 by Dr. Seung Bum Park, a professor in the Department of Chemistry at Seoul National University. Dr. Park, who holds a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University and was a postdoctoral research associate at Harvard University, established the company to translate over a decade of research from the CRI Center for Chemical Proteomics at Seoul National University into tangible therapeutic solutions. His academic work, including prior involvement in the development of the cancer drug 'Poziotinib', provided a strong foundation for the company's focus on innovative drug development.

The company's business model is centered on its proprietary drug discovery engine, PhenoCure+, which reverses the traditional development process by identifying a drug's efficacy before determining its precise mechanism of action. This engine integrates three core platform technologies: pDOS (privileged-substructure-based Diversity Oriented Synthesis), a library of drug-like small molecules; Seoul-Fluor, fluorescent bioprobes for phenotype-based screening; and FITGE/TS-FITGE, a technology for identifying the drug candidate's target protein. This approach enables the discovery of novel candidates for previously "undruggable" targets and those modulating complex pathways like protein-protein interactions (PPIs).

Spark BioPharma's pipeline targets diseases with high unmet medical needs, primarily in oncology, fibrosis, chronic inflammation, and immune disorders. Its lead oncology asset, SBP-101 (also referred to as SB-17170), is a small-molecule immuno-oncology agent designed to modulate the tumor microenvironment and is in Phase 1 clinical trials. Other candidates are in development for conditions such as pulmonary fibrosis, CNS disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, and metabolic diseases. The company generates revenue through strategic partnerships, joint research and development collaborations, and licensing agreements with global pharmaceutical companies. It has secured significant venture capital, including a KRW 25 billion Series C funding round in 2022, bringing its total raised funds to over KRW 57 billion. Key investors include KB Investment, IMM Investment, and Shinhan Venture Investment.

Keywords: small-molecule therapeutics, first-in-class drugs, phenotypic drug discovery, chemical proteomics, oncology, immuno-oncology, fibrosis treatment, pDOS library, Seoul-Fluor, FITGE, target identification, tumor microenvironment, protein-protein interaction inhibitors, clinical-stage biopharma, Seung Bum Park, intractable diseases, undruggable targets, joint R&D, bioventure, metabolic disease therapeutics, CNS disease therapeutics