Inventera, a company developing new MRI contrast agents, has taken a step closer to listing by passing the technology evaluation for KOSDAQ’s special technology listing.
On the 16th, Inventera announced that it received A and BBB ratings respectively from two specialized evaluation agencies designated by the Korea Exchange. The company’s 'drug delivery nanostructure core technology' and the 'disease-specific nano-MRI contrast agent new drug' based on it were highly rated for their technological capability and business potential. With this, Inventera has met the key requirements for an initial public offering (IPO) through the special technology listing and has officially entered the listing process.
The technology evaluation is an essential step for the special technology listing. Applicant companies must be evaluated for technological performance and business potential by two specialized evaluation agencies designated by the Korea Exchange. The evaluation criteria include technology completeness and competitive advantage, technology development environment and infrastructure, product commercialization level and competitiveness, and market potential. Companies must obtain at least A and BBB ratings from the two agencies respectively to be eligible to request a preliminary review for KOSDAQ listing.
Inventera is developing a high-performance and safe iron (Fe)-based nano-MRI contrast agent using innovative nanostructure core technology. Through this, it is building a first-in-class nano-MRI contrast agent new drug pipeline specialized for various diseases that are difficult to diagnose with existing contrast agents.
Inventera internalizes all stages of new drug development from core technology to candidate discovery, non-clinical research, clinical development, and product approval, managing all processes integrally from early research to commercialization.
After submitting an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the U.S. FDA in October 2024, Inventera obtained Phase 2b IND approval from the FDA in November 2024, just one month later, without any requests for additional supplementation. This demonstrated high expertise and capability in new drug development. Additionally, in March 2024, Inventera signed an exclusive sales agreement for next-generation MRI contrast agent new drugs with Dongkuk Life Science, a leading domestic contrast agent company. In January of this year, Inventera also signed a contract with LG Chem for the production of raw materials for contrast agent new drugs, establishing a stable manufacturing, supply, and sales system necessary for drug commercialization.
Shin Taehyun, CEO of Inventera, said, "Passing this technology evaluation is a very gratifying result that officially recognizes Inventera’s unique core technology and continuous growth potential," adding, "IPO is not our ultimate goal but part of the process of growing into a global company, and we will prepare for the listing without any setbacks."
Meanwhile, since its establishment, Inventera has attracted about 33.6 billion KRW in investments from leading domestic venture capital and pharmaceutical companies. Despite the challenging investment environment in the bio industry last year, Inventera showed strong confidence in its technology and business potential through strategic investments from Dongkuk Life Science and Dongkuk Pharmaceutical in the Series C round, as well as participation from the Korea Innovative Medicines Consortium (KIMCo), specialized venture capital, and financial institutions.
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