Galux Named to Forbes Asia 100 to Watch 2026 — Only South Korean Biotech on the List — BigGo Finance

South Korean artificial intelligence (AI) drug discovery company Galux has been named to Forbes’ “Forbes Asia 100 to Watch 2026” list, published by the global business magazine. Among nine South Korean companies included on this year’s list, Galux is the only one in the biotechnology and healthcare category.

Each year, Forbes selects 100 privately held companies headquartered in the Asia-Pacific region that demonstrate business model innovation and high market growth potential. Galux was recognized for its growth prospects in translating its proprietary AI technology for designing proteins from scratch into actual drug candidate development.

The selection was driven in large part by Galux’s success in connecting its AI technology to joint research with global pharmaceutical companies. Galux is currently engaged in drug development projects with domestic and international partners, including global pharmaceutical companies AstraZeneca and Boehringer Ingelheim. The company also secured Series B funding earlier this year, bringing its cumulative investment to approximately 70 billion won (approximately $50.5 million).

Galux’s core competitive advantage lies in its proprietary protein design AI platform “GaluxDesign.” The platform is built on “de novo design” technology that combines the physicochemical principles of proteins with AI to generate the structure and sequence of proteins with desired functions from scratch. It goes beyond simply analyzing or optimizing existing proteins, and is being used to design novel antibodies and protein therapeutic candidates.

Galux is also working to advance AI-designed candidates into its own drug pipeline. The “PD-1/IL-18v” bispecific antibody immuno-oncology candidate being developed by Galux was selected this year as a new candidate-stage project under South Korea’s National New Drug Development Program. The company is expanding the application of its AI protein design technology not only through joint research with global pharmaceutical companies but also within its own pipeline.

Unlike conventional AI drug discovery focused on small-molecule compounds, Galux is differentiating itself by pioneering technology that designs proteins themselves from the ground up. Whether its joint research with global pharmaceutical companies will lead to technology transfers or pipeline expansion is expected to be the key to its growth trajectory.

“This selection is meaningful in that it recognizes the AI protein design technology Galux has accumulated and the results that have demonstrated its potential,” said Park Tae-yong, CEO of Galux. “Building on this foundation, we will continue to grow as a next-generation biotech that contributes to the development of innovative therapies in the global market, beyond Asia.”