[Edaily Marketin Soyoung Park Reporter] Korea Investment Partners’ U.S. subsidiary is accelerating its local investment activities in the U.S. The firm recently made an investment in a biotech company developing regenerative therapies. The firm plans to leverage the local U.S. network it has established through this investment to continue fostering a collaborative relationship with its headquarters.

On the 22nd, Korea Investment Partners’ U.S. subsidiary announced that it had invested $2 million (approximately 2.8 billion won) in the U.S. biotech company HexemBio. This investment is part of a $15.5 million (approximately 21.5 billion won) funding round led by HexemBio. Draper Associates led the investment, with participation from SOSV, Seraphim, and others.

Hantoupa made the investment through the KIPUS Trinitas Fund. Previously, Hantoupa’s U.S. subsidiary established the KIPUS Trinitas Fund, a local fund totaling $100 million (approximately 136.1 billion won). The firm plans to use this fund to invest in early-stage traditional VC deals and signature deals. It also plans to expand investments in cutting-edge industries such as △ artificial intelligence (AI) △ AI infrastructure △ aerospace △ defense △ and advanced biotechnology.

HexemBio is developing regenerative therapies that restore the function of aged hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) based on synthetic human yolk sac technology. The company does not replace or genetically reprogram the patient’s HSCs. Instead, it recreates the microenvironment of the yolk sac—where HSCs are first generated—in vitro. This approach restores the regenerative capacity of aged HSCs. HSCs collected from the patient are temporarily exposed to this environment and then reinfused.

HexemBio’s underlying technology was published in the international academic journal *Nature*. The company reported that additional research findings are currently undergoing peer review. The company has filed more than 17 patent applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for this technology, two of which have already been granted.

HexemBio has identified an HSC regenerative therapy for use in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for blood cancer patients as its first lead program. The company received Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this program in July of last year. It completed a pre-IND meeting with the FDA in January of this year. The company aims to conduct its first-in-human trial next year.

As a follow-up program, HexemBio is developing an injectable therapy that delivers the same biological signals within the body without removing cells. The company is currently conducting preclinical animal trials. In addition, it is developing a third-generation program that applies this technology to skin regeneration and wound healing.

Kim Yeon-ju, an investment analyst at Hantoupa, explained the rationale behind the investment, stating, “HexemBio’s yolk sac-derived technology represents a differentiated approach that has been hard to find in the existing longevity field,” and added, “We highly evaluated the technological potential to create new therapeutic areas in regenerative medicine, as well as the research team’s execution capabilities.”

Gabriel Lebec Tremblay, co-founder and CEO of Hexem Bio, said, “The partnership with Hantupa is the first step for Hexem Bio in expanding its network beyond the United States,” adding, “We plan to expand into the Korean life sciences ecosystem as well, leveraging Hantupa’s experience and network in biotech investments.”

HanTupa has been investing in the biotech and life sciences sectors in the U.S. for over 10 years. The firm plans to continue investing in highly innovative biotech areas, such as new modalities and first-in-class technologies. A HanTouPa official added, “We intend to leverage the local U.S. network we have built through our existing investments and increase collaboration with our headquarters in Korea,” noting, “Through this, we will broaden our reach within the U.S. market and expand our influence within the investment industry.”