Galux, a South Korean biotech company developing AI-driven protein therapeutics, has raised $29 million in Series B funding. The round brings the company's total capital raised to $47 million since inception.
The financing attracted both returning backers and several new institutional investors. InterVest, DAYLI Partners, and PATHWAY Investment returned from previous rounds. They were joined by Yuanta Investment, Korea Development Bank (KDB), SL Investment, NCORE Ventures, SneakPeek Investments, Korea Investment & Securities, and Mirae Asset Securities.
Drug discovery has long relied on trial-and-error methods to identify promising therapeutic candidates. Galux is working to change that through its GaluxDesign platform, which uses artificial intelligence to design proteins from the ground up—a process known as de novo design.
The platform focuses particularly on antibody design, widely considered one of the most technically demanding areas in the field. GaluxDesign has already generated high-affinity antibodies against multiple therapeutic targets. Cryo-EM imaging confirmed that the platform's AI-designed antibody structures closely matched experimental results, validating both its accuracy and broader applicability.
"Rapidly evolving AI technologies are driving a paradigm shift in drug discovery—from empirical discovery to rational drug design," said Cha-ok Seok, CEO of Galux. "This funding will accelerate the development of next-generation AI that goes beyond binder design to incorporate functional activity and developability, enabling the creation of more robust and therapeutically viable molecules."
Galux operates an internal wet lab that works closely with its AI team. This setup creates a tight feedback loop between computational predictions and experimental validation, helping improve the platform's precision and reliability over time.
The company is now extending the platform to more difficult target classes, including GPCRs and ion channels. These proteins have historically been challenging to address with traditional drug discovery methods but represent significant therapeutic opportunities.
The new funding will support continued platform development, expansion of R&D infrastructure, and preclinical validation of Galux's internal pipeline. The company aims to unlock therapeutic possibilities in areas where conventional approaches have struggled.
Founded in South Korea, Galux combines deep learning with the physical principles of protein folding and interaction. This approach allows the company to design therapeutic proteins tailored to specific targets and modalities.
Galux has established co-development partnerships with major domestic pharmaceutical companies including Celltrion and LG Chem. The company recently announced a collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim, marking a step forward in its international expansion.
The company previously raised an $18 million Series A round in 2022, which supported advances in its AI platform and R&D capabilities. Since then, Galux has hit several technical and business milestones that positioned it for the Series B raise.
InterVest has backed Galux since its seed round and participated again in the Series B. The firm sees continued potential in the company's technology and execution.
"Since our initial seed investment, Galux has consistently demonstrated strong technical depth and disciplined execution," said Sang-gyun Kim, Ph.D, Executive Managing Director at InterVest. "The company's capability to build a globally competitive AI platform for de novo protein design strengthens our conviction in its technology and its long-term potential to transform drug discovery."
Additional investors in the round—including Korea Development Bank, Yuanta Investment, SL Investment, NCORE Ventures, SneakPeek Investments, Korea Investment & Securities, and Mirae Asset Securities—reflect growing institutional interest in AI-powered drug discovery platforms.
