Amicogen, Inc. (艾美科健株式会社), headquartered in Jinju-si, South Korea, is a leading biotechnology company specializing in the development and manufacturing of high-value biopharmaceutical components, functional ingredients, and industrial enzymes. Founded in 2000, Amicogen has consistently advanced synthetic biology, protein engineering, and fermentation technologies to create innovative and sustainable solutions for the health, pharmaceutical, and life science industries.
Core Business and Product Portfolio
Amicogen operates through several key product lines that serve diverse industries:
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Specialty Enzymes:
- Enzymes for pharmaceuticals (e.g., cephalosporin side chain cleavage enzymes)
- Industrial enzymes for biocatalysis and green chemistry applications
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Functional Bio-Ingredients:
- N-Acetylglucosamine (NAG): Used in joint health supplements, cosmetics, and skincare
- Pinitol: A naturally occurring compound beneficial for blood sugar control
- D-Chiro-Inositol (DCI): Promotes metabolic and reproductive health, especially for PCOS treatment
- Collagen Peptides (CP): Bioactive peptides derived via enzymatic hydrolysis, used in beauty and anti-aging formulations
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Bioprocessing Products:
- Protein A Chromatography Resins: High-performance media used in the purification of monoclonal antibodies in biopharmaceutical manufacturing
These products are manufactured under strict quality systems and meet international standards, making them suitable for regulated markets across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Specialisation and Unique Value Proposition
Amicogen’s competitive edge lies in its proprietary enzyme engineering platform and microbial fermentation capabilities. The company is known for:
- Developing next-generation enzymes with enhanced selectivity and performance
- Utilizing recombinant DNA technology to improve production yields
- Offering non-animal sourced bioactive ingredients, addressing halal, kosher, and vegan product demands
- Scalable and sustainable production with green biocatalytic processes
Amicogen also provides customized contract manufacturing (CDMO) for clients in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries.
Financials and Market Presence
As a publicly traded company on the KOSDAQ (Ticker: 092040.KQ), Amicogen maintains financial transparency and a solid market standing:
- 2023 Revenue: Approximately KRW 82.6 billion (~USD 62 million)
- Export markets include China, the United States, Japan, Germany, and Southeast Asia
- Strategic partnerships and joint ventures in China (Qingdao Amicogen) and Europe
The company has seen sustained double-digit growth driven by increased global demand for pharmaceutical enzymes and functional ingredients.
Export and Shipment Activity
Amicogen is an established exporter of biopharma raw materials and functional ingredients. Highlights include:
- High-volume exports of NAG and collagen peptides to China and Japan
- Supplying Protein A resins to biopharma companies and CDMOs globally
- Trade data indicates over 200 international shipments annually, with consistent volumes to regulated markets
Amicogen products are shipped under strict documentation standards including COA, MSDS, and batch traceability.
Certifications and Compliance
Amicogen upholds the highest standards in quality and regulatory compliance:
- ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 Certified
- cGMP-compliant facilities for pharmaceutical and health ingredient production
- FDA DMF (Drug Master File) for pharmaceutical enzymes
- Halal and Kosher Certified ingredients
- Conforms to EFSA, USP, JP, and Korean Pharmacopoeia specifications
The company also practices eco-friendly production and corporate sustainability reporting.
Target Market
Amicogen’s products are designed for B2B customers in the following industries:
- Biopharmaceutical manufacturing
- Nutraceuticals and dietary supplements
- Cosmeceuticals and skincare
- Animal nutrition and veterinary health
- Green industrial bioprocessing
The company serves multinational corporations, regional distributors, and direct-to-brand ingredient suppliers.
Capabilities and Infrastructure
- State-of-the-art production plant in Jinju-si with integrated fermentation and downstream processing
- Pilot-scale and commercial-scale reactors for enzyme and peptide production
- Advanced analytical labs equipped with HPLC, GC-MS, NMR, and ELISA systems
- Global R&D Center focused on synthetic biology, protein expression, and metabolic engineering
- Annual production capacity includes:
- Over 100 metric tons of collagen peptides
- Over 50 metric tons of NAG and inositols
- 100+ kg batches of Protein A resin
Amicogen invests heavily in R&D, allocating approximately 10% of annual revenue to innovation.
Industry Recognition and Strategic Partnerships
Amicogen has received recognition as:
- Korea’s Top 100 Technological Innovation Companies
- Winner of the Korea Biotechnology Excellence Award
- Strategic partner of major global biopharmaceutical firms for enzyme development
Notable collaborations include:
- Qingdao Amicogen – Joint venture for production and distribution in the Chinese market
- Global CDMO contracts for enzyme-based API intermediates and protein separation materials
Customer Feedback and Industry Standing
Industry partners and clients acknowledge Amicogen for:
“Superior enzyme performance and technical support that outmatches competitors. Highly reliable CDMO for functional bio-ingredients.”
— Global Nutraceutical OEM, EU
“Amicogen’s chromatography resin helped increase yield and purity of our monoclonal antibody purification process.”
— Head of Process Development, Biopharma, Korea
Major Achievements
- Listed on KOSDAQ since 2010, maintaining financial stability and innovation growth
- Developed world-class Protein A resin to compete with major Western suppliers
- Launched non-animal derived collagen peptide line targeting vegan beauty markets
- Secured multiple patents in enzyme engineering and fermentation optimization
Amicogen, Inc. continues to lead South Korea’s biotech and functional ingredient innovation landscape, with a mission to enable better health through advanced biotechnology.
