CNT Tech announced that it has invested in InnoAul, a biomedical AI startup developing RNA transcriptome-based AI precision diagnostic technology. This investment was made through CNT Tech-DB Dream Big Investment Fund No. 1 and CNT Tech Investment Fund No. 22.
Atopic dermatitis is a common chronic skin disease, estimated to affect over one million people in Korea. While the treatment market is rapidly growing, precise diagnostic technology capable of objectively classifying patients prior to treatment remains relatively scarce. Existing diagnostic methods have relied on blood or tissue tests, and the burden of repeated testing and invasiveness has been criticized, particularly for pediatric patients.
To address these challenges, InnoAul is building a precision atopic dermatitis diagnostic value chain that combines a microneedle-based minimally invasive diagnostic patch, RNA transcriptome analysis, and AI-based intrinsic classification technology. Beyond symptom- and image-based diagnosis, the company aims to classify patients based on molecular differences in the disease, enabling prediction of treatment response and the development of personalized treatment strategies.
In particular, InnoAul has adopted a partnership-based strategy, securing microneedle manufacturing and skin application technologies through collaboration with specialized companies while focusing on developing RNA analysis algorithms and AI-based diagnostic platforms on its own. This strategy mitigates risks that may arise during manufacturing and clinical trials, while accelerating commercialization.
Currently, InnoAul is conducting clinical trials in collaboration with major domestic university hospitals and, based on accumulated data, aims to commercialize its diagnostic kit around 2028. Going forward, InnoAul plans to expand beyond diagnostic services for hospitals and clinics to include data-driven new drug development through joint research with pharmaceutical companies and research institutes.
CNT Tech CEO Choi Hyun-soon said, “Atopic dermatitis is an area where there has been a lack of precise classification tools for the pre-treatment stage compared to the number of patients,” and added, “InnoAul presents a patient-friendly yet precise diagnostic structure, so we decided to invest in it with an eye on its mid- to long-term technological value and market transformation potential.”
“Precision diagnosis is a field that will inevitably expand alongside the growth of the therapeutics market,” said Kang Seok-min, team leader at DB Capital, a joint investor. “We expect InnoAul to set an important standard in the atopic dermatitis precision diagnosis market based on its differentiated capabilities of minimally invasive diagnosis and data-based patient classification.”
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