Vicebio, a biopharmaceutical company developing novel vaccines against life-threatening respiratory viral infections, announced a $100 million Series B financing led by TCGX. Goldman Sachs Alternatives, Avoro Ventures, and venBio invested, and UniQuest and founding investor Medicxi participated.
Vicebio is developing next-generation vaccines for respiratory viruses utilizing its proprietary Molecular Clamp technology (discovered at The University of Queensland). This technology uniquely stabilizes viral glycoproteins in their highly immunogenic ‘prefusion’ conformation, crucial for eliciting strong protective immune responses.
This approach enables the production of highly effective vaccines that are easy to manufacture and will be available in ready-to-use prefilled syringes. And The Molecular Clamp technology is applicable to a wide range of viruses including Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV), Parainfluenza virus, Influenza and Coronaviruses, as confirmed by promising preclinical and clinical studies.
Vicebio recently initiated a Phase I clinical trial with VXB-241, its bivalent vaccine targeting both RSV and hMPV viruses that cause a significant disease burden in elderly patients and those with a weakened immune system. And there is currently no commercially available vaccine targeting RSV and hMPV.
The initial clinical readouts of the Phase 1 study are expected in mid-2025. This funding will also support the acceleration and expansion further development of Vicebio’s multivalent pipeline, including VXB-251, a trivalent vaccine targeting RSV, hMPV, and Parainfluenza Virus 3 (PIV3), a further valency that addresses a significant remaining medical burden in the elderly.
In connection with the funding, the Vicebio Board of Directors will expand to include Cariad Chester, Managing Partner at TCGX, Colin Walsh, Managing Director at Goldman Sachs and Mark Chin, Partner at Avoro Ventures.
KEY QUOTES:
“The support from these high-calibre investors underscores the robust data package we have generated for VXB-241, highlighting the significant potential of our proprietary Molecular Clamp technology to develop next-generation vaccines against respiratory viruses.”
-Dr. Emmanuel Hanon, Chief Executive Officer of Vicebio
“At TCGX, we are dedicated to supporting the translation of cutting-edge science into transformative medicines and we are thrilled to partner with Vicebio. This is a highly experienced team with a breakthrough technology to address a critical public health need. Vicebio has a unique capability to advance vaccine products that simultaneously provide robust immune responses against multiple respiratory pathogens. We look forward to working closely with the team to bring these important vaccines to the market.”
-Cariad Chester, Managing Partner at TCGX
“Vicebio has made significant progress in developing its Molecular Clamp platform and successfully advanced VXB-241 which offers unmatched vaccine coverage against respiratory viruses. We are pleased to welcome TCGX, Goldman Sachs, Avoro Ventures and venBio to the syndicate to support the fight against life-threatening respiratory viral infections.”
-Dr Giovanni Mariggi, Chairman of Vicebio and Partner at Medicxi
