Vigil Neuroscience

What Vigil Neuroscience does

Vigil Neuroscience is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing microglia-targeted therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases. Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Vigil focused on modulating the neuroimmune system through TREM2 receptor agonism, a novel mechanism intended to restore microglial function and address the neuroinflammatory component of neurodegeneration. The company operated as a pre-commercial R&D entity with no approved products and no product revenue, relying instead on venture capital and strategic investment to fund clinical development.

Vigil's pipeline centered on a proprietary small molecule TREM2 agonist platform. Its lead candidate, VG-3927, is an oral small molecule TREM2 agonist that entered Phase 1 clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease. A second program, VGL101, targeted ALSP (Adult-onset Leukoencephalopathy with axonal Spheroids and Pigmented microglia), a rare neurodegenerative disease with no FDA-approved treatments. Both candidates were designed to act on microglia through TREM2 activation, applying Vigil's neuroimmunology platform across both rare and common neurodegenerative indications.

The company's go-to-market was research- and partnership-driven rather than commercial. Vigil raised approximately $50 million in a Series A (December 2020), $90 million in a Series B led by Vida Ventures (August 2021), and $40 million in a strategic investment from Sanofi (June 2024) that included an exclusive right of first negotiation for the TREM2 agonist program. In May 2025, Sanofi acquired Vigil for $470 million ($8 per share plus a $2 contingent value right payable upon first commercial sale), absorbing VG-3927 into Sanofi's neurology pipeline and ending Vigil's operation as an independent entity.

Name

Vigil Neuroscience

Legal name

Vigil Neuroscience, Inc.

Website

https://vigilneuro.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Vigil Neuroscience is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing microglia-targeted therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases, including the TREM2 agonist VG-3927 for Alzheimer's disease and VGL101 for ALSP. The company was acquired by Sanofi in 2025 for $470 million.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biopharmaceuticals

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Neurology & Psychiatry (CNS) Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAF), Multiple Sclerosis & Neuroimmunology (HLAKAIAF)

Keywords

• Neurodegenerative therapeutics
• Microglia-targeted medicines
• TREM2 agonist drugs
• Rare disease treatments
• Alzheimer's therapeutics

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Pipeline Development and Potential Commercialization: Pre-commercial biotech company developing novel therapeutic candidates. Revenue will come from future product sales upon regulatory approval. The company raised capital through strategic investments and was acquired by Sanofi in 2025 for $470 million, suggesting pipeline value recognition.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Vigil Neuroscience is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing microglia-targeted therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases. Its lead clinical assets are VGL101, an antibody candidate for the rare disease ALSP (Adult-onset Leukoencephalopathy with axonal Spheroids and Pigmented microglia), and VG-3927, an oral small molecule TREM2 agonist in Phase 1 development for Alzheimer's disease. The company was acquired by Sanofi in 2025 for $470 million to advance VG-3927 through Sanofi's neurology pipeline.

Product overview

Vigil Neuroscience is a biopharmaceutical company developing microglia-targeted medicines for neurodegenerative diseases. The company advanced two main therapeutic candidates: VGL101 for ALSP (a rare neurodegenerative disease) and VG-3927 (a small molecule TREM2 agonist for Alzheimer's disease). Both programs focus on targeting the neuroimmune system through microglia modulation, with the company pursuing treatments for both rare and common neurodegenerative conditions. Sanofi acquired the company in 2025 for $470 million, adding VG-3927 to its neurology pipeline.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VGL101 Therapeutic candidate (antibody) targeting TREM2 on microglia for the treatment of ALSP (Adult-onset Leukoencephalopathy with axonal Spheroids and Pigmented microglia), a rare neurodegenerative disease with no FDA-approved therapies.
• VG-3927 Oral small molecule TREM2 agonist in Phase 1 clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease, targeting neuroimmunology pathways through microglia modulation.
• Small Molecule TREM2 Agonist Program Drug discovery and development program focused on small molecule TREM2 receptor agonists to modulate microglia function for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases; encompasses VG-3927 and follow-on candidates.

Quantifiable outcome

• Phase 1 clinical trial initiated for VGL101 in ALSP
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SanoficoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Sanofi acquired Vigil Neuroscience for $470 million in May 2025, adding the oral Alzheimer's drug candidate VG-3927 to Sanofi's neurology pipeline. The $8-per-share offer included a $2 contingent value right payable upon first commercial sale. The acquisition filled a gap in Sanofi's R&D portfolio as the pharma group had no Alzheimer's programmes in clinical development.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Alector: Clinical-stage biotech developing immuno-neurology therapeutics with a primary focus on TREM2 and other microglial targets for neurodegenerative diseases — directly comparable mechanism and indication overlap with Vigil's pipeline.
• Denali Therapeutics: Biotech developing small molecule and biologic therapeutics for neurodegeneration, including TREM2-targeting programs. Highly comparable in modality (small molecule CNS-penetrant) and therapeutic area.
• Annexon, Inc. Clinical-stage company developing therapeutics targeting the complement pathway in neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. Comparable in targeting neuroimmune mechanisms for CNS indications.

Emerging players

• Cortexyme: Clinical-stage biotech focused on P. gingivalis and other mechanisms in Alzheimer's and neurodegeneration. Comparable as an emerging CNS biotech pursuing disease-modifying approaches.
• Athira Pharma: Clinical-stage company developing small molecule therapies for neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's. Comparable indication overlap and small-molecule CNS modality.
• Cassava Sciences: Clinical-stage biotech focused on Alzheimer's disease therapeutics. Comparable as an emerging player targeting neurodegenerative indications through novel CNS mechanisms.

Broad incumbents

• Biogen: Large neurology-focused biopharma with established Alzheimer's franchise (Aduhelm/Leqembi) and broad CNS pipeline. Comparable as a major incumbent competing in the same neurodegenerative disease space.
• Eli Lilly: Major pharmaceutical company with Kisunla (donanemab) for Alzheimer's and active CNS pipeline. Comparable as a broad incumbent pursuing disease-modifying Alzheimer's therapies.
• Eisai: Pharmaceutical company co-developing Leqembi with Biogen for Alzheimer's. Comparable as a global incumbent in CNS with active neurodegeneration pipeline.
• AbbVie: Diversified pharma with established neurology franchise (e.g., Vraylar) and active CNS pipeline. Comparable as a broad incumbent pursuing neurodegenerative disease opportunities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/VigilNeuro
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vigil-neuroscience

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors15 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vigil Neuroscience