What Aarvik Therapeutics does

Aarvik Therapeutics, Inc. is a private, Hayward, California-based biotechnology company (founded 2020/launched June 2021, 11–50 employees) developing precision antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for oncology. Its scientific foundation rests on two proprietary platforms: MUTTA™ (Multi-epitope Targeting Tetravalent Antibody), which engineers site-specifically conjugated tetravalent antibodies capable of binding up to four epitopes on one or more tumor antigens to overcome antigen escape and unlock low-copy-number tumor targets; and AQUALINK™, which supplies hydrophilic beta-glucuronidase cleavable linkers paired with exatecan payloads for next-generation ADC chemistry. The lead clinical-stage asset is ARR-002 (AV-P138-ADC), a MUC16/NaPi2b dual-target tetravalent ADC for ovarian and endometrial cancers that received FDA IND clearance in May 2026, with Phase 1 dosing expected in H2 2026.

The company operates a partner-led, platform-out-licensing business model: it conducts discovery and preclinical development internally and licenses candidates to pharmaceutical partners who fund and execute clinical development and commercialization. The flagship relationship is with ArriVent BioPharma, which entered a research collaboration in December 2021 (potential value ~$100M in milestones plus royalties) and exercised an exclusive license to ARR-002 in August 2024. Aarvik is pre-revenue, generating income solely from upfront payments, research funding, opt-in payments, and contingent milestones/royalties. Capital sources include a Series Seed round (August 2021), an interim financing (December 2024), and a Series Seed 2 round (September 2025) that included a $2M strategic investment from India-based Laurus Labs. Scientific leadership is anchored by Genentech alumni, including ADC pioneer Jagath Reddy Junutula (co-inventor of THIOMAB technology, contributor to Kadcyla and Polivy) and protein engineer Sachdev Sidhu, supported by a board and SAB that includes former Genentech EVP Richard Scheller.

Name

Aarvik Therapeutics

Legal name

Aarvik Therapeutics, Inc.

Website

https://aarviktx.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aarvik Therapeutics is a private Hayward, California-based biotech developing precision antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for oncology using its proprietary MUTTA™ tetravalent antibody and AQUALINK™ linker platforms, partnering with pharmaceutical companies (notably ArriVent BioPharma) for clinical development and commercialization.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Antibody-Drug Conjugate Oncology Therapeutics

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) & Antibody Conjugates (HLAAAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Antibody Discovery & Engineering Platforms (display tech, bispecifics, Fc engineering) (HLAAAIAB), Protein Engineering & Directed Evolution Platforms (enzyme/therapeutic protein optimization) (HLAAAIAC), Engineered Protein Therapeutics (de novo/AI-designed proteins, novel scaffolds) (HLAAAAAJ)

Keywords

• Antibody drug conjugates
• Oncology therapeutics
• Tetravalent antibody platforms
• ADC drug development
• Biotechnology licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

Fremont

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Licensing and Milestone Payments: Aarvik receives upfront payments, research funding, and opt-in payments from partners for discovery and preclinical development programs. The company is eligible to receive contingent development and commercial milestones. Revenue model is typical of early-stage biotech platforms - upfront payments fund operations while milestone payments and royalties provide upside upon clinical and commercial success.
2. Royalties on Commercial Sales: Aarvik receives royalties on net sales of successfully commercialized products developed through partnerships. For the ArriVent collaboration, the company is eligible for royalties in addition to upfront, research, and milestone payments.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Aarvik Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that develops precision oncology therapeutics using proprietary antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) platforms. Its core offerings include the MUTTA™ (Multi-epitope Targeting Tetravalent Antibody) platform, which enables multi-targeting tetravalent antibody architectures, and the AQUALINK™ linker-payload platform. The company primarily monetizes these assets by discovering and conducting preclinical development of ADC candidates and then out-licensing them to pharmaceutical partners for clinical development and commercialization.

Product overview

Aarvik Therapeutics is an ADC-focused biotechnology company developing a portfolio of proprietary technology platforms and ADC drug candidates for oncology. The company's core offerings include the MUTTA™ (MUlti-epitope Targeting Tetravalent Antibody) platform for multi-targeting ADC development and the AQUALINK™ platform for advanced linker-payload technology. The lead program AV-P138-ADC (ARR-002) is a dual-target ADC co-developed with ArriVent BioPharma for ovarian and endometrial cancers. The MUTTA platform enables combining multiple low copy number receptors through multi-valent architecture (up to 4 targets) with site-specific conjugation, improving therapeutic window by lowering minimum effective dose while maintaining or improving maximum tolerated dose.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MUTTA™: Multi-epitope Targeting Tetravalent Antibody platform for developing next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) with improved therapeutic window.
• AQUALINK™

Products and services

• MUTTA™ ADC Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• FDA IND clearance achieved for ARR-002 (AV-P138-ADC) in May 2026 for ovarian and endometrial cancers, with Phase 1 clinical trial expected to initiate and first patient dosed in H2 2026.

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

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ArriVent BioPharmacoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 15 August 2024ArriVent exercised its option to exclusively license the collaboration program (AV-P138-ADC/ARR-002) discovered by Aarvik. Aarvik received upfront payment, research funding, and opt-in payment, and is eligible for contingent development and commercial milestones plus royalties.
• ArriVent BioPharmacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 December 2021Strategic research collaboration to develop and commercialize a novel oncology-focused ADC candidate. Aarvik is responsible for discovery and preclinical development using its proprietary modular platform. ArriVent is responsible for clinical development and commercialization. Aarvik receives upfront payment, research funding, and is eligible for option fees, development and commercial milestones totaling approximately $100 million plus royalties.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mersana Therapeutics: Clinical-stage ADC platform company developing novel antibody conjugates for oncology using proprietary linker-payload platforms (Dolasynthen, Immunosynthen). Closely comparable to Aarvik as a platform ADC biotech licensing assets to pharma partners, with multiple programs in the clinic.
• ADC Therapeutics: Commercial-stage ADC company developing pyrrolobenzodiazepine-based antibody-drug conjugates for hematologic and solid tumors. Directly comparable as an ADC-specialist with platform technology, multiple pipeline assets, and pharma partnerships.
• Pyxis Oncology: Clinical-stage ADC and antibody therapeutics company developing multi-modality oncology candidates. Directly comparable as a small-cap ADC platform pursuing differentiated targets, with an analogous discovery-to-clinic trajectory.
• ProfoundBio: Clinical-stage ADC company developing next-generation antibody-drug conjugates for solid tumors, recently acquired by Genmab. Directly comparable as a privately funded, platform-driven ADC developer that scaled through partnership economics.
• Bolt Biotherapeutics: Clinical-stage oncology company developing immune-stimulating antibody-drug conjugates (ISACs). Comparable as a small-cap ADC platform with proprietary linker/chemistry technology and pharma partnership activity.

Broad incumbents

• ImmunoGen (AbbVie): Pioneer in ADC field (Elahere, now under AbbVie) with a broad ADC platform targeting multiple oncology indications. Comparable to Aarvik as an ADC-focused oncology company, though materially larger and now part of a top-5 pharma group.
• Daiichi Sankyo: Global leader in ADC drug development (Enhertu, Datroway) with multiple partnered and wholly-owned ADC programs across oncology. Sets the competitive benchmark for ADC technology and partnership economics relevant to Aarvik's business model.

Emerging players

• Tubulis: Privately held ADC platform company developing differentiated linker chemistries and conjugation approaches. Comparable to Aarvik in stage and platform-centric approach, with overlap in linker-payload innovation relevant to AQUALINK.
• Mablink Bioscience (Eli Lilly): ADC platform company (acquired by Eli Lilly in 2024) developing next-generation antibody-drug conjugates with novel hydrophilic linkers. Closely comparable to Aarvik's AQUALINK concept and to its licensing-based growth model.
• Araris Biotech (AstraZeneca): Preclinical/early-clinical ADC platform company developing linker chemistries for site-specific antibody-drug conjugates, acquired by AstraZeneca. Comparable to Aarvik as a linker-platform innovator whose exit validates pharma demand for differentiated ADC technology.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors1 record

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 Aarvik Therapeutics