What Vera Therapeutics does

Vera Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company founded in 2016 and listed on NASDAQ under the ticker VERA, headquartered in Brisbane, California (with a prior South San Francisco address still referenced in legal materials). The company focuses on developing biologic therapeutics for serious B-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases, with a primary emphasis on immune-mediated kidney disease and most notably IgA nephropathy (IgAN), the most common primary glomerular disease worldwide and one with no approved disease-modifying treatments. Its lead asset, atacicept, is an investigational soluble recombinant fusion protein containing the native human TACI receptor that binds both BAFF and APRIL cytokines, reducing B-cell survival signaling and autoantibody production. Atacicept was in-licensed worldwide from Ares Trading S.A., a Merck KGaA affiliate, and has been administered to more than 1,500 patients across multiple autoimmune indications. In November 2025 Vera submitted a Biologics License Application for atacicept in IgAN under the accelerated approval pathway; FDA granted Priority Review in January 2026 with a PDUFA target action date of July 7, 2026, and the asset also carries Breakthrough Therapy Designation.

The broader pipeline includes MAU868, a first-in-class monoclonal antibody neutralizing BK virus in kidney transplant recipients, and VT-109, a next-generation BAFF/APRIL fusion protein exclusively licensed from Stanford University. The ORIGIN Phase 2b/3 program supports the IgAN BLA (46% proteinuria reduction from baseline, 42% versus placebo) and ORIGIN Extend provides continued access; the PIONEER Phase 2 program is expanding atacicept into anti-PLA2R-positive primary membranous nephropathy, anti-nephrin-positive minimal change disease, and FSGS. Vera holds all global development and commercial rights to its pipeline.

The company is pre-revenue with no approved products. Once atacicept is approved, Vera intends to commercialize through specialty pharmacy distribution and direct-to-patient delivery of a self-administered once-weekly subcutaneous injection, supported by physician (nephrologist) education and market access capabilities. Reported FY2025 net loss was $299.6 million (versus $152.1 million in 2024), with $714.6 million in cash, equivalents, and marketable securities as of December 31, 2025, $596.8 million as of Q1 2026, and an up-to-$500 million credit facility from Oxford Finance LLC secured in June 2025. Capital has been raised via an approximately $80 million Series C, a $74.9 million February 2022 offering, a $250 million January 2024 offering, and a $261 million December 2025 offering. Aggressive hiring across 2025-2026 (including 89 inducement grants in April 2026 alone) and senior commercial hires such as Chief Commercial Officer Matt Skelton reflect pre-launch buildout for a potential mid-2026 U.S. commercial launch.

Name

Vera Therapeutics

Legal name

Vera Therapeutics, Inc.

Website

https://veratx.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Vera Therapeutics is a late-stage biotechnology company developing biologic therapeutics for B-cell-mediated autoimmune kidney diseases, primarily atacicept for IgA nephropathy, with a potential U.S. commercial launch in mid-2026 pending FDA approval.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biologic Therapeutics for Autoimmune Kidney Disease

NAICS

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

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Immunology & Autoimmune Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

CAR-T & TCR-T Therapies (HLAAABAC), Rare Immunology, Autoimmune & Autoinflammatory Therapies (HLAIAIAE)

Keywords

• Biologic therapeutics
• Autoimmune disease treatments
• IgA nephropathy therapy
• Kidney disease drugs
• Monoclonal antibody drugs

Headquarters

HQ city

South San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales (pending approval): Vera Therapeutics is pre-revenue with no approved products. The company expects potential U.S. commercial launch of atacicept in mid-2026 pending FDA approval. Once approved, revenue will be generated through product sales of atacicept for IgA nephropathy and potentially other indications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Vera Therapeutics develops investigational biologic therapeutics for serious immunological diseases, with a primary focus on IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Its lead product candidate, atacicept, is a recombinant fusion protein containing the human TACI receptor that binds and neutralizes both BAFF and APRIL cytokines, reducing B-cell mediated autoantibody production. The company is transitioning from clinical-stage to commercial-stage, targeting a 2026 U.S. launch of atacicept as a self-administered weekly subcutaneous injection.

Product overview

Vera Therapeutics is a late-stage biotechnology company developing transformative treatments for serious immunological diseases, with a focus on immune-mediated kidney disease. The company's product portfolio centers on three investigational therapies: atacicept (a dual BAFF/APRIL inhibitor fusion protein in Phase 3 for IgA nephropathy), MAU868 (a monoclonal antibody for BK virus in kidney transplant recipients), and VT-109 (a next-generation BAFF/APRIL inhibitor). The company operates clinical trial programs including ORIGIN (atacicept in IgAN) and PIONEER (atacicept in multiple glomerular diseases). Vera Therapeutics retains all global developmental and commercial rights to its pipeline candidates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Atacicept Investigational soluble recombinant fusion protein containing the human TACI receptor that binds and neutralizes both BAFF and APRIL cytokines, reducing B-cell mediated autoantibody production. Self-administered as a subcutaneous once-weekly injection. Designed for adults with IgA nephropathy.
• MAU868 First-in-class investigational monoclonal antibody designed to neutralize BK virus (BKV) by binding to the virus and preventing it from attaching to and entering host cells. Targeting kidney transplant recipients at risk of BKV reactivation.
• VT-109 Novel, next-generation fusion protein targeting BAFF and APRIL cytokines with therapeutic potential across the spectrum of B-cell-mediated diseases. Licensed from Stanford University; Vera holds global development and commercial rights.

Quantifiable outcome

• 46% statistically significant reduction in proteinuria from baseline (primary endpoint met in ORIGIN Phase 3)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 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

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Travere Therapeutics: Commercial-stage biotech with Filspari (sparsentan) already approved for IgA nephropathy, the most direct competitor to atacicept in the same indication and prescriber base.
• Calliditas Therapeutics: Markets Tarpeyo (budesonide delayed-release) for IgAN, competing in the same autoimmune nephrology specialty channel that Vera is preparing to enter.
• Otsuka Pharmaceutical: Developing sibeprenlimab (anti-APRIL monoclonal antibody) for IgAN, representing a direct mechanism-adjacent competitor to atacicept's BAFF/APRIL dual blockade.
• Chinook Therapeutics (Novartis): Acquired by Novartis, developing zigakibart (anti-APRIL) for IgAN. Now part of Novartis's nephrology pipeline, directly comparable in mechanism and indication.
• Aurinia Pharmaceuticals: Markets voclosporin (Lupkynis) for lupus nephritis, another immune-mediated glomerular disease; competes in overlapping nephrology specialty prescribing.

Emerging players

• argenx: Commercial-stage biotech with Vyvgart (efgartigimod), an FcRn modulator for autoimmune disease. Comparable biologic modality and B-cell pathway targeting with similar commercial-stage inflection.

Broad incumbents

• Vertex Pharmaceuticals: Co-markets Filspari with Travere in IgAN through ex-US partnership, making Vertex a direct strategic competitor in the same nephrology franchise.
• Roche / Genentech: Leader in autoimmune biologics with rituximab and obinutuzumab (anti-CD20 B-cell depleters) widely used off-label in IgAN and related nephropathies.
• Bristol-Myers Squibb: Major immunology franchise with Zeposia (ozanimod) and Sotyktu (deucravacitinib); potential competitor for autoimmune indications Vera may pursue.
• AstraZeneca / Alexion: Through Alexion, markets complement inhibitors (Soliris/Ultomiris) for rare kidney diseases including IgAN; established specialty nephrology commercial infrastructure and rare-disease expertise.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Official_VeraTx
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/veratx

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds9 records

Investors11 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 Vera Therapeutics