What Ansun BioPharma does

Ansun BioPharma is a privately held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered at 11568 Sorrento Valley Road, San Diego, California, that develops host-directed antiviral therapeutics for severe respiratory viral infections. The company's mission is to address unmet medical needs in respiratory viral infections, with a particular focus on immunocompromised patients such as stem cell, organ transplant, and chemotherapy recipients who face mortality rates of 25–55% within 30 days when infected with parainfluenza virus. Its lead asset, DAS181, is a first-in-class recombinant sialidase fusion protein derived from Actinomyces viscosus that removes sialic acid receptors (alpha-2,3, alpha-2,6, and alpha-2,8 linkages) from respiratory epithelial cells, blocking viral entry for parainfluenza and influenza viruses without targeting the virus itself, thereby reducing the risk of resistance development. DAS181 is formulated for pulmonary delivery via dry powder inhalation or nebulization and is currently being evaluated in the global Phase 3 STOP-PIV trial (NCT03808922) for lower respiratory tract parainfluenza infection in immunocompromised patients.

The company has built a differentiated development position through FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation (granted October 2017), two parallel China NMPA IND approvals (October 2019), and an independent Data Monitoring Committee positive interim recommendation (June 2026) supporting continuation and sample-size expansion of the Phase 3 program. Governance is anchored by an experienced board including Chairperson Nancy Chang, Ph.D. (co-founder of Tanox and former Senior Managing Director at OrbiMed Advisors), Director Allen Chao, Ph.D. (co-founder and former CEO of Watson Pharmaceuticals), and other healthcare and finance operators. Ansun BioPharma has raised at least $85 million in disclosed equity financing, including a Series A in May 2018 led by Lilly Asia Ventures and Sinopharm Capital, alongside 3E Bioventures, LYFE Capital, Matrix Partners China, and Oceanpine Capital.

Ansun BioPharma's business model is that of a clinical-stage drug developer rather than a commercial biopharma: it generates no product revenue, does not publicly disclose pricing, and operates with a lean headcount of 11–50 employees. Revenue will ultimately depend on regulatory approval of DAS181 followed by either independent commercialization through hospital and specialty distribution channels or a partnership with a larger pharmaceutical company for global launch; the input data indicates the company is not yet at that stage and provides no commercialization contracts or licensing income.

Name

Ansun BioPharma

Legal name

Ansun BioPharma

Website

https://ansunbiopharma.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ansun BioPharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing DAS181, a first-in-class host-directed recombinant sialidase antiviral that targets sialic acid receptors to treat severe parainfluenza and influenza infections in immunocompromised patients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Antiviral Biopharmaceuticals

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Respiratory & Allergy Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAH)

Keywords

• Host-directed antivirals
• Respiratory viral therapeutics
• Recombinant sialidase protein
• Parainfluenza treatment
• Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Ansun BioPharma is developing DAS181, a first-in-class recombinant sialidase fusion protein administered via dry powder inhalation or nebulization. The drug removes sialic acid receptors from respiratory epithelial cells to block entry of parainfluenza and influenza viruses. It is positioned as a treatment for severe lower respiratory tract infections in immunocompromised patients and is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials.

Product overview

Ansun BioPharma is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for severe viral respiratory infections. The company's lead product candidate is DAS181, a first-in-class recombinant sialidase fusion protein (host-directed antiviral) targeting sialic acid receptors on respiratory epithelial cells. DAS181 is being developed for the treatment of parainfluenza virus (PIV) and influenza virus (IFV) infections in immunocompromised patients. The drug is formulated for pulmonary delivery via dry powder inhalation or nebulization and is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials (STOP-PIV study) for PIV indication.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DAS181 DAS181 is a first-in-class recombinant sialidase fusion protein formulated for pulmonary delivery (dry powder inhalation or nebulization) that removes sialic acid receptors from respiratory epithelial cells, blocking viral entry of influenza and parainfluenza viruses. It is being developed for the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections in immunocompromised patients who have received stem cell transplants, organ transplants, or chemotherapy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 50% of immunocompromised patients with PIV develop viral pneumonia with 25-55% mortality within 30 days
• +2 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• China NMPA (National Medical Products Administration)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 October 2019China's NMPA approved two separate Investigational New Drug (IND) applications for DAS181 on the same day, enabling clinical development of the drug candidate in China for both parainfluenza and influenza indications.
• Clinical Trial Sites and Medical CenterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTOP-PIV is a Phase 3 multi-center trial evaluating DAS181 for treatment of lower respiratory tract infection due to parainfluenza or influenza virus in immunocompromised patients, conducted across multiple clinical centers globally.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Vir Biotechnology: Clinical-stage immunology company developing antivirals and antibody therapeutics for serious respiratory and infectious diseases, including influenza. Closely comparable as a developer of host-directed/immunology-based antivirals addressing high-unmet-need viral infections.
• BioCryst Pharmaceuticals: Commercial-stage biopharma focused on rare disease antivirals, including approved influenza therapy (peramivir/Rapivab). Directly comparable as a small/mid-cap antiviral developer with approved and late-stage respiratory antiviral assets.
• ReViral: Clinical-stage antiviral developer (acquired by Pfizer) focused on RSV therapeutics. Comparable as a peer-sized antiviral developer targeting severe respiratory viral infections in vulnerable populations.
• Enanta Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage biopharma with a respiratory antiviral pipeline including influenza and RSV candidates. Comparable as a small-cap developer of direct-acting antivirals for respiratory indications.

Emerging players

• Cocrystal Pharma: Clinical-stage antiviral developer focused on influenza and coronaviruses using a structure-based drug design platform. Comparable as a smaller emerging player in respiratory antiviral development with similar stage and approach.
• Moderna: mRNA platform company with approved respiratory virus vaccines (COVID-19, RSV) and pipeline candidates targeting additional respiratory pathogens. Comparable as a platform competitor addressing the same respiratory virus disease space, though via prophylactic vaccines rather than therapeutics.
• Arcturus Therapeutics: Clinical-stage mRNA therapeutics company with approved COVID-19 vaccine and pipeline candidates for respiratory infectious diseases including influenza. Comparable as an emerging platform player addressing respiratory viral diseases through a different modality.

Broad incumbents

• Shionogi & Co. Japanese global pharmaceutical company with significant antiviral franchise (including Xocflu/baloxavir partnership with Roche). Comparable as a broader established player in respiratory antivirals competing for the same prescriber base and indications.
• Genentech (Roche): Global biopharma commercializing baloxavir marboxil (Xofluza) for influenza A/B and conducting respiratory antiviral research. Comparable as an established incumbent with approved influenza antivirals that compete with DAS181 in clinical practice.
• Pfizer: Global biopharma with a major infectious disease and antiviral portfolio, including the ReViral acquisition for RSV antivirals. Comparable as a large incumbent whose antiviral strategy and acquisition activity directly affects Ansun's competitive and partnership landscape.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ansunbiopharma

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds7 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 Ansun BioPharma