What VelosBio does

VelosBio is a clinical-stage biotechnology company founded in 2017 and headquartered in San Diego, California. The company is focused on developing next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) intended to treat hematological cancers, a therapeutic modality that combines targeted antibody recognition with cytotoxic payloads to selectively eliminate malignant cells while limiting off-target toxicity. VelosBio operates with a focused team of 11-50 employees and is led by founder and CEO Dave Johnson. As a private, pre-commercial oncology company, VelosBio's operations center on ADC discovery and clinical translation rather than marketed product revenue.

The company's funding profile reflects strong institutional validation of its ADC platform. Through three disclosed rounds, VelosBio has raised approximately $202.7 million in aggregate: a $7.7 million round in February 2018, a $58 million Series B in October 2018 led by Arix Bioscience and Sofinnova Investments with participation from Chiesi Ventures, Decheng Capital, Pappas Ventures, and Takeda Ventures, and a $137 million Series B in July 2020 co-led by Matrix Capital Management and Surveyor Capital. The 2020 round featured a deep syndicate of crossover and late-stage investors — including Takeda Ventures, T. Rowe Price, Wellington Management, OrbiMed, Viking Global Investors, Foresite Capital, Janus Henderson Investors, Logos Capital, Cormorant, Adage Capital, Farallon Capital, Decheng Capital, Pappas Capital, Mesa Verde Venture Partners, Global Source Ventures, and Venrock — consistent with a clinical-stage biotech preparing for either accelerated pipeline advancement or strategic transaction activity.

Because VelosBio remains pre-commercial, the business model is venture-funded R&D rather than product commercialization. No pricing model, customer list, partnership economics, or commercial revenue disclosure is available in the source material. The investor base — particularly the breadth of crossover participation in 2020 — is the principal evidence of platform credibility in the absence of commercial-stage data.

Name

VelosBio

Website

https://velosbio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VelosBio is a privately held, San Diego-based clinical-stage oncology company founded in 2017 that develops novel antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) targeting hematological cancers, led by founder-CEO Dave Johnson and backed by approximately $202.7M in venture funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Oncology Therapeutics

NAICS

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

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Antibody-drug conjugates
• Oncology therapeutics
• Haematological cancer treatment
• ADC drug development
• Cancer biopharmaceuticals

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

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

Core offering

VelosBio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for the treatment of haematological cancers. The company builds next-generation oncology therapeutics that combine tumour-targeting antibodies with cytotoxic payloads to selectively destroy cancer cells.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• ADC Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing antibody-drug conjugates for haematological and solid tumours, with an FDA-approved ADC (Zynlonta) for DLBCL. Most directly comparable to VelosBio given its ADC focus on blood cancers and similar clinical-stage profile.
• ImmunoGen: Pioneer in ADC technology with multiple approved ADC products; acquired by AbbVie in 2024. Directly comparable ADC platform peer with deeper pipeline and commercialisation track record, validating the ADC modality VelosBio pursues.
• Seagen: Leading commercial-stage ADC company (Adcetris, Padcev, Tukysa) acquired by Pfizer in 2023. Direct ADC peer serving haematology and solid tumour indications with proven linker-payload chemistry relevant to VelosBio's approach.
• Mersana Therapeutics: Clinical-stage ADC biotech developing novel payload and linker chemistries (Dolasynthen, Immunosynthen platforms). Comparable as a platform ADC peer of similar size and stage, though focused on solid tumours.
• Heidelberg Pharma: German ADC biotech pioneering amanitin-based payloads with multiple partnered programmes. Comparable as a clinical-stage ADC platform company with proprietary payload chemistry targeting haematology and solid tumours.

Emerging players

• Pyxis Oncology: Clinical-stage ADC and immuno-oncology company developing ADCs for both solid and haematological malignancies. Smaller-scale emerging player comparable in modality focus though broader in indication scope.
• Bolt Biotherapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing immune-stimulating ADCs (ISACs) for oncology. Comparable as an emerging ADC platform peer, though differentiated by its immune-agonist payload approach.

Broad incumbents

• Daiichi Sankyo: Global pharma leader in ADCs (Enhertu, Datroway) with extensive ADC pipeline and major partnerships with AstraZeneca. Sets the competitive benchmark for ADC platform economics VelosBio is competing against.
• AstraZeneca: Top-tier oncology pharma with a deep ADC portfolio via the Daiichi Sankyo alliance (Enhertu, Datroway). Broad incumbent that competes with VelosBio's target indications and could be a potential strategic acquirer of ADC assets.
• Gilead Sciences: Owns Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan) via its Immunomedics acquisition, anchoring a growing ADC franchise in oncology. Broad incumbent actively building ADC capability through M&A — a plausible acquirer profile for an ADC-focused biotech like VelosBio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors22 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 VelosBio