What Verseau Therapeutics does

Verseau Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class monoclonal antibody immunotherapies that repolarize tumor-associated macrophages from an immunosuppressive M2 phenotype to a pro-inflammatory, anti-tumorigenic M1 phenotype. Founded in 2017 by MIT researchers Bob Langer, Dan Anderson, Tatiana Novobrantseva, and Igor Feldman, the company is headquartered in Auburndale, Massachusetts. Its two lead clinical candidates, VTX-0811 (targeting PSGL-1) and VTX-1218 (targeting VSIG4), are designed to stimulate coordinated immune attacks on solid tumors, an approach that addresses the majority of cancer patients who do not benefit from current T-cell-based immunotherapies.

The company's core technology is a proprietary human-based discovery engine that combines computational analysis of cancer patient genomic data with proprietary siRNA-in-lipid-nanoparticle knockdown validation in primary human macrophages. This platform has identified and validated over 20 novel macrophage drug targets, with VTX-0811 having received FDA Investigational New Drug clearance in January 2022. The lead candidates have demonstrated greater inflammatory response than PD-1 checkpoint inhibition in ex vivo patient-derived tumor studies and favorable anti-tumor activity in syngeneic and humanized mouse models. Preclinical evidence also supports combination potential with existing immunotherapies.

Verseau operates a licensing and royalty-oriented revenue model anchored by a 2019 global clinical development collaboration with 3SBio, which holds option rights to manufacture, conduct clinical studies, and commercialize both lead candidates in the Greater China region. In primary markets outside Greater China, the company plans direct commercialization through enterprise field sales targeting oncology specialists and cancer treatment centers upon regulatory approval. The company is pre-revenue, with approximately $50 million raised in a 2019 seed funding round and professional management installed in 2021 via the appointments of CEO John Edwards and CDO Karen Tubridy.

Name

Verseau Therapeutics

Legal name

Verseau Therapeutics, Inc.

Website

https://verseautx.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Verseau Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class monoclonal antibodies that repolarize tumor-associated macrophages to treat solid tumors, with lead candidates VTX-0811 and VTX-1218 advancing toward clinical trials.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cancer Immunotherapy

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

Monoclonal Antibody Therapeutics (mAbs) (HLAAAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Antibody Discovery & Engineering Platforms (display tech, bispecifics, Fc engineering) (HLAAAIAB), AI/ML-Enabled Biologic Discovery Platforms (computational design, in silico screening) (HLAAAIAE), Immunology & Autoimmune Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAB)

Keywords

• Cancer immunotherapy
• Monoclonal antibody
• Macrophage repolarization
• Immuno-oncology
• Biopharmaceutical

Headquarters

HQ city

Bedford

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Drug Development and Commercialization: As a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, Verseau's revenue model centers on developing and commercializing novel macrophage repolarizing monoclonal antibodies for cancer treatment. The company is advancing lead candidates VTX-0811 and VTX-1218 through clinical development with plans for commercialization. The 3SBio partnership provides regional commercialization rights in Greater China in exchange for manufacturing, clinical study, and commercialization capabilities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Verseau Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class monoclonal antibody immunotherapies that bind to novel macrophage targets (PSGL-1, VSIG4) and repolarize immunosuppressive M2 macrophages into pro-inflammatory, anti-tumorigenic M1 macrophages to treat solid tumors. The company leverages a proprietary human-based discovery engine that has identified and validated over 20 novel macrophage drug targets using computational analysis on cancer patient genomic data, with two lead programs VTX-0811 and VTX-1218 advancing toward clinical trials.

Product overview

Verseau Therapeutics is developing a pipeline of first-in-class monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that bind to novel macrophage targets and repolarize immunosuppressive M2 macrophages into pro-inflammatory, anti-tumorigenic M1 macrophages. The company's two lead programs are VTX-0811 (targeting PSGL-1) and VTX-1218 (targeting VSIG4), which are rapidly progressing toward clinical trials for solid tumor treatment. The discovery engine has identified and validated over 20 novel macrophage drug targets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VTX-0811 A monoclonal antibody (mAb) that binds to PSGL-1 (P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1), an adhesion molecule involved in immune cell trafficking. VTX-0811 induces M2 to M1 macrophage repolarization, leading to tumor microenvironment activation, T-cell activation, and coordinated immune attack on tumors. It is being developed for solid tumor indications and has demonstrated a greater inflammatory response than PD-1 checkpoint blockade in ex vivo studies of patient-derived primary tumors, including in PD-1 non-responsive tumors.
• VTX-1218

Quantifiable outcome

• Tumor-associated macrophages present in >75% of solid tumor patients vs T-cells in ~25%
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

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

One partnership is on record.

• 3SBiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 February 20193SBio and Verseau established a global clinical development collaboration for first-in-class immuno-oncology therapies. 3SBio has exercised option rights to manufacture, perform clinical studies, and commercialize VTX-0811 and VTX-1218 in the Greater China region. This partnership provides Verseau with regional manufacturing, clinical development, and commercialization capabilities in Asia's major pharmaceutical market.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Carisma Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing CAR-M (chimeric antigen receptor macrophage) cell therapies and macrophage-targeted approaches for solid tumors. Directly comparable focus on leveraging macrophage biology for cancer immunotherapy.
• Innate Pharma: Commercial-stage immuno-oncology company developing antibody therapeutics that engage innate immune cells, including macrophages and NK cells, against cancer. Overlapping mechanism class with broader pipeline maturity.
• Compugen: Clinical-stage immuno-oncology company using computational discovery to identify novel immune targets, including myeloid checkpoints. Comparable platform-driven target identification approach and antibody-based therapeutic modality.
• Pionyr Immunotherapeutics: Clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing antibody therapeutics that target myeloid immune cells (TREM1, TREM2) in the tumor microenvironment to reprogram macrophages and dendritic cells. Highly comparable mechanism and modality to Verseau's macrophage-repolarizing mAbs.
• Myeloid Therapeutics: Clinical-stage company engineering myeloid cells (including macrophages) for cancer immunotherapy using in vivo and ex vivo approaches. Comparable therapeutic focus on reprogramming tumor-associated macrophages.
• Surface Oncology: Immuno-oncology company developing antibody therapeutics targeting innate immune cells, including myeloid checkpoints, to reprogram the tumor microenvironment. Comparable target class (myeloid/macrophage checkpoints) and modality (mAb).
• NextCure: Clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing novel antibodies targeting myeloid and other immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, including Siglec-15 and other myeloid checkpoints. Comparable target class and modality.

Broad incumbents

• Trillium Therapeutics: Immuno-oncology company developing antibody therapies targeting innate immune checkpoints (CD47, SIRPα) on myeloid cells. Comparable innate immune/macrophage checkpoint biology, acquired by Pfizer for ~$2.3B in 2021.
• Macrogenics: Clinical-stage immuno-oncology company with a broader antibody pipeline including bispecifics and antibody-drug conjugates. Comparable oncology antibody modality with broader portfolio across multiple immune checkpoints.

Emerging players

• Werewolf Therapeutics: Clinical-stage oncology company developing conditionally activated immunotherapies, including INDUKINE cytokine molecules. Adjacent mechanism class focused on tumor microenvironment immune activation, with some overlap in myeloid biology.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/verseautx

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors7 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 Verseau Therapeutics