Visterra
Visterra is a Waltham, MA-based biologics research company developing monoclonal antibodies for immune-mediated and hard-to-treat diseases, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Otsuka Pharmaceutical since 2018 and leveraging the HIEROTOPE® platform. Its lead asset VOYXACT received FDA accelerated approval in 2025 for IgA nephropathy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersCambridge, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Visterra does
Visterra is a clinical-to-commercial-stage biologics research company developing monoclonal antibodies and other biologics for immune-mediated and hard-to-treat diseases. The company was founded in 2009, headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, and has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. since its 2018 acquisition. Its research engine is the proprietary HIEROTOPE® platform, which integrates single-cell multiomics, computational AI/ML approaches, and de novo protein design to identify disease-relevant epitopes and engineer antibodies that engage them precisely. Complementary capabilities include ViSTAR™ Fc modification mutations for tuning antibody activity, half-life, and effector function, plus engineering of multi-specific molecules, Fc-fusion proteins, and payload-conjugates.
Visterra's lead clinical and commercial asset is VOYXACT (sibeprenlimab-szsi), an APRIL-neutralizing humanized monoclonal antibody that received FDA accelerated approval in November 2025 for reduction of proteinuria in adults with primary IgA nephropathy at risk for disease progression. The pipeline beyond sibeprenlimab includes VIS171 (an IL-2 mutein in Phase 1 for autoimmune disease via regulatory T cell expansion), VIS954 (anti-C5aR1 for ANCA-associated vasculitis), VIS410 (broad-spectrum anti-influenza A monoclonal antibody), VIS513 (anti-dengue), and VIS832 (anti-CD138 for multiple myeloma). Label expansion of sibeprenlimab into Sjögren's disease is being evaluated in the EnVISage trial.
The business model is research-and-development driven under Otsuka ownership: Visterra does not commercialize its own products. Marketing, sales, and distribution of approved products are conducted by Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc., a sister subsidiary within the Otsuka group, leveraging the parent's established enterprise pharmaceutical sales infrastructure. Revenue is not separately disclosed at the Visterra subsidiary level and is consolidated within Otsuka's group financials. The company's customer base is end-patient populations with IgA nephropathy and other immune-mediated diseases, accessed indirectly through Otsuka's commercialization channel rather than direct B2B contracts.
Visterra firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Visterra
- Legal name
- Visterra, Inc.
- Website
- https://visterrainc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Visterra is a Waltham, MA-based biologics research company developing monoclonal antibodies for immune-mediated and hard-to-treat diseases, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Otsuka Pharmaceutical since 2018 and leveraging the HIEROTOPE® platform. Its lead asset VOYXACT received FDA accelerated approval in 2025 for IgA nephropathy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Visterra industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Therapeutic Biologics
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Antibody Discovery & Engineering Platforms (display tech, bispecifics, Fc engineering) (HLAAAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Rare Immunology, Autoimmune & Autoinflammatory Therapies (HLAIAIAE), Protein Engineering & Directed Evolution Platforms (enzyme/therapeutic protein optimization) (HLAAAIAC), Single-Cell & Spatial Omics Discovery Platforms (target ID/validation, functional profiling) (HLAAAIAF)
Keywords
Where Visterra is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cambridge
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Visterra business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Biopharmaceutical Product Revenue: Visterra operates as a clinical-stage biologics research company developing therapeutic candidates. The company does not currently have commercialized products of its own; marketing and commercialization is conducted by Otsuka America Pharmaceutical. The company is wholly owned by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. following acquisition in 2018.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Visterra product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Visterra is a clinical-stage biologics research company that discovers and develops therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and related biologics for immune-mediated and hard-to-treat diseases. Its portfolio includes the FDA-accelerated approved therapy VOYXACT (sibeprenlimab-szsi) for IgA nephropathy and clinical-stage candidates for autoimmune diseases and infectious diseases. Research is powered by the proprietary HIEROTOPE antibody discovery and engineering platform, which integrates single-cell multiomics, computational biology, AI, and de novo protein design.
Product overview
Visterra is a biologics research company developing monoclonal antibodies and other biologics for immune-mediated and hard-to-treat diseases. The portfolio includes FDA-accelerated approved VOYXACT (sibeprenlimab-szsi) for IgA nephropathy, multiple clinical-stage candidates (VIS171 for autoimmune diseases, VIS954 for ANCA-associated vasculitis), and earlier-stage programs targeting infectious diseases (VIS410 for influenza, VIS513 for dengue). Research capabilities are powered by the proprietary HIEROTOPE technology platform for antibody discovery and engineering, incorporating computational and AI approaches. The company operates as a member of the Otsuka family of companies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- VOYXACT (sibeprenlimab-szsi) FDA-accelerated approved humanized monoclonal antibody that binds and blocks APRIL, indicated for reduction of proteinuria in adults with primary IgA nephropathy at risk for disease progression. Sold via Otsuka America Pharmaceutical.
- VIS171 IL-2 mutein (modified interleukin-2) designed to selectively expand regulatory T cells for the treatment of autoimmune diseases; currently in Phase 1 clinical development.
- VIS954 Anti-C5aR1 monoclonal antibody in development for the treatment of ANCA-associated vasculitis, designed to inhibit the complement pathway.
- VIS410 Broad-spectrum hemagglutinin stem-binding monoclonal antibody targeting influenza A virus; completed Phase 2 clinical trials for treatment and prophylaxis of influenza A infection.
- VIS513 Pan-serotype reactive monoclonal antibody targeting domain III of the dengue E protein, developed for treatment of dengue virus infection.
- VIS832 CD138-targeting monoclonal antibody that potently induces killing of human multiple myeloma cells and has demonstrated synergy with IMiDs and bortezomib.
Quantifiable outcome
- VOYXACT demonstrated significant reduction in proteinuria in Phase 3 trial interim analysis for IgA nephropathy
Companies that use Visterra
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Visterra technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature4 records
Visterra partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.coreOtsuka America Pharmaceutical, a wholly owned subsidiary of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., handles marketing and commercialization of approved products including VOYXACT (sibeprenlimab). This arrangement leverages Otsuka's established pharmaceutical sales infrastructure.
- Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd.minorClinical development for certain programs is conducted by Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. This partnership leverages Serum Institute's manufacturing and development capabilities.
- Jnana TherapeuticsminorAcquired by Otsuka in 2024 as part of strategy to expand autoimmune portfolio alongside Visterra's existing programs.
- Local Universities, Consortia, and HospitalsminorVisterra maintains active partnerships and productive collaborations with leading local universities, consortia, and hospitals in the greater Cambridge/Boston area as part of the vibrant research ecosystem.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Visterra competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Calliditas Therapeutics: Swedish biotech that developed Tarpeyo (budesonide delayed-release), the first FDA-approved therapy specifically for IgA nephropathy. Directly competes with Visterra's VOYXACT in the same IgAN indication, targeting the same proteinuria-reduction endpoint.
- Travere Therapeutics: Developed Filspari (sparsentan), an FDA-approved therapy for IgA nephropathy targeting the endothelin and angiotensin II receptors. Direct competitor to VOYXACT in IgAN with overlapping proteinuria-reduction claims and accelerated approval pathway.
- Chinook Therapeutics: Was a clinical-stage biotech developing IgAN therapies (zigakibart, atrasentan) before being acquired by Novartis for $3.5B in 2023. Direct IgAN competitor that validates the strategic value of late-stage IgAN assets similar to VOYXACT.
- Argenx: Belgium-based biotech developing antibody therapies for autoimmune diseases (efgartigimod/VYVGART franchise). Comparable biologics-discovery company using Fc engineering (analogous to Visterra's ViSTAR mutations) to develop autoimmune therapeutics.
Emerging players
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals: Major biotech with an active IgAN program (inaxaplin/APOL1 program and other kidney disease efforts). Competes in IgAN indication and broader rare kidney disease space relevant to Visterra's pipeline.
- Apellis Pharmaceuticals: Developer of complement pathway therapeutics (Empaveli/Aspaveli targeting C3) for autoimmune and rare diseases. Overlaps with Visterra's VIS954 (anti-C5aR1) for ANCA-associated vasculitis, both targeting complement-mediated diseases.
- ChemoCentryx (now Amgen): Developed Tavneos (avacopan), a complement C5aR1 inhibitor for ANCA-associated vasculitis — directly competing with Visterra's VIS954 (anti-C5aR1) for the same indication. Acquired by Amgen for $3.7B in 2022, validating the strategic value of C5aR1 assets in vasculitis.
Broad incumbents
- Alexion / AstraZeneca Rare Disease: Established rare-disease biologics franchise (Soliris, Ultomiris, Wainua, Strensiq). Develops monoclonal antibodies for rare immunological and complement-mediated diseases overlapping Visterra's IgAN and vasculitis programs; has far broader pipeline and commercial reach.
- BioMarin Pharmaceutical: Established rare-disease biotech with commercialized biologics (enzyme replacements, gene therapy). Comparable in therapeutic-area focus (rare/immune-mediated diseases) and biologics development model, though broader in portfolio.
Others
- Momenta Pharmaceuticals: Earlier-stage biologics research company founded by Visterra CEO Zachary Shriver; now part of Johnson & Johnson. Direct historical and scientific lineage to Visterra's biologics research and antibody engineering expertise.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Visterra social profiles
Digital presenceVisterra financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Visterra leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Visterra funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds9 records
Investors16 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Visterra M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Visterra
What does Visterra do?
Visterra is a clinical-stage biologics research company that discovers and develops therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and related biologics for immune-mediated and hard-to-treat diseases. Its portfolio includes the FDA-accelerated approved therapy VOYXACT (sibeprenlimab-szsi) for IgA nephropathy and clinical-stage candidates for autoimmune diseases and infectious diseases. Research is powered by the proprietary HIEROTOPE antibody discovery and engineering platform, which integrates single-cell multiomics, computational biology, AI, and de novo protein design.
Is Visterra a public or private company?
Visterra is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Visterra founded?
Visterra was founded in 2009. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Visterra based?
Visterra is headquartered in Cambridge, United States, in the North America region.
How does Visterra make money?
One revenue line is on record: biopharmaceutical Product Revenue.
Who are Visterra's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Calliditas Therapeutics, Travere Therapeutics, Chinook Therapeutics and Argenx. Emerging players are Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Apellis Pharmaceuticals and ChemoCentryx (now Amgen). Broad incumbents are Alexion / AstraZeneca Rare Disease and BioMarin Pharmaceutical. Momenta Pharmaceuticals is listed as an others.
Does Visterra have an API?
No public API is recorded for Visterra.
What industry is Visterra in?
Visterra's product category is Therapeutic Biologics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAIAB, Antibody Discovery & Engineering Platforms (display tech, bispecifics, Fc engineering), with a secondary code of HLAIAIAE, Rare Immunology, Autoimmune & Autoinflammatory Therapies. Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2836.