FluGen
FluGen is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing intranasal influenza vaccines using its proprietary M2SR (M2 Deleted Single Replication) live virus platform, targeting older adults, pediatric populations, and the general population against seasonal and pandemic influenza strains.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersMadison, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What FluGen does
FluGen is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2007 and headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. The company develops vaccines for the prevention and treatment of seasonal and pandemic influenza using its proprietary M2SR (M2 Deleted Single Replication) platform technology. M2SR is a live but replication-deficient influenza virus in which the M2 protein required for viral replication has been genetically deleted; the virus is delivered as an intranasal spray, stimulating mucosal, humoral, and cellular immunity without causing viral shedding or illness. The lead candidate has demonstrated protection across seven years of virus drift in a Phase 2 human challenge study, with results published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.
The company pursues multiple vaccine candidates derived from the M2SR platform, including a universal influenza vaccine originally branded RedeeFlu, a quadrivalent formulation, an H5N1 avian influenza vaccine, and a bivalent COVID-19/influenza combination vaccine using M2SR as a vector for the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain. The technology is exclusively licensed from the University of Wisconsin-Madison via WARF and was developed in the laboratories of co-founders Dr. Yoshihiro Kawaoka and Dr. Gabriele Neumann. FluGen operates a clinical-stage enterprise GTM motion centered on government and institutional partnerships — primarily with the U.S. Department of Defense and NIH/NIAID — which provide both non-dilutive grant funding and clinical trial collaboration infrastructure.
FluGen remains pre-revenue with no commercially approved products. Operations have been funded primarily through venture capital (most notably a $12 million Series A in 2015 led by Venture Investors LLC) and federal grants (including a $14.4 million Department of Defense award in October 2017 and additional DoD funding in 2021). Target customer segments for eventual commercialization are older adults aged 65+, pediatric populations aged 6 months to 17 years, and the general population, with distribution expected to flow through government procurement channels and healthcare provider networks upon regulatory approval.
FluGen firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FluGen
- Legal name
- FluGen, Inc.
- Website
- https://flugen.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- FluGen is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing intranasal influenza vaccines using its proprietary M2SR (M2 Deleted Single Replication) live virus platform, targeting older adults, pediatric populations, and the general population against seasonal and pandemic influenza strains.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FluGen industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Influenza Vaccines
- 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
- Seasonal & Endemic Vaccines (e.g., Influenza) (HLAIAEAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Pandemic Preparedness & Rapid-Response Vaccines (HLAIAEAF), Vaccine Technology Platforms (mRNA, viral vector, protein subunit, inactivated/live-attenuated, VLP, DNA) (HLAAAEAD)
Keywords
Where FluGen is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Madison
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
FluGen business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Vaccine Development and Commercialization: Pre-revenue clinical-stage company developing influenza vaccines. Revenue will be generated through vaccine product sales following regulatory approval. The company is developing multiple vaccine candidates including M2SR monovalent and quadrivalent formulations, as well as bivalent COVID/Influenza combination vaccines.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
FluGen product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FluGen is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing the M2SR (M2 Deleted Single Replication) vaccine platform, a live, replication-deficient influenza virus delivered as an intranasal spray that stimulates mucosal, humoral, and cellular immunity. The company is advancing multiple vaccine candidates including a universal supra-seasonal influenza vaccine (formerly branded RedeeFlu), a quadrivalent M2SR formulation, an H5N1 avian influenza vaccine, and a bivalent COVID-19/influenza combination vaccine using M2SR as a vector platform.
Product overview
FluGen is a clinical-stage vaccine company developing M2SR (M2 Deficient Single Replication), a live intranasal vaccine platform that works differently from standard flu vaccines. The flagship M2SR vaccine (also branded as RedeeFlu) stimulates mucosal, humoral, and cellular immunity and has demonstrated unprecedented protection across seven years of virus drift. The company is also leveraging M2SR as a vector platform for a bivalent COVID-19/Influenza combination vaccine. The development pipeline includes quadrivalent influenza vaccine formulations and M2SR variants targeting H5N1 avian influenza.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- M2SR: M2 Deleted Single Replication live virus vaccine technology - the company's flagship supra-seasonal intranasal influenza vaccine candidate
- RedeeFlu
Products and services
- M2SR Vaccine Platform
Quantifiable outcome
- M2SR demonstrated protection against infection and illness across seven years of virus drift in Phase 2 challenge study
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use FluGen
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
FluGen technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
FluGen partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) - CIVICs ProgramcorePediatric clinical trial funded by NIAID Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Centers (CIVICs) program. Study conducted at University of Maryland, Duke University, Vanderbilt University, and University of Iowa to evaluate M2SR in children ages 6 months to 17 years.
- Bharat BiotechminorInternational collaboration with Bharat Biotech to develop CoroFlu, a coronavirus vaccine candidate. Part of broader efforts to apply M2SR technology platform to COVID-19.
- ArecorminorPartnership with UK-based Arecor to develop stable formulation for RedeeFlu vaccine using Arecor's Arestat formulation technology. Funded by UK's Technology Strategy Board Smart programme to improve storage, distribution, and nasal delivery stability.
- Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF)coreWARF exclusively licensed FluGen's core M2SR influenza vaccine technology from UW-Madison. The technology was invented in the laboratories of Dr. Yoshihiro Kawaoka and Dr. Gabriele Neumann at UW-Madison and licensed to FluGen.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
FluGen competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Vaxart: Clinical-stage biotech developing oral tablet flu vaccines using a non-replicating adenoviral vector platform. Like FluGen, Vaxart pursues mucosal immunity against influenza via an alternative delivery route (oral vs. intranasal) and targets both seasonal and pandemic indications.
- BiondVax Pharmaceuticals: Israel-based clinical-stage developer of M-001, a recombinant universal flu vaccine candidate targeting conserved epitopes across influenza strains. BiondVax is the most direct competitor in the 'universal influenza vaccine' category alongside FluGen's M2SR.
Emerging players
- Vaccitech: Clinical-stage vaccine company spun out of Oxford University developing T-cell based influenza vaccines and other immunotherapies. Pursues broader cellular immunity against influenza, paralleling FluGen's cellular-immunity-driven approach with M2SR.
- Medicago (Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma): Plant-derived virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine developer with influenza candidates including a quadrivalent flu vaccine. Medicago pursues alternative vaccine production platforms similar to FluGen's novel M2SR approach.
Broad incumbents
- Novavax: Public clinical-stage/commercial vaccine company using recombinant nanoparticle technology. Novavax's Matrix-M adjuvanted flu vaccine candidate competes in the broader enhanced-immunity influenza space that FluGen targets with M2SR.
- Moderna: mRNA vaccine leader advancing multiple influenza vaccine candidates including mRNA-1010 and combination flu/COVID programs. Moderna's mRNA flu pipeline represents the most significant emerging competitive threat to FluGen's next-generation influenza approach.
- Sanofi Pasteur: World's largest influenza vaccine manufacturer producing Fluzone High-Dose and other standard-of-care flu vaccines. Sanofi's established manufacturing, distribution, and physician relationships represent the dominant incumbent FluGen must displace to capture market share.
- CSL Seqirus: Major influenza vaccine manufacturer and developer of Fluad (MF59-adjuvanted vaccine) and cell-based flu vaccines. CSL Seqirus is a key incumbent competitor in enhanced-immunity influenza vaccines targeting older adults.
- AstraZeneca (MedImmune): Owner of FluMist, the established intranasal live attenuated influenza vaccine. AstraZeneca is the most direct existing competitor in the intranasal flu vaccine category where FluGen's M2SR is positioned.
Regional players
- Bharat Biotech: India-based vaccine manufacturer and direct FluGen partner for the CoroFlu (COVID/Influenza) combination vaccine. Bharat Biotech is also an independent developer of influenza and other vaccines, making it both a peer and a commercial partner.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
FluGen social profiles
Digital presenceFluGen financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FluGen leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
FluGen funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds9 records
Investors9 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FluGen 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 FluGen
What does FluGen do?
FluGen is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing the M2SR (M2 Deleted Single Replication) vaccine platform, a live, replication-deficient influenza virus delivered as an intranasal spray that stimulates mucosal, humoral, and cellular immunity. The company is advancing multiple vaccine candidates including a universal supra-seasonal influenza vaccine (formerly branded RedeeFlu), a quadrivalent M2SR formulation, an H5N1 avian influenza vaccine, and a bivalent COVID-19/influenza combination vaccine using M2SR as a vector platform.
Is FluGen a public or private company?
FluGen is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was FluGen founded?
FluGen was founded in 2007. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is FluGen based?
FluGen is headquartered in Madison, United States, in the North America region.
How does FluGen make money?
One revenue line is on record: vaccine Development and Commercialization.
Who are FluGen's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Vaxart and BiondVax Pharmaceuticals. Emerging players are Vaccitech and Medicago (Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma). Broad incumbents are Novavax, Moderna, Sanofi Pasteur, CSL Seqirus and AstraZeneca (MedImmune). Bharat Biotech is listed as a regional player.
Does FluGen have an API?
No public API is recorded for FluGen.
What industry is FluGen in?
FluGen's product category is Influenza Vaccines. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAEAD, Seasonal & Endemic Vaccines (e.g., Influenza), with a secondary code of HLAIAEAF, Pandemic Preparedness & Rapid-Response Vaccines. Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2836.