Ziphius
Ziphius is a Belgium-based biopharmaceutical company developing self-amplifying RNA vaccines and therapeutics delivered via proprietary lipid nanoparticles, with a pre-clinical pipeline spanning infectious diseases (chlamydia, pan-coronavirus, COVID-19), rare genetic disorders (cystic fibrosis), and oncology, targeting pharmaceutical partners and public health agencies through out-licensing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersMerelbeke, Belgium
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Ziphius does
Ziphius NV is a Belgium-based biopharmaceutical company founded in 2019, headquartered in Zwijnaarde (Ghent) with a US office opened in New York in May 2024. The company develops self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) vaccines and therapeutics built on two integrated proprietary platforms: a saRNA platform that encodes a viral RNA replicase enabling intracellular self-amplification and sustained protein expression at lower doses than conventional mRNA, and an in-house lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery library specifically engineered for saRNA encapsulation, stability, and biodegradability. The pipeline spans infectious disease prevention (Z009 Chlamydia vaccine in Discovery, Z010 Pan-Coronavirus vaccine in Preclinical, ZIP1642 dual-antigen COVID-19 vaccine in preclinical), rare genetic disease treatment (Z005 Cystic Fibrosis gene supplementation in Preclinical), and oncology (Z008, including personalized cancer vaccines and CAR-T applications in Preclinical).
The company is pre-commercial and generates no product revenue. Its planned monetization model relies on out-licensing and platform technology licensing to pharmaceutical partners, risk-sharing co-development arrangements, and ultimately product sales and royalties following regulatory approval. Go-to-market activity centers on B2B enterprise biopharma channels through strategic partnerships with contract manufacturers (Charles River for GMP plasmid DNA, UZ Ghent for first EU public-private GMP saRNA vaccine manufacturing), academic co-development with Ghent University and University of Antwerp, and investor/partner outreach at venues such as the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. Target end-customers once commercial will be government public health agencies, healthcare systems, and pharmaceutical licensees across infectious disease, rare disease, and oncology segments. Strategic positioning is reinforced by an experienced leadership team including a former Janssen Vaccines R&D head as Chief Scientific Advisor, a Valneva/GSK Vaccines business development executive as Chief Business Officer, and VIB co-founder Jo Bury as Board Chairman.
Ziphius firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ziphius
- Legal name
- Ziphius NV
- Website
- https://ziphius.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Ziphius is a Belgium-based biopharmaceutical company developing self-amplifying RNA vaccines and therapeutics delivered via proprietary lipid nanoparticles, with a pre-clinical pipeline spanning infectious diseases (chlamydia, pan-coronavirus, COVID-19), rare genetic disorders (cystic fibrosis), and oncology, targeting pharmaceutical partners and public health agencies through out-licensing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ziphius industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biopharmaceutical Vaccines and Therapeutics
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Vaccine Technology Platforms (mRNA, viral vector, protein subunit, inactivated/live-attenuated, VLP, DNA) (HLAAAEAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Plasmid DNA & mRNA Manufacturing Services (HLAAAKAE), Prophylactic Human Vaccines (routine, pediatric, adult) (HLAAAEAA), Clinical Development & Regulatory for Vaccines (trials, pharmacovigilance, lot release) (HLAAAEAK), Gene Therapy CMC/Process Development Platforms (capsid engineering, producer cell lines, plasmids, upstream/downstream) (HLAAACAN)
Keywords
Where Ziphius is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Merelbeke
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Ziphius business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Vaccine and Therapeutic Development: Pre-commercial biopharmaceutical company developing saRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics. Revenue will be generated through product sales following regulatory approval, out-licensing deals, and strategic partnerships.
- Platform Technology Licensing: The company mentions seeking collaborations to explore its platform technologies in various disease areas through out-licensing or risk-sharing models.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Ziphius product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ziphius Vaccines is a biopharmaceutical company developing self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) vaccines and therapeutics using its proprietary lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery platform. Its pipeline spans prophylactic vaccines for infectious diseases (chlamydia, pan-coronavirus, COVID-19), gene supplementation therapies for rare genetic disorders (cystic fibrosis), and next-generation oncology applications. Revenue is expected from out-licensing, co-development partnerships, and future product sales after regulatory approval.
Product overview
Ziphius is a biopharmaceutical company developing a portfolio of self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) vaccine and therapeutic programs built on two integrated technology platforms: the proprietary saRNA platform and the lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery platform. The company's pipeline includes four main programs: Z009 (Chlamydia vaccine in Discovery), Z010 (Pan Corona vaccine in Preclinical), Z005 (Cystic Fibrosis therapy in Preclinical), and Z008 (Oncology program in Preclinical), plus ZIP1642 (COVID-19 vaccine). The platform enables low-dose, high-efficacy treatments across infectious diseases, rare genetic disorders, and oncology by combining saRNA technology (which self-replicates within cells for amplified protein production) with LNP delivery systems designed for optimal stability and biodegradability.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Z009 - Chlamydia Vaccine Self-amplifying RNA vaccine candidate targeting Chlamydia trachomatis for prevention of human chlamydia infection; currently in Discovery phase and intended for public health use cases to reduce antibiotic reliance and outcomes such as infertility and ectopic pregnancy.
- Z010 - Pan Corona Vaccine Self-amplifying RNA vaccine candidate targeting multiple coronavirus variants for broad coronavirus protection; currently in Preclinical phase.
- Z005 - Cystic Fibrosis Therapy Self-amplifying RNA-based gene supplementation therapy for cystic fibrosis, providing long-term expression of deficient or replacement proteins; currently in Preclinical phase.
- Z008 - Oncology Program Self-amplifying RNA-based therapeutic approach for next-generation oncology treatments, including personalized cancer vaccines and CAR-T cell therapies; currently in Preclinical phase.
- ZIP1642 - COVID-19 Vaccine Dual-antigen self-amplifying RNA COVID-19 vaccine candidate encoding spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins; preclinical studies demonstrated protection against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants including ancestral SARS-CoV-2 and the Beta B.1.351 variant.
- Self-Amplifying RNA (saRNA) Platform Proprietary self-amplifying RNA platform that enables RNA to self-replicate inside cells, amplifying protein production from a single molecule for higher and longer-lasting expression at lower doses than conventional mRNA; offered to partners via licensing and co-development.
- Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) Delivery Platform In-house developed LNP library specifically designed for saRNA delivery, ensuring proper encapsulation, stability, and biodegradability; optimized for various administration routes across infectious disease vaccines, rare disease therapies, and oncology applications, and offered to partners via licensing.
Quantifiable outcome
- Strong and lasting immune response with rapid, full clearance of virus demonstrated in non-human primate validation tests
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Ziphius
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ziphius technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Ziphius partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- UZ Ghent (University Hospital Ghent)coreFirst EU public-private collaboration for production of saRNA-based vaccines under GMP standards. The partnership supports Belgium's Pandemic Preparedness strategy and involves scale-up and manufacturing of prophylactic self-amplifying RNA vaccines.
- Charles RivercoreCollaboration for early-stage clinical supply of plasmid DNA for drug substance manufacturing. Charles River leverages its industry-leading GMP and High Quality plasmid DNA production capabilities to support Ziphius's saRNA manufacturing program.
- University of AntwerpcoreCollaboration to research and develop a dynamic lipid library for optimized delivery systems of saRNA-based drugs and therapeutics. Leverages University of Antwerp's expertise in organic and medicinal chemistry.
- Ghent UniversitycoreCollaboration resulting in publication of preclinical data from ZIP1642 COVID-19 vaccine candidate in Molecular Therapy journal. Partnership between Ziphius R&D team and Ghent University's Laboratory of Gene Therapy.
- UGhentcoreLicensing agreement with UGhent as part of the business update, expanding Ziphius's intellectual property and technology access.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ziphius competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Arcturus Therapeutics: Arcturus develops self-amplifying mRNA vaccines and therapeutics with proprietary LNP delivery, including a partnered saRNA COVID vaccine and CSL-collaboration influenza programs — the closest direct comparable to Ziphius's saRNA + LNP platform approach.
- Replicate Bioscience: Replicate is a preclinical-stage biotech developing self-replicating RNA therapies for oncology and other indications, pursuing the same saRNA modality and at a similar stage and scale as Ziphius.
Broad incumbents
- Moderna: Moderna is the global leader in mRNA vaccines and therapeutics, with approved COVID and RSV products and an extensive pipeline. It anchors the broader mRNA modality in which Ziphius competes and against which any saRNA differentiation will be benchmarked.
- BioNTech: BioNTech commercializes mRNA-based COVID vaccines and is expanding into oncology and infectious disease. As a large, profitable mRNA incumbent, it sets the competitive ceiling and partnership opportunity for saRNA-focused players like Ziphius.
- CureVac: CureVac is an mRNA technology company developing prophylactic vaccines, cancer therapies and protein therapeutics, with its own Lipid Nanoparticle delivery platform — a direct adjacent competitor in the broader mRNA/LNP vaccine category.
- Sanofi (Vaccines / Translate Bio): Sanofi acquired Translate Bio and is building an internal mRNA vaccine franchise; it is also a global vaccine incumbent. Sanofi represents both a potential acquirer/partner for Ziphius-style saRNA platforms and a major competitive threat in infectious disease vaccines.
- CSL Seqirus: CSL Seqirus partnered with Arcturus to advance a self-amplifying mRNA influenza vaccine and is a global vaccine distributor. It is a likely BD counterparty for any saRNA vaccine platform, including Ziphius's, and competes in the same prophylactic vaccine end-markets.
Emerging players
- Kernal Biologics: Kernal Biologics is an emerging mRNA therapeutics company developing selective translation technologies for oncology and infectious disease, with partial overlap in the mRNA platform space and a similar early-stage profile.
Others
- Acuitas Therapeutics: Acuitas is a leading LNP delivery technology provider that supplies lipid nanoparticles to multiple mRNA vaccine developers, including Pfizer-BioNTech for COVID. It is an enabling ecosystem peer to Ziphius's proprietary LNP library and a potential partnership or competitive reference.
- Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin (vaccine research): Charité hosts major European vaccine development programs, including saRNA COVID vaccine work with CureVac. As an EU academic-public vaccine R&D counterpart, it is a relevant peer to Ziphius's Ghent/UZ Ghent academic-public model and a potential EU consortium partner.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ziphius social profiles
Digital presenceZiphius financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ziphius leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Ziphius funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ziphius 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 Ziphius
What does Ziphius do?
Ziphius Vaccines is a biopharmaceutical company developing self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) vaccines and therapeutics using its proprietary lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery platform. Its pipeline spans prophylactic vaccines for infectious diseases (chlamydia, pan-coronavirus, COVID-19), gene supplementation therapies for rare genetic disorders (cystic fibrosis), and next-generation oncology applications. Revenue is expected from out-licensing, co-development partnerships, and future product sales after regulatory approval.
Is Ziphius a public or private company?
Ziphius is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Ziphius founded?
Ziphius was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Ziphius based?
Ziphius is headquartered in Merelbeke, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does Ziphius make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Vaccine and Therapeutic Development is the primary driver. The others are platform Technology Licensing.
Who are Ziphius's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Arcturus Therapeutics and Replicate Bioscience. Broad incumbents are Moderna, BioNTech, CureVac, Sanofi (Vaccines / Translate Bio) and CSL Seqirus. Kernal Biologics is listed as an emerging player. Others are Acuitas Therapeutics and Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin (vaccine research).
Does Ziphius have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ziphius.
What industry is Ziphius in?
Ziphius's product category is Biopharmaceutical Vaccines and Therapeutics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAEAD, Vaccine Technology Platforms (mRNA, viral vector, protein subunit, inactivated/live-attenuated, VLP, DNA), with a secondary code of HLAAAKAE, Plasmid DNA & mRNA Manufacturing Services. Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2836.