What ExeVir Bio does

ExeVir Bio is a Belgium-based, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2020 as a spin-out from VIB (Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie), developing single-domain antibody (VHH/nanobody) therapeutics derived from camelid (llama) antibodies for infectious diseases. The company's core technology is a modular VHH platform that uses llama antibody fragments as building blocks to engineer multi-specific constructs capable of binding conserved and often hidden epitopes on viral proteins, providing broad cross-variant neutralization and reduced risk of immune escape; the constructs are stable, cost-effective, and produced using microbial systems such as Pichia pastoris. The pipeline includes XVR011 (completed Phase 1a/1b, targeting SARS-CoV-2), XVR012/XVR013/XVR014 (multi-epitope COVID-19 constructs targeting both S1 and S2 regions), and XVR021 (preclinical dengue program targeting all four serotypes), with primary focus on immunocompromised populations who do not benefit from vaccination.

The company targets two distinct end-patient populations: (1) immunocompromised individuals (~3% of Western populations) including cancer patients, transplant recipients, and those on immunosuppressive therapies who remain vulnerable to COVID-19 despite vaccines, and (2) populations in dengue-endemic regions (3.9 billion people across 125+ countries) where no specific antiviral therapeutics currently exist. ExeVir's business model is licensing- and partnership-driven: it is a clinical-stage biotech with no approved products, generating no commercial revenue today, and intends to monetize through out-licensing deals, co-development agreements, and royalty arrangements with pharmaceutical partners for later-stage development and commercialization. The company is funded by approximately EUR 42M in Series A equity (led by Fund+), EUR 25M in venture debt from the European Investment Bank, and EUR 18M+ in non-dilutive grants from VLAIO, SPW-Recherche, and EU sources, with manufacturing collaborations in place with UCB and Mithra Pharmaceuticals.

Name

ExeVir Bio

Legal name

ExeVir Bio BV

Website

https://exevir.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ExeVir Bio is a Belgium-based clinical-stage biotech developing llama-derived single-domain antibody (VHH) therapeutics for infectious diseases, with a pipeline targeting COVID-19 (XVR011/012/013/014) and dengue (XVR021) for immunocompromised and at-risk populations, monetizing via future out-licensing and co-development partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biopharmaceutical 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 Discovery & Engineering Platforms (display tech, bispecifics, Fc engineering) (HLAAAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Bispecific & Multispecific Antibodies (HLAAAAAF)

Keywords

• Antibody therapeutics platform
• Nanobody drug development
• Infectious disease treatments
• VHH antibody technology
• Biopharmaceutical pipeline development

Headquarters

HQ city

Zwijnaarde

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Therapeutic Development and Commercialization: ExeVir is a clinical-stage company developing antibody therapeutics. Revenue will be generated through out-licensing/partnership deals with pharmaceutical companies for co-development and commercialization, as well as potential direct product sales upon regulatory approval. The company is seeking strategic partnerships for co-development of novel antibody therapies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ExeVir Bio develops single-domain antibody therapeutics (VHH nanobodies) derived from camelid (llama) antibodies for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. The company's pipeline focuses on multi-specific antibody constructs targeting COVID-19 (lead asset XVR011) and dengue (XVR021), with manufacturing enabled by the Pichia pastoris expression system. Target populations include immunocompromised patients for whom conventional vaccines and monoclonal antibodies show reduced efficacy.

Product overview

ExeVir Bio is a clinical-stage biotech company developing novel antibody therapies using its proprietary VHH (Variable Domain of Heavy-chain) technology platform derived from llama antibodies. The company is building a pipeline of antibody therapies for infectious diseases with an initial focus on COVID-19 and dengue. The COVID-19 portfolio includes XVR011 (lead candidate that completed Phase 1 studies), XVR012 (cocktail of XVR013 and XVR014 targeting multiple epitopes), and other constructs targeting conserved regions of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The dengue program includes XVR021 targeting all four dengue serotypes. The modular VHH platform enables multi-specific constructs that are stable, cost-effective, and robust against viral mutations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• XVR011

Quantifiable outcome

• XVR011 demonstrated neutralization of all SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern including Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1), Delta (B.1.617.2), and Omicron BA.5, with no impact on potency observed.
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Mithra PharmaceuticalscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2021Mithra Pharmaceuticals (Euronext Brussels: MITRA) entered a manufacturing collaboration with ExeVir for innovative COVID-19 treatments. Mithra provides GMP manufacturing capabilities for ExeVir's clinical trial materials.
• VIB (Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVIB is ExeVir's founding research partner and spin-out origin. VIB scientists (Professors Xavier Saelens and Nico Callewaert from VIB-UGent) developed the VHH technology platform. VIB provides ongoing research collaboration and drug discovery capabilities through VIB Discovery Sciences. VIB is also an investor. Jérôme Van Biervliet, Managing Director of VIB, serves on ExeVir's Board of Directors.
• UCB / UCB VenturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCB Ventures is an investor in ExeVir and a strategic partner providing manufacturing and formulation support. UCB assisted in generating the lead candidate and is producing GMP batches for clinical trials. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels with €5.3 billion revenue in 2020. Erica Whittaker, VP & Head of UCB Ventures, serves on ExeVir's Board of Directors.
• Rega Institute (KU Leuven)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Johan Neyts and team at KU Leuven's Rega Institute collaborated on preclinical neutralization studies for ExeVir's antibody candidates, including demonstrating in vitro neutralization activity against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaboratory of Barney Graham at NIAID (Vaccine Research Center) collaborated with VIB scientists on the development of the VHH technology platform for coronavirus neutralization, contributing to foundational research published in Cell.
• University of Texas at AustinsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaboratory of Jason McLellan at the University of Texas at Austin collaborated with VIB scientists on structural characterization of VHH antibodies binding to coronavirus spike proteins, contributing to the foundational Cell publication.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• AstraZeneca: AstraZeneca developed Evusheld (tixagevimab/cilgavimab) for COVID-19 prophylaxis in immunocompromised patients — the same target population as ExeVir's lead programs. Comparable as a large incumbent directly addressing ExeVir's intended market.
• Eli Lilly: Lilly developed bebtelovimab for COVID-19 in partnership with AbCellera and has a deep antibody therapeutics pipeline. Comparable as a large-pharma incumbent in the COVID-19 antibody space where ExeVir is also competing for attention.
• Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Regeneron developed the REGEN-COV COVID-19 antibody cocktail and is the gold-standard large-cap antibody platform. Comparable as an incumbent antibody developer in infectious disease, though vastly larger and more diversified.

Direct peers

• Vir Biotechnology: Vir Biotechnology develops antibody-based therapeutics for infectious diseases, including sotrovimab for COVID-19 and influenza programs. Directly comparable as a clinical-to-commercial infectious-disease antibody developer with similar scientific ambitions.
• Argenx: Argenx is the leading commercial-stage VHH/nanobody platform company, with efgartigimod approved for myasthenia gravis and a broad autoimmune pipeline. It is the closest direct comparable to ExeVir's VHH-based approach, though focused on autoimmune rather than infectious disease.
• Harbour BioMed: Harbour BioMed operates a nanobody platform (Harbour Antibodies) for therapeutic development across oncology and immunology. It is a directly comparable single-domain antibody platform peer, with smaller scale than Argenx but similar technology underpinnings.
• AbCellera Biologics: AbCellera operates an antibody discovery platform that powered multiple COVID-19 antibody programs (including bamlanivimab with Eli Lilly). Comparable as an antibody discovery engine and as an infectious-disease antibody developer with similar partnership-driven business model.

Others

• ImmunoPrecise Antibodies: ImmunoPrecise is a contract research organization specializing in antibody discovery and development, including custom VHH/nanobody generation services. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem participant providing capabilities similar to those underpinning ExeVir's platform.

Emerging players

• Adagene: Adagene is a clinical-stage antibody platform company using computational and engineering approaches to develop precision antibodies, primarily in oncology. Comparable as an emerging platform-based antibody developer, though with a different therapeutic focus.
• Inhibrx Biosciences: Inhibrx develops single-domain antibody-based therapeutics (e.g., INBRX-101 in oncology). Comparable as a clinical-stage nanobody/single-domain antibody developer, though focused on oncology rather than infectious disease.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/exevir

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors11 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 ExeVir Bio