VerImmune

What VerImmune does

VerImmune is a pre-clinical, privately-held biotechnology company founded in 2020 and headquartered at Johnson & Johnson Innovation's JLABS @ Washington, DC, within the BioHealth Capital Region cluster. It is developing a first-in-class cancer immunotherapy approach called Anti-tumor Immune Redirection (AIR), built on its proprietary Virus-inspired Particle (ViP) platform derived from papillomavirus virology. The AIR approach modifies tumor cells to appear as virally infected cells, redirecting pre-existing CD8+ T-cell immune memory from childhood vaccines and past infections (such as CMV) toward tumor destruction. The mechanism is intentionally tumor-type agnostic and is not dependent on PD-1/PD-L1 biology, positioning it as a potential treatment for multiple solid tumors including those resistant to checkpoint inhibitors. Lead candidate VERI-101 is advancing toward IND following a successful FDA Type B pre-IND meeting in May 2023.

VerImmune's product portfolio comprises the ViP platform, the AIR-ViP technology platform, and the lead VERI-101 candidate, supported by three issued US patents (with expected protection to at least 2037-2041) and 30+ worldwide patent applications. The company has built a high-quality external network that includes residency at J&J JLABS Washington DC, acceptance into the NCI Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory, the Amgen X NSG BioLabs Golden Ticket in Singapore (which established an APAC regional headquarters in 2023), a research collaboration with Janssen, and a bioprocessing partnership with A*STAR BTI in Singapore.

The business model is pre-commercial and milestone-driven. VERI-101 is out-licensed to Fosun Pharma USA for Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, with potential milestones of up to $125M plus low-double-digit tiered royalties and an option on future AIR-ViP products. Non-dilutive capital has come from NSF SBIR Phase II (~700K), Phase IIB follow-on ($500K), a DoD CDMRP Melanoma Research Program grant (~$470K), and a TEDCO MEIF investment ($500K). Equity capital of approximately $10.1M has been raised across seed (SeedFolio-led $2.5M), follow-on seed (Proxima-led $3.125M), and a Pre-Series A first close (Beiley Biofund-led $4.5M). VerImmune retains global rights outside the Fosun-licensed territories and has not yet established pricing or commercial distribution for VERI-101, which remains in pre-clinical/IND-enabling development.

Name

VerImmune

Legal name

VerImmune Inc.

Website

https://verimmune.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

VerImmune is a pre-clinical biotechnology company developing first-in-class cancer immunotherapy that redirects pre-existing pathogen and vaccine immune memory toward solid tumors using its proprietary Virus-inspired Particle (ViP) platform, with lead candidate VERI-101 advancing toward IND.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cancer Immunotherapy / Immuno-Oncology

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Therapeutic Vaccines (cancer, chronic infection immunotherapy) (HLAAAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vaccine Technology Platforms (mRNA, viral vector, protein subunit, inactivated/live-attenuated, VLP, DNA) (HLAAAEAD), Personalized Therapeutic Design (neoantigen vaccines, individualized cell/gene therapies) (HLAAANAK)

Keywords

• Cancer immunotherapy
• Virus-inspired particles
• Immuno-oncology platform
• Tumor immune redirection
• Biopharmaceutical therapeutics

Headquarters

HQ city

Bethesda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Licensing and Milestone Payments: VerImmune receives milestone payments and tiered royalties from licensing agreements. Under the Fosun Pharma agreement, VerImmune is eligible for up to $125M in total milestone payments plus tiered royalties up to low double digits on net sales of VERI-101 in licensed territories, with additional milestone payments for future AIR-ViP product candidates.
2. Non-Dilutive SBIR Funding: VerImmune has received multiple NSF SBIR awards (Phase II ~$700,000, Phase IIB follow-on ~$500,000) and CDMRP grant (~$470,000) as non-dilutive funding to support R&D activities.
3. Future Product Commercialization: Post-IND approval and clinical development, VerImmune plans to commercialize its VERI-101 product candidate and other pipeline assets, generating revenue through direct product sales or additional licensing agreements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

VerImmune develops a first-in-class immuno-oncology therapy called Anti-tumor Immune Redirection (AIR) built on its proprietary Virus-inspired Particle (ViP) platform technology. The AIR approach redirects pre-existing CD8+ T cell immune memory from childhood vaccines or past infections toward cancer cells for tumor destruction, independent of PD-1/PD-L1 biology and applicable across multiple solid tumor types. Its lead product candidate, VERI-101, leverages cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific immune memory and is currently advancing toward IND filing and clinical trials.

Product overview

VerImmune is a biotechnology company developing a novel first-in-class cancer therapy ecosystem centered on its proprietary Virus-inspired Particle (ViP) platform technology. The core platform employs papillomavirus-inspired particles as a delivery system, upon which the company has built its Anti-tumor Immune Redirection (AIR-ViP) technology—a breakthrough approach that redirects pre-existing immune memory from childhood vaccines or past infections toward cancer cells. The lead product candidate is VERI-101, an immuno-oncology therapy leveraging CMV-specific immune memory currently advancing toward IND and clinical trials. The platform is tumor type-agnostic and applicable across multiple cancer types.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VERI-101 VERI-101 is VerImmune's lead immuno-oncology product candidate utilizing the proprietary ViP platform to harness cellular immune memory responses from prior cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection to fight cancer. It is a first-in-class cancer immunotherapy for treatment of multiple solid tumors, currently advancing toward IND and clinical trials after completing a successful FDA pre-IND meeting.
• Virus-inspired Particle (ViP) Platform Proprietary virus-inspired particle technology platform based on natural papillomavirus virology, designed as a delivery system to target and treat numerous diseases. The platform enables systematic optimization of capsid structure for improved tissue targeting, maximized payload size, reduced immunogenicity, and increased manufacturability. Protected by three issued U.S. patents (US 11,285,203; US 11,560,408; US 11,858,964 B2) with protection extending to at least 2041.
• Anti-tumor Immune Redirection (AIR-ViP) Technology First-in-class cancer immunotherapy approach built on the ViP platform that redirects pre-existing immune memory from past infections or childhood vaccinations to target and destroy cancer cells. The platform is tumor type-agnostic with natural tropism for tumors and operates independently of PD-1/PD-L1 biology.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successful FDA pre-IND meeting providing clear development path for VERI-101
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• A*STAR Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI), SingaporecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 January 2024Research collaboration focused on advancing VerImmune's ViP Platform Development through novel manufacturing and analytical solutions. The collaboration aims to develop a preclinical manufacturing platform to facilitate generation of additional novel ViP-based product candidates beyond VerImmune's flagship Oncology program. BTI has integrated capabilities in bioprocessing technology to assist industry in accelerating process innovation in biomanufacturing.
• NSG BioLabscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 July 2023Singapore's largest provider of biotech co-working laboratories. Awarded VerImmune a one-year free residency in their fully equipped, turnkey, certified BSL-2 laboratory in Biopolis as part of the Amgen Golden Ticket Award. Provides access to state-of-the-art equipment, operational infrastructure, and a global network for emerging life sciences companies.
• AmgencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 July 2023Leading global biotechnology company. Co-sponsored the Amgen Golden Ticket Award in Singapore with NSG BioLabs. Awarded VerImmune as the second Golden Ticket winner, providing access to Amgen's vast network of scientific and business leaders and facilitating greater collaboration within Singapore's biotech sector.
• National Cancer Institute (NCI) / Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 August 2022VerImmune was accepted into the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL) Assay Cascade characterization and testing program. The program conducts rigorous evaluation including sterility, endotoxin, physicochemical characterization, in vitro and in vivo studies. Studies are fully funded by NCI and conducted free of charge, designed to strengthen manufacturing data and controls for future regulatory submissions.
• Fosun Pharma USAcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 18 May 2022VerImmune granted Fosun Pharma an exclusive license to its lead AIR-ViP product candidate VERI-101, with an option to license future AIR-ViP products, for clinical development and commercialization in Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan. VerImmune is eligible for up to $125M in total milestone payments plus tiered royalties up to low double digits on net sales. Fosun Pharma leads all clinical development and commercialization in the licensed territories.
• Janssen Research & Development, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 February 2022Research collaboration with Janssen immuno-oncology scientists to evaluate VerImmune's proprietary Anti-tumor Immune Redirection Virus-inspired Particle (AIR-ViP) technology platform. Agreement facilitated by Johnson & Johnson Innovation. VerImmune is also a resident of JLABS @ Washington, DC, part of J&J Innovation's global network of life science incubators.
• Johns Hopkins 1812 Fastforward IncubatorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVerImmune was headquartered for its first two years (2020-2022) at Fastforward 1812, near Johns Hopkins East Baltimore Campus in Maryland. This was the company's initial incubator residency before moving to JLABS.
• Johnson & Johnson Innovation - JLABS @ Washington, DCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVerImmune is a resident company of JLABS @ Washington, DC, part of Johnson & Johnson Innovation's global network of life science incubators. Located at the heart of the BioHealth Capital Region (BHCR) cluster. VerImmune relocated its research and development laboratories to this facility in early 2022 and is fully operational there.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Hookipa Pharma: Hookipa Pharma develops arenavirus-based immunotherapies for cancer and infectious diseases, using a viral vector platform to redirect immune responses against tumors and pathogens. This is the closest direct peer to VerImmune, as both companies leverage viral-inspired delivery platforms to generate potent anti-tumor immune responses, with similar tumor-type agnostic approaches and comparable preclinical-to-clinical development stages in immuno-oncology.
• Nouscom: Nouscom is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing off-the-shelf and personalized viral vector-based cancer vaccines using neoantigens. The company's viral vector delivery platform and focus on redirecting immune responses against solid tumors makes it highly comparable to VerImmune's ViP/AIR approach, particularly in the personalized cancer vaccine space.
• Transgene: Transgene develops viral vector-based immunotherapies for solid tumors, including oncolytic viruses and therapeutic vaccines. The company's focus on engineering viral vectors to induce or redirect anti-tumor immune responses, combined with its clinical-stage oncology pipeline, makes it a relevant direct peer to VerImmune's viral-inspired particle approach.
• Gritstone bio: Gritstone bio develops neoantigen-based cancer vaccines and immunotherapies using viral vectors and mRNA delivery. The company's tumor-type agnostic approach, biomarker-driven patient selection strategy, and focus on solid tumors with limited treatment options aligns with VerImmune's redirected immune memory platform philosophy.
• Turnstone Biologics: Turnstone Biologics develops oncolytic virus immunotherapies that combine viral infection with immune stimulation to treat solid tumors. Both companies leverage viral biology to create tumor-directed immune responses, with comparable platforms designed to overcome immune resistance in solid tumor settings.
• VBI Vaccines: VBI Vaccines develops virus-like particle (VLP) based vaccines and immunotherapies for infectious diseases and oncology. The shared VLP technology foundation and focus on leveraging viral-inspired structures for therapeutic immune modulation makes this a comparable platform-based peer to VerImmune.

Broad incumbents

• BioNTech: BioNTech is a leading cancer immunotherapy company with multiple modalities including mRNA cancer vaccines, cell therapies, and bispecific antibodies. As a large, established player in the immuno-oncology space, BioNTech represents a broader incumbent competitor pursuing similar patient populations through complementary technology platforms.
• Moderna: Moderna is a major biotechnology company developing mRNA-based therapeutics including cancer vaccines and immunotherapies. While using a different technology platform, Moderna's extensive oncology pipeline and focus on leveraging immune responses against tumors positions it as a broader incumbent competitor in the immuno-oncology space.

Emerging players

• Immatics: Immatics develops T cell receptor (TCR)-based immunotherapies for solid tumors, including TCR-T cell therapies and TCR bispecifics. The company's focus on identifying and targeting tumor-specific antigens with precision immunotherapy represents a complementary approach to VerImmune's redirected immune memory strategy.
• Janux Therapeutics: Janux Therapeutics develops T cell engager (TCE) immunotherapies for solid tumors, using a novel platform to activate T cells against cancer cells. The company's focus on overcoming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and addressing solid tumors with limited treatment options aligns with VerImmune's mission of treating PD-1/PD-L1 resistant patients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/VerImmune_
• Facebookfacebook.com/VerImmune
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/verimmune/about

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors10 records

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about VerImmune