What Aramis Biotechnologies does

Aramis Biotechnologies is a Canadian clinical-stage biotechnology company founded in 2023 and headquartered in Quebec City, specializing in plant-based vaccine production. The company's proprietary platform uses transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana (wild tobacco) plant cells as bioreactors to produce vaccine proteins and virus-like particles, with a four-step manufacturing process (vector synthesis, vacuum infiltration of leaves, 6-9 day incubation, harvest and purification) that the company states can produce vaccine candidates in as little as 20 days from genetic sequence availability, compared with 6-9 months for traditional egg-based or cell-based methods. The platform was acquired from Medicago, which received Health Canada regulatory approval for a plant-based COVID-19 vaccine in 2022 and accumulated safety data across more than 28,000 subjects in clinical studies.

The company's sole clinical asset is a seasonal influenza vaccine targeting adults aged 75 and older, a population where traditional egg-based vaccines show reduced efficacy due to immunosenescence. The program entered a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in February 2026 with 728 participants, supported by fill-finish partnerships with CPPB (Biologics Manufacturing Centre) and Biodextris. Aramis is structured as an employee-majority owned company, aligning long-term incentives with its mission, and has stated a target commercialization date of 2030.

Aramis is pre-revenue. Its business model contemplates future revenue from vaccine product sales supplemented by technology licensing opportunities to other pharmaceutical companies for non-influenza applications. The company has raised approximately $80 million CAD across December 2024 financing tranches, including a $30 million CAD Series A and a $40 million strategic investment from the Government of Canada through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, with additional funding from CQDM and IVADO. Go-to-market activity centers on scientific conferences, public funding-driven credibility, and strategic manufacturing partnerships rather than traditional sales channels, consistent with a clinical-stage asset strategy ahead of any commercial launch.

Name

Aramis Biotechnologies

Legal name

Aramis Biotechnologies Inc.

Website

https://aramisbiotechnologies.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aramis Biotechnologies is a Quebec-based, employee-majority-owned biotech developing plant-based vaccines using Nicotiana benthamiana transient expression. Its lead seasonal influenza vaccine for adults aged 75+ entered Phase 1/2 trials in 2026, with commercialization targeted by 2030.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Plant-based Vaccines

NAICS

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

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Vaccine Technology Platforms (mRNA, viral vector, protein subunit, inactivated/live-attenuated, VLP, DNA) (HLAAAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Infectious Disease & Pandemic Preparedness Vaccines (emerging pathogens) (HLAAAEAC), Adult Vaccines (HLAIAEAB)

Keywords

• Plant-based vaccines
• Biologics manufacturing
• Influenza vaccines
• Plant molecular farming
• Virus-like particle vaccines

Headquarters

HQ city

Quebec

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Vaccine Product Sales (Future): As a pre-revenue biotech company, Aramis does not yet generate commercial revenue. The company is developing its seasonal influenza vaccine through Phase 1/2 clinical trials with a target commercialization date of 2030. Revenue will be generated through the sale of its plant-based vaccine products upon regulatory approval.
2. Technology Licensing (Future): The company's plant-based biofabrication technology platform can be licensed to other pharmaceutical companies for producing different vaccines and biological products beyond influenza, creating potential licensing revenue streams.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Aramis Biotechnologies develops plant-based vaccines using a transient expression platform in Nicotiana benthamiana cells. Its lead product is a seasonal influenza vaccine currently in Phase 1/2 clinical trials, leveraging virus-like particle (VLP) antigen technology and a 20-day rapid production cycle. The company is pre-revenue and positioned as a clinical-stage plant-based biologics developer.

Product overview

Aramis Biotechnologies operates as a plant-based vaccine development company with a single core product in clinical development: the seasonal influenza vaccine. The company leverages its innovative plant-based biofabrication platform technology to produce vaccine particles in as little as 20 days. The technology transfers genetic instructions to plants, which act as bioreactors to produce and assemble vaccine particles in their cells. Once purified, these particles constitute the active ingredient capable of stimulating the immune system. The seasonal influenza vaccine program represents the first product of the platform, with potential for expansion into other vaccine applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Seasonal Influenza Vaccine (plant-based VLP) Plant-based seasonal influenza vaccine candidate built on virus-like particle (VLP) antigens produced via transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana. Currently in Phase 1/2 clinical trials, intended for procurement by public health authorities, governments, and vaccine distributors serving national immunization programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Vaccine production in as little as 20 days vs. 6-9 months for traditional methods
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Centre de Production de Produits Biologiques (CPPB) Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 February 2025CPPB (also known as Biologics Manufacturing Centre / BMC) is a non-profit organization specializing in the manufacture of essential biopharmaceutical solutions. CPPB provided formulation, aseptic fill-finish, and clinical packaging services for Aramis's seasonal influenza vaccine intended for Phase 1/2 clinical studies. This partnership demonstrated CPPB's capacity to support innovative biotech projects and represents a strategic manufacturing collaboration critical to Aramis's clinical advancement. CPPB is based in Ville-Mont-Royal, QC.
• BiodextriscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 December 2024Partnership announced in December 2024 for fill-finish manufacturing capabilities. Biodextris provides specialized biopharmaceutical manufacturing services to support Aramis's vaccine development program.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Medicago: Medicago pioneered plant-based VLP vaccine production in Nicotiana benthamiana and obtained Canadian regulatory approval for a COVID-19 vaccine in 2022 before withdrawing it. Aramis directly acquired its technology assets, making Medicago the most direct historical peer in plant-based vaccine technology.
• Kentucky BioProcessing: KBP, a subsidiary of British American Tobacco, is one of the few other companies globally developing plant-based vaccine and therapeutic production using Nicotiana benthamiana. It is a direct peer in plant-based biofabrication technology and target applications.
• iBio: iBio is a plant-based biologics developer using its FastPharming system in Nicotiana benthamiana to produce vaccines and therapeutics. It is a direct peer in plant-based vaccine and antibody manufacturing technology.
• Novavax: Novavax develops recombinant protein nanoparticle vaccines, including its COVID-19 vaccine and seasonal influenza candidates. It is a direct peer in recombinant/protein-based vaccine platforms targeting influenza and other infectious diseases.

Emerging players

• CureVac: CureVac is a clinical-stage mRNA vaccine company developing seasonal influenza and other infectious disease vaccines. It is an emerging peer in next-generation vaccine platforms competing for the same influenza market Aramis targets.
• GreenLight Biosciences: GreenLight Biosciences develops mRNA vaccines and therapeutics for infectious diseases, including influenza. It is an emerging peer in next-generation vaccine platforms targeting similar indications as Aramis.

Broad incumbents

• BioNTech: BioNTech is the leading mRNA vaccine company and Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine partner, with an active influenza vaccine program. It is a broad incumbent competing in next-generation vaccine platforms, including the seasonal flu market Aramis targets.
• Moderna: Moderna is the leading independent mRNA vaccine company with multiple infectious disease programs, including seasonal influenza. It is a broad incumbent in vaccine technology with substantially greater scale and commercial reach than Aramis.
• Sanofi Pasteur: Sanofi Pasteur is one of the world's largest influenza vaccine manufacturers with established high-dose and adjuvanted products targeting older adults. It is a broad incumbent competing directly in the elderly 75+ influenza segment Aramis targets.
• CSL Seqirus: CSL Seqirus is a major global influenza vaccine manufacturer with cell-based and adjuvanted products, including Fluad for older adults. It is a broad incumbent in the seasonal flu market Aramis is targeting, with established commercial channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aramisbiotechnologies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors1 record

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 Aramis Biotechnologies