MBF Therapeutics
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersAmbler, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What MBF Therapeutics does
MBF Therapeutics is a clinical-stage animal health biotechnology company headquartered in Ambler, Pennsylvania, founded in 2008. It develops the proprietary T-Max™ DNA vaccine platform, which combines checkpoint inhibitors, immunomodulators, adjuvants, and the CaptaVax™ calcium phosphate nanoparticle delivery system to elicit durable, cell-mediated T-cell immune responses against infectious pathogens and cancers. The platform underpins a pipeline that includes MBFT-201 (canine melanoma), COVE-001 (SARS-CoV-2), and vaccine candidates targeting Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) and African Swine Fever (ASF) developed with partners including Smithfield Foods, Kansas State University, North Carolina State University, and CSIRO. The company also holds an exclusive license to the RheoSwitch® Therapeutic System (originally developed by CEO Thomas Tillett at RheoGene) and exclusive licenses from the Wistar Institute and Southwest Research Institute.
The business model is anchored on technology licensing, co-development partnerships, and future product commercialization rather than direct sales today. The firm operates as a Delaware C-corporation, is funded primarily by individual angel investors and angel groups (with recent activity around a Series S-2 round and a Keiretsu Forum Mid-Atlantic term sheet), and is exploring near-term revenue from licensing immune-response datasets to pharmaceutical companies building AI models, as well as from the animal-health autogenous vaccine market. Human health applications are routed into separately funded C-Corp NewCo subsidiaries in which MBFT investors will share ownership, and additional grants (e.g., NSF, Ben Franklin Technology Partners) have provided non-dilutive capital. With 1-10 employees and an approximate $10 million valuation per PitchBook, MBF Therapeutics remains pre-revenue but operationally active across licensing, scientific collaboration, and capital-formation fronts.
MBF Therapeutics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MBF Therapeutics
- Legal name
- MBF Therapeutics
- Website
- https://mbftherapeutics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MBF Therapeutics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Veterinary Biopharmaceuticals
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)
- 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
- Therapeutic Vaccines (cancer, chronic infection immunotherapy) (HLAAAEAB), Vaccine Manufacturing & Contract Services (Veterinary Vaccine CDMO) (HLAMAKAI)
Keywords
Where MBF Therapeutics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ambler
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
MBF Therapeutics 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 Product Sales (Animal Health): Revenue from development and commercialization of vaccines for companion animals and livestock. Initial focus on canine melanoma vaccine (MBFT-201) and swine vaccines including PRRS and African Swine Fever. Products target both food animals and companion animals with translational opportunities to humans.
- Technology Licensing: Licensing of T-Max™ platform technology and immune-response data to pharmaceutical companies. The company is exploring near-term opportunities to license immune-response data generated from animal vaccine research to pharmaceutical companies developing AI models. Also pursuing licensing partnerships with major vaccine companies for human health applications through separately funded subsidiaries.
- Autogenous Vaccine Market: Near-term income generator through the animal health autogenous vaccine market using the CaptaVax delivery system for customized vaccine formulations.
- Human Health Spin-offs: Each human health opportunity will be placed into a C-Corp NewCo subsidiary, with MBFT investors sharing ownership in these separately funded companies. Revenue model through equity participation in spin-out ventures.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
MBF Therapeutics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MBF Therapeutics develops a proprietary T-Max™ DNA vaccine platform that combines gene-based checkpoint inhibitors, immunomodulators, adjuvants, and the CaptaVax™ calcium phosphate nanoparticle delivery system to create T-cell directed vaccines for infectious diseases and cancer. Its current product pipeline includes MBFT-201 (canine melanoma vaccine), COVE-001 (SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate), African Swine Fever vaccine, and a PRRS vaccine, with revenue derived primarily from technology licensing and co-development partnerships rather than direct commercial product sales.
Product overview
MBF Therapeutics is an immunotherapeutic animal health company offering a T-Max™ DNA vaccine platform as its core technology, which combines proprietary gene-based checkpoint inhibitors, immunomodulators, and the CaptaVax™ nanoparticle delivery system. The platform enables development of disruptive products for infectious disease and cancer. Key products include MBFT-201 (canine melanoma vaccine), COVE-001 (SARS CoV-2 vaccine candidate), African Swine Fever vaccine, and PRRS vaccine. The company is also collaborating with University of North Carolina on checkpoint inhibitor technology and is exploring human health applications through separately funded subsidiaries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- T-Max™ DNA Vaccine Platform
- CaptaVax™ Nanoparticle Delivery System
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% immune response to key antigens in dogs treated with MBFT-201 canine melanoma vaccine
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use MBF Therapeutics
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
MBF Therapeutics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
MBF Therapeutics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CSIROcoreAustralia and US scientists team up on African Swine Fever vaccine research. Collaboration combining expertise for novel ASF vaccine development.
- MRIGlobalcoreCollaboration for pre-clinical testing of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate COVE-001. Dr. Luca Popescu serves as Senior Scientist at MRIGlobal and joined ASFV vaccine consortium.
- RymedicoreProvision of integrated data and diagnostics platform for SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development collaboration. Rymedi provides blockchain-enabled B2B data transmission infrastructure for regulatory and business needs.
- SSI StrategycoreOptimized clinical development planning and project management of IND process for SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate. Boutique management consulting firm supporting Medical Affairs, Pharmacovigilance, and Clinical Development.
- AldevroncoreDNA vaccine formulation, scale-up and manufacturing for SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate COVE-001. GMP manufacturing specialist known for inventing GMP-Source quality system.
- Med Aditus InternationalminorBoard member Dr. Dhiren Thacker is Founding President and CEO of Med Aditus, a nonprofit focused on affordable medicines. Represents potential connection for global health applications.
- Kansas State UniversitycoreCollaboration with ASFV vaccine research team including Dr. Megan C. Neiderwerder (Assistant Professor) and Dr. Raymond 'Bob' Rowland (Professor of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology). Part of consortium developing broad-spectrum ASFV vaccine.
- North Carolina State UniversitycoreCollaboration with Dr. Tobias Kaeser, Assistant Professor of Swine Immunology, as part of ASFV vaccine development consortium. Jointly developing broad-spectrum immunotherapeutic ASFV vaccine.
- OneWorld BiotechminorDr. Malla Padidam, President, participates in ASFV vaccine development consortium bringing molecular biology expertise.
- Diamond Animal HealthminorProvides vaccine manufacturing for African Swine Fever vaccine development studies.
- Smithfield FoodscoreCollaboration on development of new swine vaccines using MBF Therapeutics' gene-based, T-cell directed vaccine platform and calcium phosphate delivery system. First phase targets PRRS vaccine development.
- University of North Carolina (UNC)coreExclusive option agreement with UNC to evaluate UNC's checkpoint inhibitor traps and calcium phosphate nanoparticle delivery system in combination with MBFT's proprietary immunomodulating technologies for advanced immunotherapeutic treatments for cancer and infectious diseases in animal health. Dr. Dhiren Thacker serves as Professor Emeritus at UNC.
- Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)coreExclusive license agreement for SwRI's patented calcium phosphate nanoparticle (CaPNP) drug delivery system. SwRI holds two U.S. patents for the technology. MBFT will use this as core delivery system for cancer and infectious disease vaccines. SwRI to provide CaptaVax nanoparticles for African Swine Fever vaccine studies.
- The Wistar InstitutecoreExclusive license agreement for immunotherapeutic vaccines for companion and domestic animals based on Wistar technology. Technology based on platform by Dr. Hildegund C.J. Ertl combining vaccine technology with immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Previously collaborated under sponsored research agreement established in 2016.
- Man's Best Friend Therapeutics (MBFT)minorRelated entity using MBFT name for canine melanoma vaccine development. Same company operating under different branding for veterinary products.
- Amlan InternationalminorFormer organization of Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ron Cravens, who served as President for 12 years. Represents executive experience in animal health sector.
- Carthage Veterinary ServiceminorBoard member Dr. Joseph Connor is founder of Carthage Veterinary Service, a major swine consulting practice providing industry expertise and connections.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
MBF Therapeutics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Zoetis: Zoetis is the world's largest animal health company with a broad portfolio of livestock and companion animal vaccines, including swine respiratory disease and oncology products. It is the most directly comparable competitor given overlapping species (swine, dogs) and vaccine categories MBF is pursuing.
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health: Boehringer Ingelheim's animal health division is a global leader in swine vaccines (including PRRS-related products) and companion animal therapeutics, directly overlapping MBF's lead indications and target customers.
- Merck Animal Health: Merck Animal Health has a major swine vaccine portfolio and companion animal therapeutics franchise, making it a direct competitor in both of MBF's primary livestock and companion-animal segments.
- Elanco Animal Health: Elanco is a top-tier animal health company with companion-animal oncology and livestock vaccine offerings (it also acquired Aratana Therapeutics, a pet therapeutics specialist), placing it in direct overlap with MBF's canine melanoma and swine programs.
- Ceva Santé Animale: Ceva is a global animal health company with a substantial vaccine portfolio spanning swine, poultry, and companion animals, competing in the same livestock and companion-animal vaccine markets MBF targets.
- Vaxxinova: Vaxxinova is an animal health company focused on autogenous and customized vaccines for livestock and aquaculture, directly comparable to MBF's near-term autogenous vaccine strategy using CaptaVax.
- Phibro Animal Health: Phibro develops and markets vaccines and health products for livestock (including swine) and poultry, operating in adjacent segments to MBF's livestock vaccine focus.
- Inovio Pharmaceuticals: Inovio is a clinical-stage biotech developing DNA-based vaccines and immunotherapies with its own proprietary CELLECTRA delivery device, making it the closest direct peer on platform technology (DNA vaccines) even though it focuses on human health.
Emerging players
- Genexine: Genexine is a clinical-stage biotech with a DNA vaccine platform (GX-19) that advanced into COVID-19 clinical trials, making it a comparable emerging platform peer with similar nucleic-acid vaccine technology to MBF's T-Max.
- Aratana Therapeutics: Aratana (now part of Elanco) was a pet therapeutics biotech that developed novel biologics including a canine lymphoma immunotherapy, providing a useful comparator on the companion-animal oncology vaccine niche MBF is pursuing with MBFT-201.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
MBF Therapeutics social profiles
Digital presenceMBF Therapeutics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MBF Therapeutics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
MBF Therapeutics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MBF Therapeutics 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 MBF Therapeutics
What does MBF Therapeutics do?
MBF Therapeutics develops a proprietary T-Max™ DNA vaccine platform that combines gene-based checkpoint inhibitors, immunomodulators, adjuvants, and the CaptaVax™ calcium phosphate nanoparticle delivery system to create T-cell directed vaccines for infectious diseases and cancer. Its current product pipeline includes MBFT-201 (canine melanoma vaccine), COVE-001 (SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate), African Swine Fever vaccine, and a PRRS vaccine, with revenue derived primarily from technology licensing and co-development partnerships rather than direct commercial product sales.
Is MBF Therapeutics a public or private company?
MBF Therapeutics is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was MBF Therapeutics founded?
MBF Therapeutics was founded in 2008. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is MBF Therapeutics based?
MBF Therapeutics is headquartered in Ambler, United States, in the North America region.
How does MBF Therapeutics make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Vaccine Product Sales (Animal Health) is the primary driver. The others are technology Licensing, autogenous Vaccine Market and human Health Spin-offs.
Who are MBF Therapeutics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Zoetis, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, Merck Animal Health, Elanco Animal Health, Ceva Santé Animale, Vaxxinova, Phibro Animal Health and Inovio Pharmaceuticals. Emerging players are Genexine and Aratana Therapeutics.
Does MBF Therapeutics have an API?
No public API is recorded for MBF Therapeutics.
What industry is MBF Therapeutics in?
MBF Therapeutics's product category is Veterinary Biopharmaceuticals. 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 HLAAAEAB, Therapeutic Vaccines (cancer, chronic infection immunotherapy). Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2836.