MigVax
MigVax is an Israeli biotech startup developing MigVax-101, a room-temperature-stable oral subunit COVID-19 vaccine tablet that dissolves on the tongue and targets low-and-middle-income countries via WHO, Gavi, and CEPI procurement channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersMisgav, Israel
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What MigVax does
MigVax Ltd. is a privately-held Israeli biotechnology startup founded in 2020 as an affiliate of the Migal Galilee Research Institute, headquartered in Qiryat Shmona in northern Israel. The company is developing a single core product, MigVax-101, a novel oral subunit COVID-19 vaccine formulated as an orally disintegrating freeze-dried tablet that dissolves on the tongue. The vaccine is built on a proprietary chimeric protein combining three components: LTB (E. coli heat-labile toxin B-subunit, acting as adjuvant and carrier), RBD (Receptor Binding Domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein), and LTB-NC (C-terminal of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein genetically fused to LTB). This architecture is designed to elicit simultaneous humoral (serum IgG, neutralizing antibodies), mucosal (anti-RBD IgA in feces and lung wash), and cell-mediated immune responses. The oral tablet is stable at room temperature for two months and does not require healthcare professionals for administration.
MigVax's go-to-market strategy is targeted at low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) where incumbent injectable COVID-19 vaccines face structural barriers — cold-chain logistics and shortages of skilled healthcare personnel. Distribution is expected to flow through government procurement and global health organization channels, including WHO, Gavi, and CEPI. The company leverages a proprietary Artificial Neural Network ("Ahead of the Curve") that combines sequence and structural analyses to predict future SARS-CoV-2 variants and inform broad-spectrum vaccine design, with stated intent to extend the platform beyond SARS-CoV-2 to other betacoronaviruses.
The company is pre-commercial and pre-revenue. It has been funded primarily by a $12 million founding investment from OurCrowd in 2020 and a $4.3 million CEPI award announced in November 2021, for cumulative disclosed funding of approximately $16.3 million. Management includes CTO Ronald Ellis (Ph.D.), who led R&D of five major commercialized Merck vaccines including Gardasil and RotaTeq and brought eight candidates from preclinical into clinical studies; President David Zigdon, a former CFO/CEO of Nasdaq-listed Israeli technology companies; Chief Clinical and Regulatory Officer Sigal Kremer-Tal (M.D., 8400 fellow); and supporting researchers with 20+ years of avian coronavirus vaccine experience at Migal. As of the latest available data, MigVax has completed preclinical safety studies and published proof-of-concept heterologous boost results on bioRxiv but had not yet disclosed entry into human clinical trials. The primary regulatory and manufacturing pathway is supported by a June 2022 co-development agreement with Catalent for the orally disintegrating freeze-dried tablet formulation.
MigVax firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MigVax
- Legal name
- MigVax Ltd.
- Website
- https://migvax.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- MigVax is an Israeli biotech startup developing MigVax-101, a room-temperature-stable oral subunit COVID-19 vaccine tablet that dissolves on the tongue and targets low-and-middle-income countries via WHO, Gavi, and CEPI procurement channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MigVax industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Oral COVID-19 vaccine development
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Prophylactic Human Vaccines (routine, pediatric, adult) (HLAAAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Vaccine Technology Platforms (mRNA, viral vector, protein subunit, inactivated/live-attenuated, VLP, DNA) (HLAAAEAD), Pandemic Preparedness & Rapid-Response Vaccines (HLAIAEAF), Vaccine Delivery & Administration Systems (needle-free, microneedle patches, intranasal/oral) (HLAAAEAF)
Keywords
Where MigVax is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Misgav
- HQ country
- Israel
- HQ region
- Middle East
Offices1 record
Markets served
MigVax business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- COVID-19 Vaccine Sales: Pre-commercial stage. Revenue model will likely involve one-time vaccine dose sales through government procurement and global health organization distribution channels. Currently funded by CEPI award and OurCrowd investment.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
MigVax product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MigVax is developing MigVax-101, an oral subunit COVID-19 vaccine delivered as a freeze-dried tablet that dissolves on the tongue. The vaccine uses a chimeric protein combining three components (LTB adjuvant, RBD of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and an LTB-NC nucleocapsid fusion) to generate simultaneous humoral, mucosal, and cell-mediated immunity. It is designed for room-temperature stability, eliminating cold-chain requirements and the need for healthcare-professional administration, and is targeted initially as a booster for previously vaccinated populations in low- and middle-income countries.
Product overview
MigVax is developing a single core product: MigVax-101, an oral subunit COVID-19 vaccine. This novel vaccine is delivered as a tablet that dissolves on the tongue, eliminating the need for injection by healthcare professionals. It utilizes a chimeric protein design combining three components (LTB as adjuvant/carrier, RBD of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and LTB-NC which genetically fuses the nucleocapsid protein to LTB) to generate simultaneous mucosal, humoral (blood-based neutralizing IgG), and cell-mediated immune responses. The vaccine is designed as a booster for previously vaccinated persons and targets broad-spectrum protection against COVID-19 variants and beta coronaviruses.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- MigVax-101 Oral subunit COVID-19 vaccine delivered as a freeze-dried tablet that dissolves on the tongue. Uses a chimeric protein combining LTB (E. coli Heat-Labile Toxin B-subunit adjuvant/carrier), RBD (Receptor Binding Domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein), and LTB-NC (C-terminal of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid fused to LTB) to elicit simultaneous humoral (serum IgG/neutralizing antibodies), mucosal (anti-RBD IgA in feces and lung wash), and cell-mediated immunity. Stable at room temperature for 2 months, eliminating cold-chain requirements and the need for healthcare-professional administration. Intended for LMIC deployment and vaccine-hesitant or special-population use.
Quantifiable outcome
- Stable at room temperature for 2 months - eliminates cold-chain dependency
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use MigVax
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
MigVax technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
MigVax partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- CatalentcoreCatalent and MigVax signed agreement to develop an orally disintegrating freeze-dried tablet vaccine against COVID-19. Catalent provides pharmaceutical development and manufacturing expertise for the oral tablet formulation.
- Migal Galilee Research InstitutecoreMigVax is an affiliate of the Migal Galilee Research Institute. The institute's interdisciplinary research team, which developed an avian coronavirus vaccine with high similarity to human COVID-19, forms the foundation for MigVax's vaccine development. Migal provides R&D infrastructure, 90 PhDs, and 190 researchers across 44 research groups.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
MigVax competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- AstraZeneca: AstraZeneca developed Vaxzevria (adenoviral vector COVID-19 vaccine) and supplied billions of doses through COVAX at not-for-profit pricing during the pandemic. A relevant incumbent in the LMIC COVID-19 vaccine procurement pool MigVax targets.
- Moderna: Moderna is the dominant mRNA COVID-19 vaccine provider (Spikevax) with massive commercial scale, variant-updated boosters, and global LMIC supply agreements through COVAX. Represents the entrenched incumbent MigVax must differentiate against on logistics and mucosal immunity.
- Pfizer: Pfizer co-developed Comirnaty (with BioNTech), the world's most widely administered COVID-19 vaccine. As a broad pharma incumbent, it sets the distribution, pricing, and procurement benchmark MigVax's oral tablet must compete with in LMIC tenders.
- Sanofi Pasteur: Sanofi Pasteur developed a recombinant protein COVID-19 vaccine (VidPrevtyn Beta, partnered with GSK) and has a deep LMIC distribution footprint. Relevant incumbent competitor for institutional procurement in MigVax's target geographies.
- Johnson & Johnson (Janssen): J&J's Janssen developed a single-dose adenoviral vector COVID-19 vaccine marketed for global access. Represents another entrenched broadly-acting incumbent competing for institutional LMIC procurement alongside MigVax.
Direct peers
- Novavax: Novavax developed Nuvaxovid, a recombinant protein subunit COVID-19 vaccine using similar antigen-design philosophy. Both companies rely on recombinant protein constructs (MigVax: chimeric LTB-RBD-NC; Novavax: full-length spike nanoparticle) targeting LMIC and COVAX-style distribution channels.
- Sinovac Biotech: Sinovac's CoronaVac (inactivated COVID-19 vaccine) is one of the most widely distributed COVID-19 vaccines in LMICs, with extensive WHO and Gavi procurement relationships. Comparable to MigVax in targeting resource-limited settings with affordable, easy-to-distribute doses.
- Bharat Biotech: Bharat Biotech produces Covaxin (inactivated COVID-19 vaccine) with dominant LMIC and emerging-market penetration. Its global health distribution model and WHO prequalification pathway closely align with MigVax's CEPI/Gavi/WHO go-to-market strategy.
- Vaxart: Vaxart is developing oral tablet vaccines including an oral COVID-19 candidate (VXA-CoV2-1), making it the most direct peer to MigVax-101's oral, room-temperature-stable, needle-free vaccine approach. Both target non-injectable administration to address hesitancy and logistics barriers.
Emerging players
- CureVac: CureVac is an mRNA technology company that pursued first-generation COVID-19 vaccines (CVnCoV) targeting standard storage conditions for emerging markets. Comparable as an early-stage platform company attempting to differentiate on logistics and global access vs. mRNA leaders.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
MigVax social profiles
Digital presenceMigVax financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MigVax leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
MigVax funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MigVax 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 MigVax
What does MigVax do?
MigVax is developing MigVax-101, an oral subunit COVID-19 vaccine delivered as a freeze-dried tablet that dissolves on the tongue. The vaccine uses a chimeric protein combining three components (LTB adjuvant, RBD of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and an LTB-NC nucleocapsid fusion) to generate simultaneous humoral, mucosal, and cell-mediated immunity. It is designed for room-temperature stability, eliminating cold-chain requirements and the need for healthcare-professional administration, and is targeted initially as a booster for previously vaccinated populations in low- and middle-income countries.
Is MigVax a public or private company?
MigVax is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was MigVax founded?
MigVax was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is MigVax based?
MigVax is headquartered in Misgav, Israel, in the Middle East region.
How does MigVax make money?
One revenue line is on record: COVID-19 Vaccine Sales.
Who are MigVax's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer, Sanofi Pasteur and Johnson & Johnson (Janssen). Direct peers are Novavax, Sinovac Biotech, Bharat Biotech and Vaxart. CureVac is listed as an emerging player.
Does MigVax have an API?
No public API is recorded for MigVax.
What industry is MigVax in?
MigVax's product category is Oral COVID-19 vaccine development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAEAA, Prophylactic Human Vaccines (routine, pediatric, adult), with a secondary code of HLAAAEAD, Vaccine Technology Platforms (mRNA, viral vector, protein subunit, inactivated/live-attenuated, VLP, DNA). Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2836.