What Ridgeback Biotherapeutics does

Ridgeback Biotherapeutics is a privately held biotechnology company founded in 2016 by Wendy Holman and Wayne Holman, headquartered in Miami, Florida, and focused exclusively on developing therapeutics for emerging infectious diseases that lack approved treatment options. The company operates with a very small team (1-10 employees) and an asset-light, partnership-driven business model. Its commercial-stage portfolio consists of two products: Ebanga (ansuvimab-zykl, formerly mAb114), an FDA-approved human monoclonal antibody for treatment of Zaire ebolavirus infection in adult and pediatric patients including neonates (FDA approval December 2020); and Lagevrio (molnupiravir), an oral broad-spectrum antiviral nucleoside analog that received UK MHRA authorization in November 2021 and U.S. FDA Emergency Use Authorization in December 2021 for treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in high-risk adults. The pipeline also includes preclinical candidates RB-1569 and RB-3142 for additional emerging infectious disease targets.

Ridgeback's product technology is anchored by two differentiated platforms: the Ebanga monoclonal antibody, developed in collaboration with the NIH Vaccine Research Center, and the DRIVE (Drug Innovation Ventures at Emory) antiviral discovery platform, which holds over 150 patents in antiviral development and underpins molnupiravir's mechanism of viral mutagenesis. The company holds exclusive or co-development rights to both products through licensing arrangements with DRIVE/Emory University and the NIH.

The business model combines three revenue streams: government procurement contracts (with documented buyers including the U.S., UK, Japan, Canada, UNICEF, and the Democratic Republic of Congo), licensing and royalty revenue from the Merck partnership for global Lagevrio commercialization, and commercial sales through distribution partners such as Emergent BioSolutions (which handles Ebanga manufacturing, sale, and distribution in the US and Canada under a July 2022 agreement). Ridgeback also retains a global access role providing Ebanga free of charge in Ebola-stricken countries. The company's GTM motion is enterprise field sales into government health agencies and global health organizations rather than commercial pharmaceutical channels, supported by scientific publications, press coverage in outlets such as CNBC, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times, and conference presentations at venues like ASTMH and CROI.

Name

Ridgeback Biotherapeutics

Legal name

Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP

Website

https://ridgebackbio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ridgeback Biotherapeutics is a privately held Miami-based biotech founded in 2016 that develops therapeutics for emerging infectious diseases, with two approved/late-stage products: Ebanga (FDA-approved Ebola monoclonal antibody) and Lagevrio (FDA EUA oral COVID-19 antiviral partnered with Merck), sold primarily to government health agencies globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Infectious Disease Therapeutics

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Infectious Disease Specialty Pharmaceuticals (Non-vaccine) (HLAIACAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Monoclonal Antibody Therapeutics (mAbs) (HLAAAAAA)

Keywords

• Antiviral therapeutics
• Monoclonal antibody treatments
• Emerging infectious diseases
• Ebola treatment
• COVID-19 antivirals

Headquarters

HQ city

Coconut Creek

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Product Sales: Revenue from sale of FDA-approved therapeutics including Ebanga and Lagevrio through government procurement contracts and commercial distribution partnerships.
2. Licensing and Royalty Revenue: Collaboration with Merck for Lagevrio development generates licensing revenue. Ridgeback licensed Lagevrio from DRIVE (Emory) and partnered with Merck for global development and commercialization.
3. Government Contracts: Direct government procurement contracts including U.S. government, UK government, Japan government, and international health agencies for COVID-19 and Ebola therapeutics.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Ridgeback Biotherapeutics develops and commercializes therapeutics for emerging infectious diseases with limited or no treatment options. The company's marketed products are EBANGA (ansuvimab-zykl), an FDA-approved human monoclonal antibody for Zaire ebolavirus infection, and Lagevrio (molnupiravir), an FDA Emergency Use Authorized oral antiviral for high-risk adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. Ridgeback also maintains a preclinical pipeline of candidates targeting other emerging infectious diseases.

Product overview

Ridgeback Biotherapeutics is a biotech company focused on developing transformational therapies for emerging infectious diseases. The company's product portfolio includes two FDA-approved/late-stage products: EBANGA™ (ansuvimab-zykl), an FDA-approved monoclonal antibody treatment for Ebola virus disease, and Lagevrio (molnupiravir), an oral antiviral for COVID-19 that received FDA Emergency Use Authorization in December 2021. The company is also developing preclinical pipeline candidates (RB-1569 and RB-3142) for other emerging infectious diseases. Ridgeback collaborates with partners including Merck for Lagevrio development and Emergent BioSolutions for Ebanga manufacturing/distribution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EBANGA (ansuvimab-zykl) FDA-approved human monoclonal antibody indicated for the treatment of Zaire ebolavirus infection in adult and pediatric patients, including neonates. Developed from monoclonal antibody mAb114 in collaboration with NIH Vaccine Research Center. Sold to governments and global health organizations and provided free of charge in Ebola-stricken countries through Ridgeback's global access program.
• Lagevrio (molnupiravir) Direct-acting oral, broad-spectrum antiviral agent developed as a treatment for COVID-19 in high-risk adults. Originally licensed from DRIVE (Emory) and co-developed with Merck & Co. for global commercialization. Also demonstrates activity against Ebola, Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, influenza strains, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus via a nucleoside analog viral mutagenesis mechanism.

Quantifiable outcome

• Lagevrio reduced risk of hospitalization or death by approximately 50% compared to placebo in Phase 3 MOVe-OUT trial
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Emergent BioSolutions Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 7 July 2022Manufacturing, sale, and distribution agreement for Ebanga in US and Canada. Emergent responsible for commercial operations while Ridgeback maintains global access role ensuring Ebanga remains available free of charge in Ebola-stricken countries.
• AGILE Clinical Trials PlatformminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2020Partnership for Phase 2 trial evaluating Lagevrio in COVID-19 outpatients in the United Kingdom. Ridgeback and AGILE announced initiation of the study in September 2020.
• Merck & Co. (MSD outside US and Canada)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2020Collaboration and licensing agreement for development and commercialization of Lagevrio (molnupiravir). Merck and Ridgeback partnered in July 2020 for global development. Ridgeback originally licensed Lagevrio from DRIVE/Emory. Partnership includes joint steering committee co-chaired by Wayne Holman. Merck responsible for global commercialization with Ridgeback as development collaborator.
• DRIVE (Drug Innovation Ventures at Emory)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2020Licensing and collaboration agreement for Lagevrio (molnupiravir). DRIVE, led by Dr. George Painter, developed the antiviral compound starting in 2013. Ridgeback signed definitive agreement with DRIVE in March 2020 to license and co-develop Lagevrio.
• National Institutes of Health (NIH) / National Institute for Allergy & Infectious Diseases (NIAID)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Ebanga development including Vaccine Research Center (VRC) involvement. NIH-supported research including development of mAb114 monoclonal antibody.
• World Health Organization (WHO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHO recommended use of Ebanga (along with another antibody drug) for Ebola treatment. WHO backing supports global access and adoption.
• Emory UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner through DRIVE (Drug Innovation Ventures at Emory). Dr. George Painter is CEO of DRIVE and professor at Emory University School of Medicine.
• The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOctober 2021 license agreement between MPP and Merck for molnupiravir to increase broad access in low- and middle-income countries. Ridgeback collaborates with Merck on Lagevrio development.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Direct peer in infectious-disease monoclonal antibodies — Regeneron co-developed Inmazeb (atoltivimab/maftivimab/odesivimab), a competing FDA-approved Ebola antibody cocktail, and produced REGEN-COV for COVID-19, directly analogous to Ridgeback's Ebanga + Lagevrio portfolio.
• Vir Biotechnology: Infectious-disease focused biotech with an antibody platform that has produced approved/sought products for Ebola and COVID-19 (sotrovimab/Xevudy); closely matches Ridgeback's mAb + infectious disease strategy and commercial maturity.
• Emergent BioSolutions: Direct peer and partner — Emergent manufactures and distributes Ebanga in the U.S./Canada and is a biodefense/infectious-disease specialist with overlapping capabilities in antibody therapeutics and government procurement (BARDA contracts).
• Chimerix: Small antiviral-focused biotech where CMO Wendy Painter previously served; develops therapeutics for serious infectious diseases and shares the rare/viral-disease development focus that defines Ridgeback's portfolio approach.
• SIGA Technologies: Antiviral/biodefense company with Tpoxx (tecovirimat) for smallpox and overlapping government stockpile customer base; comparable biodefense orientation and infectious-disease product profile to Ridgeback's Ebola therapeutics.
• BioCryst Pharmaceuticals: Antiviral-focused biotech with FDA-approved products for emerging infectious diseases including influenza (Rapivab) and hereditary angioedema; aligned with Ridgeback's niche antiviral development model and small-cap biotech profile.

Broad incumbents

• Gilead Sciences: Large established antiviral company (remdesivir for COVID-19, HIV franchise) competing with Lagevrio and a clear benchmark for Ridgeback's broader antiviral ambitions — overlaps on infectious-disease focus but operates at much greater scale and portfolio breadth.
• Merck & Co. Ridgeback's commercialization partner for Lagevrio and a broader infectious-disease incumbent (HIV franchise) — comparable antiviral capabilities but at enterprise scale; also a competitor for COVID-19 oral antiviral market share.
• Pfizer: Competitor in the COVID-19 oral antiviral space with Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir), which has dominated market share against Lagevrio; relevant comparator for understanding demand dynamics for Ridgeback's flagship Lagevrio asset.

Emerging players

• Atea Pharmaceuticals: Oral antiviral developer (AT-527) that pursued COVID-19 treatment indications in direct competition with Lagevrio; comparable emerging infectious-disease oral antiviral profile and similar small-cap biotech stage.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WayneRidgeback
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ridgeback-biotherapeutics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Ridgeback Biotherapeutics