KaliVir Immunotherapeutics

What KaliVir Immunotherapeutics does

KaliVir Immunotherapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2019 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, developing next-generation oncolytic viral immunotherapies for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. The company's core technology is the proprietary VET™ (Vaccinia Enhanced Template) backbone, a modified vaccinia virus platform incorporating multiple proprietary genetic modifications to enable systemic (IV) delivery and expression of therapeutic transgenes in tumors. A distinguishing feature of the platform is the use of B cells as IV delivery vehicles — chemokine receptor-expressing vaccinia virus infects circulating B cells, which traffic toward tumors expressing matching chemokines while protecting the virus from neutralizing antibodies. The pipeline is led by VET3-TGI, a candidate combining TGF-β inhibition with IL-12 expression to overcome tumor immunosuppression, currently in Phase 1/1b trials (STEALTH-001) for incurable, advanced solid tumors. A second clinical program, ASP1012, received FDA IND clearance in October 2023 for Phase I evaluation in locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors. Targeted indications include hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), renal cell carcinoma (RCC), colorectal cancer (CRC), and other advanced solid tumors in patients who have failed checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

The company's business model is enterprise B2B licensing rather than direct product commercialization. KaliVir monetizes its platform through strategic licensing agreements that grant pharmaceutical partners exclusive rights to develop and commercialize VET™-derived product candidates in exchange for upfront payments, development and regulatory milestone payments, and royalties on future sales. Two anchor partnerships anchor the revenue base: a worldwide exclusive license with Astellas Pharma (December 2020) for VET2-L2, and a global exclusive license with Roche (May 2022) for novel oncolytic viruses. A November 2025 clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with Roche extends the relationship to combination evaluation of VET3-TGI with atezolizumab (Tecentriq). The company is funded through a March 2022 Series A round led by Premier Partners LLC with participation from Korean VCs (Company K Partners, Quad Investment Management); the round amount was not disclosed. As a pre-commercial entity, KaliVir sells nothing directly to patients or providers and relies entirely on pharma partners for downstream development and commercialization.

Name

KaliVir Immunotherapeutics

Legal name

KaliVir Immunotherapeutics, Inc.

Website

https://kalivir.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Oncolytic Virus Immunotherapy

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)

SIC

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAAACAF

Oncology Gene Therapies (incl. oncolytic vectors & gene-modified approaches)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Biotechnology & Biologics/Gene Therapy (AAV/lentiviral/other vectors)

SECONDARYHLAAAEAD

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

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Biotechnology & Biologics/Vaccines & Immunization Biologics

SECONDARYHLAIAEAG

Therapeutic Vaccines (e.g., Cancer/Chronic Infection)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Pharmaceuticals/Vaccines

SECONDARYHLAAAEAB

Therapeutic Vaccines (cancer, chronic infection immunotherapy)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Biotechnology & Biologics/Vaccines & Immunization Biologics

Keywords

• Oncolytic virus immunotherapy
• Cancer immunotherapy platform
• Systemic oncolytic delivery
• Vaccinia virus therapeutics
• Immuno-oncology biologics

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

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, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Licensing and Partnership Revenue: KaliVir generates revenue through strategic licensing agreements and co-development partnerships with pharmaceutical companies. The company grants exclusive rights to its VET™ technology platform and product candidates in exchange for upfront payments, milestone payments, and royalties on future sales.
2. Milestone Payments: Revenue from development and regulatory milestones achieved during clinical development of licensed product candidates. This includes IND clearances, clinical trial phase completions, and regulatory approvals.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KaliVir Immunotherapeutics develops systemically deliverable oncolytic viral immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, built on its proprietary Vaccinia Enhanced Template (VET™) platform. The platform engineers vaccinia viruses to use B cells as intravenous delivery vehicles, enabling systemic administration that protects the virus from neutralizing antibodies while targeting metastatic tumors. Lead clinical-stage product candidates include VET3-TGI (combining TGF-β inhibition with IL-12 expression) and ASP1012, both advancing in Phase 1 clinical trials for advanced solid tumors.

Product overview

KaliVir Immunotherapeutics is developing a pipeline of next-generation oncolytic viral immunotherapies for cancer treatment based on its proprietary VET (Vaccinia Enhanced Template) platform. The company's lead product candidate is VET3-TGI, which combines TGF-beta inhibition and IL-12 expression for enhanced anti-tumor immunity. Additional pipeline products include ASP1012, another systemic oncolytic virus in clinical development. The VET platform serves as the foundational technology enabling systemic delivery of oncolytic vaccinia viruses to tumors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• VET3-TGI demonstrates potent therapeutic activity in multiple preclinical tumor models, blocking TGF-beta signaling and activating type-2 IFN responses
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

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

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• RochecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2025Clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement to evaluate VET3-TGI in combination with atezolizumab (Tecentriq®) in advanced solid tumors. This represents a significant validation of the VET3-TGI product candidate and enables combination therapy development with a leading checkpoint inhibitor.
• RochecoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 23 May 2022Global exclusive licensing agreement for novel oncolytic viruses. This partnership grants Roche rights to develop and commercialize certain oncolytic viral therapies derived from KaliVir's technology platform.
• Astellas PharmacoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 7 December 2020Worldwide exclusive licensing agreement for development and commercialization of VET2-L2 novel oncolytic virus. KaliVir granted Astellas rights to develop and commercialize this specific product candidate globally.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• PsiOxus Therapeutics: Clinical-stage oncolytic virus company developing enadenotucirev (T-SIGn platform) and NG-350A armed with anti-CD40 antibodies. Direct peer developing transgene-armed OV immunotherapies for solid tumors.
• Vyriad: Clinical-stage oncolytic vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) company with systemic IV-delivered OV programs (Voyager-V1) for solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Direct peer competing on systemic OV delivery.
• Oncorus: Clinical-stage developer of oncolytic virus immunotherapies using both intratumoral (ONCR-177) and IV-delivered (ONCR-719) platforms based on HSV and synthetic virotherapy approaches—a direct competitor in the systemic OV delivery space.
• Replimune: Clinical-stage oncolytic virus company developing RP1, RP2, and RP3 (HSV-based platform) for solid tumors with checkpoint inhibitor combinations. Most directly comparable next-generation OV peer, though Replimune's viruses are delivered intratumorally versus KaliVir's systemic approach.
• Genelux Corporation: Clinical-stage oncolytic virus company developing GL-ONC1 (Olvi-Vec) and next-generation vaccinia-based immunotherapies. Competes with KaliVir in vaccinia-vectored OV immunotherapy for solid tumors.
• Turnstone Biologics: Clinical-stage oncolytic virus company developing a maraba virus prime-boost platform (now evolving toward tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy). KaliVir's CMO James Burke led initial Phase 1–2 development of Turnstone's maraba program, and CDO Pelusio was SVP of Clinical Operations there.
• SillaJen (Jennerex): Developed Pexa-Vec (pexastimogene devacirepvec), the most clinically advanced vaccinia-based oncolytic virus, including a Phase 3 HCC program. KaliVir's founders, CSO, CMO, CRO, and CDO all previously held senior roles at Jennerex/SillaJen, and VET uses a vaccinia backbone—a direct lineage peer.
• DNAtrix: Clinical-stage developer of oncolytic adenoviruses (DNX-2401, DNX-2440) for brain tumors and other solid tumors. Direct peer in the OV immunotherapy category with differentiated viral platform.
• Targovax: Clinical-stage developer of ONCOS-102, an oncolytic adenovirus for mesothelioma and other solid tumors. Direct peer in transgene-armed OV immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitor combinations.

Broad incumbents

• CG Oncology: Late-stage oncology company focused on cretostimogene (oncolytic adenovirus) for NMIBC. KaliVir's CRO Ursula Fritsch was previously CRO at CG Oncology, making it a peer in the broader oncolytic immunotherapy category.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kalivir_immuno
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kalivir-immunotherapeutics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors7 records

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 KaliVir Immunotherapeutics