International AIDS Vaccine Initiative

What International AIDS Vaccine Initiative does

International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), founded in 1996 and headquartered in New York, is a global nonprofit biomedical research organization that develops vaccines and broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) for HIV, tuberculosis, and emerging infectious diseases — specifically Lassa, Marburg, Sudan, and Bundibugyo viruses. IAVI's core technology platform is a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) vector system licensed nonexclusively from the Public Health Agency of Canada, the same backbone used in Merck's FDA-approved Ervebo Ebola Zaire vaccine. For HIV, IAVI has pioneered a germline targeting strategy — a sequential immunization approach designed to coach naive B cells into producing broadly neutralizing antibodies — validated in the G002 and G003 trials (94% of G003 participants elicited the desired response pathway) and published in Science. IAVI also supports the development of MTBVAC, a single-dose tuberculosis vaccine candidate, through a consortium with Biofabri/Zendal.

The organization operates clinical and epidemiological research infrastructure across the United States, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and India. As of the most recent reporting, IAVI supports 53 biologic candidates through its Product Development Center, of which 25 have advanced to clinical trials, and it maintains a network of 255 partners and roughly 70,000 volunteers enrolled in observational studies. IAVI's go-to-market is grant-funded rather than commercial; it does not sell products but instead advances candidates through preclinical and clinical development and partners with manufacturers and global health agencies to ensure equitable access. Major funders include the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (through the Collaboration for AIDS Vaccine Discovery), the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIAID), the World Health Organization, and various national governments. Governance is exercised through an independent Board of Directors, with leadership including President & CEO Mark Feinberg (MD/PhD) and COO Ana Céspedes (PharmD/MBA).

Name

International AIDS Vaccine Initiative

Legal name

International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Inc.

Website

https://iavi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) is a nonprofit biomedical research organization founded in 1996 that develops vaccines and broadly neutralizing antibodies for HIV, tuberculosis, and emerging infectious diseases (Ebola, Marburg, Sudan, Lassa, Bundibugyo) using the rVSV viral vector platform, serving endemic global health populations across Africa, the U.S., Europe, and India.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vaccine Research & Development

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Immunization & Vaccine Access Partnerships (Global Vaccine Alliances) (HLAJAOAF)

Keywords

• HIV vaccine development
• Tuberculosis vaccine research
• Emerging infectious diseases
• Broadly neutralizing antibodies
• Nonprofit biomedical research

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IAVI is a nonprofit scientific research organization that develops vaccines and broadly neutralizing antibodies targeting HIV, tuberculosis, and emerging infectious diseases including Lassa virus, Marburg virus, Sudan virus, and Bundibugyo virus. Its pipeline is built on a proprietary recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) vector platform licensed from the Public Health Agency of Canada and on germline targeting strategies for HIV bnAb elicitation, supported by the IAVI Product Development Center and global clinical trial infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IAVI C104 (Marburg virus vaccine candidate) Single-dose rVSV-vectored vaccine candidate targeting Marburg virus, designed to address Marburg virus disease which carries case fatality rates up to 88% and currently has no approved vaccines or antivirals. The candidate is being evaluated in healthy adult volunteers for safety and immunogenicity.
• ePGT121v1-LS HIV broadly neutralizing antibody Broadly neutralizing antibody candidate (ePGT121v1-LS) targeting HIV, intended for passive immunization to prevent HIV transmission and being evaluated across multiple delivery routes for safety and pharmacokinetics in adults without HIV.
• BDBV rVSV vaccine candidate (Bundibugyo virus) rVSV-vectored vaccine candidate targeting Bundibugyo virus, a filovirus that causes Ebola disease with case fatality rates of 30–50% and for which no licensed vaccines or specific treatments exist. Designed to provide a single-dose preventive countermeasure prioritized by WHO for the 2026 outbreak response.
• Lassa virus vaccine candidate Single-dose rVSV-vectored Lassa vaccine candidate developed by IAVI to address Lassa fever, an acute viral hemorrhagic illness endemic to West Africa that causes significant annual outbreaks. The candidate became the first Lassa vaccine to enter Phase 2 clinical trials, launched in three West African countries in 2024, building on a Phase 1 trial showing the candidate was well tolerated and immunogenic over a wide dose range.
• MTBVAC tuberculosis vaccine candidate Tuberculosis vaccine candidate developed by Biofabri/Zendal and advanced in partnership with IAVI, intended as a single-shot vaccine to prevent TB disease including in adolescents and adults for whom the century-old BCG vaccine is largely ineffective. Includes the Phase 2b IMAGINE trial and a neonate Phase 3 trial, with Biofabri leading manufacturing and supply preparation for global access.
• IAVI C114 HIV vaccine candidate (GRAdHIVNE1) Gorilla Adenovirus (GRAd) vector-based T-cell-inducing HIV vaccine candidate manufactured by ReiThera, with immunogen designed by the Ragon Institute using novel strategies to identify protective HIV epitopes. Designed as part of IAVI's HIV vaccine pipeline to elicit T-cell responses against HIV.
• Sudan virus (SUDV) vaccine candidate rVSV-vectored vaccine candidate targeting Sudan virus, a filovirus that causes Ebola disease outbreaks with case fatality rates of 41% to 100%. During the January 2025 Uganda outbreak, WHO prioritized IAVI's SUDV candidate for a ring vaccination trial and the first vaccinations were delivered just four days after the outbreak was declared; Merck produced approximately 50,000 doses to supplement the program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% of participants in IAVI G003 trial generated desired immune responses for bnAb development pathway
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of OxfordcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2026Oxford and Serum Institute of India partnered to develop ChAdOx1 BDBV vaccine targeting Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. Oxford provides vaccine research expertise while Serum Institute provides large-scale manufacturing capabilities. CEPI provided $8.6 million initial funding.
• University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Agreement allowing IAVI to develop the rVSV-based Bundibugyo virus vaccine candidate. UTMB's Thomas Geisbert developed the candidate, which has shown protective efficacy in nonhuman primates but hasn't yet been evaluated in humans.
• Biofabri/Zendal GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish biopharmaceutical company that industrially developed and licensed MTBVAC tuberculosis vaccine candidate. IAVI partners with Biofabri for advanced clinical development of MTBVAC, including the Phase 2b IMAGINE trial and Phase 3 neonate trial. Biofabri leads manufacturing and supply preparation for global access.
• Scripps ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term collaboration for HIV vaccine development including germline targeting strategy. William Schief's lab at Scripps leads vaccine design; collaborated on IAVI G002 and G003 clinical trials demonstrating proof-of-concept for sequential immunization strategy to generate broadly neutralizing antibodies.
• ReiTheracoreTechnology or IntegrationItalian biotech company that developed the GRAd (Gorilla Adenovirus) viral vector platform and manufactured the GRAdHIVNE1 vaccine candidate for IAVI C114 clinical trial testing T cell-inducing HIV vaccine approach.
• Ragon InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for HIV vaccine development. The Ragon Institute designed the immunogen using novel strategies to identify protective HIV epitopes and facilitate their targeting by T cells for the IAVI C114 trial.
• ModernaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for mRNA vaccine development. Moderna partnered with CEPI for Ebola Bundibugyo mRNA vaccine candidate and provided mRNA vaccines for IAVI G002 and G003 HIV vaccine trials using mRNA-based vaccine platform.
• Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)coreTechnology or IntegrationIAVI holds a nonexclusive license to the rVSV vaccine candidates from PHAC. The vector was developed by scientists at PHAC's National Microbiology Laboratory and underlies ERVEBO and IAVI's portfolio of emerging infectious disease vaccine candidates.
• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHO has identified IAVI's rVSV Bundibugyo vaccine candidate as the most promising option in the pipeline and prioritized it for evaluation in clinical trials. WHO also coordinated outbreak response during Sudan virus outbreak in Uganda.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sabin Vaccine Institute: Nonprofit vaccine R&D organization that develops vaccines for neglected and emerging infectious diseases and leads global immunization advocacy. Directly comparable to IAVI in mission, funding model (grants/foundations), and focus on diseases without commercial market incentive.
• International Vaccine Institute (IVI): International nonprofit headquartered in Seoul dedicated to developing and introducing affordable vaccines for developing countries. Closely mirrors IAVI's mission, partnership-driven product development model, and donor/grant funding structure.
• PATH: Global nonprofit that advances health equity through vaccine development, introduction, and delivery. Directly comparable nonprofit biomedical R&D scale and grant-funded operating model, with overlapping portfolios in HIV, TB, and emerging infectious disease vaccines.
• Hilleman Laboratories: Singapore-based nonprofit focused on developing affordable vaccines and biologics for low- and middle-income countries. Comparable mission and operational scale, with similar vaccine development and manufacturing-access focus.
• Medicines Development for Global Health: Nonprofit biopharmaceutical company developing medicines for neglected diseases affecting low-income countries. Comparable as a small-scale, globally focused, donor-funded product development organization in the global health space.

Broad incumbents

• Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI): Global partnership that accelerates development of vaccines against epidemic threats. While CEPI is also a major IAVI funder ($3.2M to IAVI for BDBV; $60M+ across Bundibugyo candidates), it operates as a broader convener/funder across many developers including IAVI.
• NIAID Vaccine Research Center (VRC): U.S. government intramural research program for vaccine development, including HIV, Ebola, and emerging infectious disease vaccines. Functions as both a major IAVI funder (NIAID) and a peer in HIV bnAb research and vaccine discovery.

Emerging players

• Jenner Institute (University of Oxford): University-based vaccine R&D program specializing in viral vector vaccines. Partners with IAVI on Oxford's ChAdOx1 BDBV program; comparable in technology platform scope and global health target indications.
• ReiThera: Italian biotech that developed the GRAd gorilla adenovirus platform and manufactured IAVI's GRAdHIVNE1 HIV vaccine candidate. Comparable as a viral vector platform developer with nonprofit R&D collaboration model.

Others

• Biofabri / Zendal Group: Spanish biopharma developing and manufacturing the MTBVAC TB vaccine candidate with IAVI. Functions as an industry partner on the IMAGINE trial while representing a different operating model (for-profit manufacturer rather than nonprofit R&D organization).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/IAVIVideos
• Facebookfacebook.com/aidsvaccine
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/23976
• Instagraminstagram.com/iaviorg
• Xx.com/iavi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International AIDS Vaccine Initiative