NovAb

What NovAb does

NovAb (NoVab Inc.) is a privately-held biotechnology company founded in 2013 and headquartered in Tucker, Georgia that commercializes a novel class of monoclonal antibodies called Variable Lymphocyte Receptors (VLRs), derived from the adaptive immune system of jawless vertebrates (lamprey and hagfish). Discovered by scientific founder Max D. Cooper of Emory University, VLRs differ fundamentally from conventional immunoglobulins: their antigen-binding site is a rigid beta-sheet contained within a single polypeptide, evolved over 500 million years separate from the mammalian immune system. This structure enables access to specificities that conventional Ig antibodies cannot reach, including binding and discrimination of closely related glycans, and supports engineered formats such as bispecific VLRs, highly multivalent VLR antibody polymers, and VLR-Ig chimeras that pair VLR antigen recognition with the effector functions of conventional antibodies.

The company's product portfolio centers on VLR Antibodies as a core platform, complemented by VLR-Ig Chimeras for therapeutic applications, VLR Diagnostic Reagents (including polymer designs for high-sensitivity detection of SARS-CoV-2 Spike and similar multivalent targets), VLR Research Reagents for glycan-binding studies, and a Multimeric Ligand Technology scaffold that displays typically more than six ligand copies for receptor identification, cell targeting, and tissue-specific delivery of modifying agents. NovAb also draws on a deep advisory bench that includes Jeffrey V. Ravetch (Rockefeller) and James C. Paulson (Scripps, founding director of the NIH-funded Consortium for Functional Glycomics).

NovAb currently monetizes through a technology licensing and partnership model, offering nonexclusive, exclusive, co-exclusive, and time-limited exclusive licenses around the full VLR antibody discovery workflow (immunogen preparation, lamprey immunization, yeast-display library preparation, library selections, VLR sequence determination, and expression as VLR-IgG Fc fusion proteins), alongside plans to commercialize catalog research reagents and diagnostic reagents to the biomedical research community. The company is pre-commercial, with products listed as 'Coming Soon' on its website and 1–10 employees.

Name

NovAb

Legal name

NoVab Inc.

Website

https://novabinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NovAb is a privately-held biotechnology company that develops Variable Lymphocyte Receptor (VLR) antibodies from jawless vertebrates, serving pharmaceutical, biomedical research, and diagnostic markets with therapeutic, diagnostic, and research reagent applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biotechnology / Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

Antibody Discovery & Engineering Platforms (display tech, bispecifics, Fc engineering) (HLAAAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Monoclonal Antibody Therapeutics (mAbs) (HLAAAAAA), Bispecific & Multispecific Antibodies (HLAAAAAF)

Keywords

• Monoclonal antibodies
• VLR antibody technology
• Glycan binding reagents
• Multimeric ligand scaffolds
• Antibody therapeutics licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

Tucker

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Technology Licensing: Licensing of VLR antibody technology to pharmaceutical and biotech partners for therapeutic development. Licenses may be nonexclusive, exclusive, co-exclusive, or limited time exclusive (exclusive for 1-3 years then nonexclusive).
2. Research Reagents: Sale of VLR antibody research reagents to biomedical research community for glycan analysis and other applications.
3. Diagnostic Reagents: Development and potential commercialization of VLR polymer reagents for detecting infectious agents and aberrant cells (tumors) as diagnostic reagents.
4. Multimeric Ligand Technology Partnerships: Collaborative partnerships utilizing NovAb's multimeric ligand technology with partner ligands to construct compositions supporting partner R&D activities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

NovAb develops a new class of monoclonal antibodies called Variable Lymphocyte Receptors (VLRs) derived from jawless vertebrates (lamprey and hagfish), featuring a rigid β-sheet binding site contained within a single polypeptide. The company offers VLR antibodies, VLR-Ig chimeras, multivalent VLR antibody polymers, glycan-binding VLR reagents, and a multimeric ligand scaffold technology. Products are positioned as research reagents, diagnostic reagents, and therapeutic candidates, with the company operating primarily through technology licensing and collaborative discovery partnerships.

Product overview

NovAb offers a portfolio of products centered on Variable Lymphocyte Receptor (VLR) antibody technology, a new class of monoclonal antibodies derived from jawless vertebrates. The core product line includes VLR Antibodies themselves, which serve as the foundational platform, alongside VLR-Ig Chimeras for therapeutic applications and VLR Antibody Diagnostic and Research Reagents for detection and study purposes. The Multimeric Ligand Technology platform complements these offerings by enabling targeted delivery and cell-specific targeting. Together, these products provide access to novel targets (including glycans) and novel diagnostic/therapeutic functions not achievable with conventional Ig antibodies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VLR (Variable Lymphocyte Receptor) Monoclonal Antibodies A new class of monoclonal antibodies derived from jawless vertebrates (lamprey and hagfish), featuring a rigid β-sheet binding site contained within a single polypeptide. Provides access to targets distinct from conventional Ig antibodies, including the ability to bind glycans and discriminate closely related glycan structures. Used by biomedical researchers and licensed to pharma/biotech for therapeutic and diagnostic development.
• VLR-Ig Chimeras Therapeutic VLR antibodies engineered by genetically replacing the antigen recognition domains of Ig antibodies with VLRs, linking the effector functions of Ig antibodies with novel VLR antigen recognition specificities. Produced using manufacturing processes compatible with conventional Ig monoclonal antibody therapies. Targeted at pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies developing therapeutic antibodies for infectious diseases, oncology, and inflammatory conditions.
• VLR Antibody Diagnostic Reagents VLR antibody polymer reagents designed for high-sensitivity detection of multivalent targets on cell and viral surfaces, including infectious agents (e.g., SARS-CoV-2) and aberrant cells such as tumors. Targeted at diagnostic companies developing tests for infectious diseases and cancer detection.
• VLR Antibody Research Reagents Highly specific reagents that bind and discriminate glycans, addressing an unmet need in the biomedical research community for studying glycans on cell surfaces that mediate cell migration, signaling, pathogen interactions, and immune regulation. Targeted at academic and commercial biomedical research laboratories.
• Multimeric Ligand Technology A scaffold-based technology displaying multiple copies of ligand molecules (typically >6 per scaffold) where ligands may be identical or distinct and each remains available for receptor binding without impeding others. Enables receptor identification and isolation, cell targeting, tissue-specific delivery of modifying agents (therapeutics, genes, gene-modifying agents), and antigen delivery to immune cells for immunity or tolerance. Used through collaborative partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotechnology R&D teams.

Quantifiable outcome

• VLR antibodies demonstrated binding to over 600 distinct glycan compositions in Consortium for Functional Glycomics glycan array
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Janux Therapeutics: Janux is developing T-cell engager (TCE) antibodies using a proprietary tumor-activated technology platform, with bispecific formats. Partial overlap with NovAb's bispecific VLR technology in pursuing bispecific antibody therapeutics.
• Neoleukin Therapeutics: Neoleukin (acquired by AstraZeneca-related successor entities) develops de novo designed protein scaffolds for therapeutic applications. Comparable as an early-stage company pursuing non-Ig protein scaffolds with engineered binding and signaling functions.

Direct peers

• AbCellera Biologics: AbCellera runs a proprietary antibody discovery platform partnering with biopharma to identify novel mAbs, with a strong focus on leveraging single-cell screening and computational biology. Comparable as a technology-platform biotech monetizing antibody discovery through partnerships.
• Adimab: Adimab operates a yeast-display-based antibody discovery platform that generates novel monoclonal antibodies for partners, with similar library-preparation, selection, and engineering workflows. Both companies monetize proprietary discovery platforms through partnerships and licensing rather than direct product commercialization.
• Molecular Partners: Molecular Partners develops DARPins, alternative non-Ig scaffold proteins with tailored specificities and multispecific formats for therapeutic applications. Like NovAb's VLRs, DARPins are single-polypeptide scaffolds with novel binding surfaces that can be engineered into multispecific constructs — making it a direct alternative-scaffold competitor.
• Compass Therapeutics: Compass Therapeutics develops novel bispecific antibodies and antibody combinations for oncology. Comparable as a clinical-stage biotech developing engineered, multi-specific antibody constructs with novel target specificities.
• Inhibrx: Inhibrx engineers single-domain antibodies and multi-specific protein formats for oncology and orphan disease therapeutics. Both companies focus on novel, non-canonical antibody scaffolds to access targets and formats beyond conventional mAbs.
• BioAtla: BioAtla develops Conditionally Active Biologics (CABs) — engineered antibody formats with novel structures and target specificities, including bispecifics. Comparable to NovAb in engineering novel antibody architectures for therapeutic applications.

Broad incumbents

• MacroGenics: MacroGenics is a clinical-stage biopharma with multiple bispecific antibody programs (e.g., DART and TRIDENT platforms). Comparable as an established player in engineered multispecific antibody therapeutics, though with broader pipeline and resources than NovAb.

Others

• GenScript ProBio: GenScript ProBio offers antibody discovery, engineering, and manufacturing services across multiple platforms including alternative scaffolds. Adjacent comparable as a service provider that enables similar antibody development workflows for biopharma partners.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

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 NovAb