Worcester HIV Vaccine
Worcester HIV Vaccine is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing PDPHV, a polyvalent DNA-prime/protein-boost preventive HIV vaccine targeting all four major circulating HIV-1 subtypes, for eventual supply to global health organizations and at-risk adult populations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersWorcester, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Worcester HIV Vaccine firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Worcester HIV Vaccine
- Legal name
- Worcester HIV Vaccine
- Website
- https://whvaccine.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Worcester HIV Vaccine is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing PDPHV, a polyvalent DNA-prime/protein-boost preventive HIV vaccine targeting all four major circulating HIV-1 subtypes, for eventual supply to global health organizations and at-risk adult populations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Worcester HIV Vaccine industry classification
Industry- Product category
- HIV Vaccines
- NAICS
- Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)
- 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), Adult Vaccines (HLAIAEAB)
Keywords
Where Worcester HIV Vaccine is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Worcester
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Worcester HIV Vaccine business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Vaccine Development Pipeline: Pre-revenue clinical stage biotech company. Revenue generation will come from eventual vaccine sales, likely through government and global health organization procurement upon regulatory approval.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Worcester HIV Vaccine product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Worcester HIV Vaccine is developing PDPHV (Polyvalent DNA/Protein HIV Vaccine), a preventive HIV vaccine candidate that combines five DNA plasmids encoding HIV Env antigens from clades A, B, C, and AE plus gag C with four matched recombinant gp120 proteins adjuvanted with GLA-SE. The vaccine uses a heterologous DNA-prime/protein-boost regimen designed to elicit broad cross-clade immune responses and is being advanced through Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials.
Product overview
Worcester HIV Vaccine is a biotechnology company developing PDPHV (Polyvalent DNA/Protein HIV Vaccine), a preventive HIV vaccine candidate. PDPHV is a heterologous vaccine combining five DNA plasmids encoding HIV Env antigens from clades A, B, C, AE and gag C, with four matched recombinant gp120 proteins adjuvanted with GLA-SE. This multivalent approach targets all four major circulating HIV-1 subtypes. The company has progressed PDPHV through multiple phase 1 clinical trials: DP6-001 (first-generation), HVTN 124 (second-generation, multi-center Phase 1a), and WHV138 (company-sponsored Phase 1b). WHV was founded in 2018 and licensed the vaccine technology from the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- PDPHV (Polyvalent DNA/Protein HIV Vaccine) A heterologous DNA-prime/protein-boost HIV vaccine candidate composed of five DNA plasmids encoding HIV Env antigens (clades A, B, C, AE) and gag C, combined with four matched recombinant gp120 proteins adjuvanted with GLA-SE. It is the first and only vaccine formulation targeting all four major circulating HIV-1 subtypes to advance to human clinical trials, intended for global preventive deployment against HIV once approved.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% IgG binding antibody response rate to gp70 V1V2 in HVTN124 prime-boost group
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Worcester HIV Vaccine
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Worcester HIV Vaccine technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Worcester HIV Vaccine partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolcoreOriginal source of WHV's vaccine technology. Dr. Shan Lu's Laboratory of Nucleic Acid Vaccines developed the PDPHV vaccine candidate. WHV licensed the IP from UMMS in February 2018. Ongoing collaboration for preclinical studies and immune response analyses.
- Waisman BiomanufacturingcoreContract manufacturing organization (CMO) responsible for GMP production of WHV's DNA and protein vaccine components. Developed proprietary technology for improved plasmid DNA manufacturing with higher yields and purity. Manufactured the 4-valent gp120 protein vaccine and new DNA vaccine lots for Phase 2a.
- HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN)coreNIH-funded network that conducted the Phase 1a HVTN124 trial testing PDPHV at six US clinical sites. HVTN manages clinical operations, safety monitoring, and immunogenicity testing for WHV's vaccine candidate.
- Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI)coreDeveloped and manufactured the GLA-SE adjuvant used in WHV's vaccine formulation. The adjuvant enhances immune responses to the protein component. GLA-SE has demonstrated safety in thousands of humans.
- Target Health, LLCmajorContract research organization (CRO) with regulatory expertise that assists WHV in preparing and filing IND applications with the US FDA. Provides monitoring services for clinical trials.
- Brigham and Women's HospitalmajorTeaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA. Principal Investigator Dr. Stephen Walsh leads the WHV138 Phase 1b trial at this site. Highly experienced clinical team conducts the single-site study.
- International AIDS Society (IAS)majorWHV joined the IAS Corporate Partnership Program as a Bronze member. This multi-stakeholder group aims to support industry contribution to HIV vaccine R&D by addressing barriers to engagement and fostering collaboration.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Worcester HIV Vaccine competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Merck & Co. Major vaccine manufacturer that previously ran HIV vaccine programs and has deep relationships with NIH and global health buyers. Comparable as a potential large-pharma partner or acquirer of a successful HIV vaccine asset.
- Sanofi: Global vaccine manufacturer with a history of HIV vaccine candidates and broad global-health distribution capability. Comparable as a potential large-pharma acquirer or partner for late-stage PDPHV commercialization.
- GSK: Co-developer of the RV144 regimen, the only HIV vaccine to ever demonstrate modest efficacy. Comparable as a long-standing HIV vaccine participant and a natural strategic partner for any successor vaccine.
- Moderna: Large mRNA platform company running an active HIV vaccine program (mRNA-1644 and mRNA-1574) with IAVI and others. Competes in the HIV vaccine space from a far larger capital and infrastructure base, representing the most credible platform competition to WHV's DNA/protein approach.
- Johnson & Johnson (Janssen): Sponsor of the HVTN 705/Imbokodo and HVTN 706/Mosaico HIV vaccine efficacy trials. Although the program was discontinued, Janssen remains a benchmark comparable on clinical-trial execution scale, regulatory experience, and big-pharma HIV vaccine strategy.
Others
- Mapp Biopharmaceutical: Biotech developing monoclonal antibodies and immunotherapies for infectious diseases including HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies. Comparable as a small, science-driven infectious disease biotech overlapping with WHV's HIV prevention mission.
- IAVI: Global nonprofit product development partnership focused on HIV vaccine R&D and a collaborator on Moderna's mRNA-1644 program. Comparable as an ecosystem participant that funds, partners with, and shapes HIV vaccine development, and a potential partner for WHV's late-stage development.
Emerging players
- VIR Biotechnology: Clinical-stage immunology company developing infectious disease vaccines and antibody therapies, including work relevant to HIV. Comparable as a similarly sized emerging biotech pursuing innovative vaccine platforms against infectious diseases.
Direct peers
- GeoVax Labs: Clinical-stage biotechnology company developing preventive and therapeutic HIV vaccines using novel vaccine platforms. Most directly comparable to WHV as another small, HIV-vaccine-focused, pre-commercial biotech pursuing similar regulatory and global-health pathways.
- Aelix Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing therapeutic HIV vaccines (e.g., HTI immunogen) with a similar small-team, pre-revenue, clinical-stage profile to WHV. Comparable as a peer in the HIV vaccine clinical pipeline, particularly on the therapeutic side.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Worcester HIV Vaccine social profiles
Digital presenceWorcester HIV Vaccine financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Worcester HIV Vaccine leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Worcester HIV Vaccine funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Worcester HIV Vaccine 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 Worcester HIV Vaccine
What does Worcester HIV Vaccine do?
Worcester HIV Vaccine is developing PDPHV (Polyvalent DNA/Protein HIV Vaccine), a preventive HIV vaccine candidate that combines five DNA plasmids encoding HIV Env antigens from clades A, B, C, and AE plus gag C with four matched recombinant gp120 proteins adjuvanted with GLA-SE. The vaccine uses a heterologous DNA-prime/protein-boost regimen designed to elicit broad cross-clade immune responses and is being advanced through Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials.
Is Worcester HIV Vaccine a public or private company?
Worcester HIV Vaccine is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Worcester HIV Vaccine founded?
Worcester HIV Vaccine was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Worcester HIV Vaccine based?
Worcester HIV Vaccine is headquartered in Worcester, United States, in the North America region.
How does Worcester HIV Vaccine make money?
One revenue line is on record: vaccine Development Pipeline.
Who are Worcester HIV Vaccine's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Merck & Co., Sanofi, GSK, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson (Janssen). Others are Mapp Biopharmaceutical and IAVI. VIR Biotechnology is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are GeoVax Labs and Aelix Therapeutics.
Does Worcester HIV Vaccine have an API?
No public API is recorded for Worcester HIV Vaccine.
What industry is Worcester HIV Vaccine in?
Worcester HIV Vaccine's product category is HIV Vaccines. 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 5417 and its SIC code is 2836.