Worcester HIV Vaccine

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

Product category

HIV Vaccines

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAAAEAA

Prophylactic Human Vaccines (routine, pediatric, adult)

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

SECONDARYHLAAAEAD

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

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

SECONDARYHLAIAEAB

Adult Vaccines

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Pharmaceuticals/Vaccines

Keywords

• HIV vaccine development
• DNA prime protein boost
• Preventive vaccine biotechnology
• Vaccine clinical trials
• Multivalent antigen design

Headquarters

HQ city

Worcester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. 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

Core 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

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal 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 BiomanufacturingcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContract 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIH-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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped 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, LLCmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContract 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 HospitalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeaching 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)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHV 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

Broad 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

• Xx.com/vaccine_hiv
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/whvaccine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Worcester HIV Vaccine