POP Biotechnologies
POP Biotechnologies is a privately held Buffalo, NY biotech that develops the SNAP nanoliposome vaccine platform, licensing it to pharmaceutical partners (primarily EuBiologics) for clinical development and commercialization across infectious disease, oncology, and neurodegenerative indications.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersBuffalo, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What POP Biotechnologies does
POP Biotechnologies (POP BIO) is a privately held biotechnology company founded in 2016 in Buffalo, New York, that develops proprietary nanomedicine platforms based on porphyrin-phospholipid (PoP) liposome technology exclusively licensed from the State University of New York Research Foundation. Its flagship SNAP (Spontaneous Nanoliposome Antigen Particleization) platform uses cobalt-modified PoP liposomes (CoPoP) to enable stable, rapid display of protein and peptide antigens on nanoparticles, producing vaccine candidates in minutes rather than months while achieving antigen sparing to under $0.04 per human dose. The clinical pipeline includes EuCorVac-19 (COVID-19, Phase 3 primary endpoint met with EuBiologics), EuRSV (RSV, Phase 1) and EuHZV (shingles, Phase 1), with preclinical candidates in seasonal influenza (SNAP-Flu), Alzheimer's disease (PADIVAX), melanoma immunotherapy, and light-activated chemophototherapy (PhotoDOX for solid tumors).
POP BIO operates a partnership-led go-to-market model rather than direct commercialization. Revenue is generated through technology licensing, milestone payments, and royalties via the EuPOP Life Sciences joint venture with South Korea-based EuBiologics, which handles antigen production, manufacturing scale-up at 1000L bioreactors, and global commercialization of vaccine candidates. The company supplements partner-funded programs with substantial non-dilutive funding from US federal agencies (NIH, NCI, NIAID, NIA) and CEPI, totaling roughly $18.5M across multiple Phase II STTR and SBIR grants plus a $9.7M CEPI award for H5N1 avian influenza and Disease X preparedness. Customers and end users are pharmaceutical companies, government agencies (CEPI, NIH), and ultimately public health systems and patients receiving vaccines for infectious disease, oncology, and neurodegenerative indications.
The company serves infectious disease prevention (COVID-19, RSV, shingles, influenza, H5N1, SFTS, Disease X), oncology and immuno-oncology (melanoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer via PhotoDOX chemophototherapy and cancer vaccines), and neurodegenerative disease (Alzheimer's mosaic immunotherapy). Revenue mechanics rely on a single dominant licensee (EuBiologics) and grant funding; no venture equity rounds are disclosed in source materials, and products have not yet generated commercial sales.
POP Biotechnologies firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- POP Biotechnologies
- Legal name
- POP Biotechnologies, Inc.
- Website
- https://pop.bio
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- POP Biotechnologies is a privately held Buffalo, NY biotech that develops the SNAP nanoliposome vaccine platform, licensing it to pharmaceutical partners (primarily EuBiologics) for clinical development and commercialization across infectious disease, oncology, and neurodegenerative indications.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
POP Biotechnologies industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biopharmaceuticals
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pandemic Preparedness & Rapid-Response Vaccines (HLAIAEAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Personalized Therapeutic Design (neoantigen vaccines, individualized cell/gene therapies) (HLAAANAK)
Keywords
Where POP Biotechnologies is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Buffalo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
POP Biotechnologies business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Technology Licensing: POP BIO licenses its proprietary PoP and SNAP technology platforms to pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners. Revenue is generated through licensing fees, development milestones, and royalties on commercialized products.
- Government Grants and Funding: The company receives significant non-dilutive funding from government agencies including NIH, CEPI, and other federal funding programs to support platform development and clinical programs.
- Co-development and Joint Ventures: Strategic partnerships and joint ventures such as EuPOP Life Sciences for co-development and commercialization of pipeline products.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
POP Biotechnologies product offering
Product offeringCore offering
POP Biotechnologies develops proprietary porphyrin-phospholipid (PoP) liposome-based nanomedicine platforms, centered on the SNAP (Spontaneous Nanoliposome Antigen Particleization) vaccine platform that uses cobalt-modified CoPoP liposomes to rapidly display antigens. The company licenses this platform to pharmaceutical partners (notably EuBiologics) for co-development and commercialization of vaccines (COVID-19, RSV, shingles, influenza, H5N1, Alzheimer's) and develops the PhotoDOX light-activated chemotherapy product for solid tumors.
Product overview
POP Biotechnologies develops proprietary nanomedicine platforms centered on its porphyrin-phospholipid (PoP) liposome technology and the SNAP™ (Spontaneous Nanoliposome Antigen Particleization) platform. The SNAP platform enables rapid development of highly immunogenic particle-based vaccines by using cobalt-modified CoPoP liposomes that stably bind and display protein and peptide antigens. The product portfolio includes vaccine products in clinical development: EuCorVac-19 (COVID-19, Phase 3 completed with EuBiologics), EuRSV (RSV, Phase 1), and EuHZV (shingles, Phase 1), along with pipeline candidates including SNAP-Flu (influenza), PADIVAX™ (Alzheimer's disease), and SNAP H5N1 (avian influenza). The PhotoDOX™ chemo-phototherapy product addresses solid tumor cancer treatment using light-activated drug delivery. The company operates through its EuPOP Life Sciences joint venture with EuBiologics for global vaccine commercialization.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SNAP™ (Spontaneous Nanoliposome Antigen Particleization): Core platform technology enabling rapid development of highly immunogenic particle-based vaccines and immunotherapies using cobalt-modified porphyrin-phospholipid liposomes (CoPoP).
- PhotoDOX™
- EuCorVac-19
- EuRSV
- EuHZV
- PADIVAX™
- SNAPflu
Products and services
- SNAP (Spontaneous Nanoliposome Antigen Particleization) Platform Proprietary platform technology enabling rapid development of highly immunogenic particle-based vaccines and immunotherapies through cobalt-modified porphyrin-phospholipid liposomes (CoPoP) that stably and spontaneously display protein and peptide antigens via His-tag membrane anchoring. Licensed to pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners for vaccine and immunotherapy development.
- PoP (Porphyrin-Phospholipid) Liposome Technology
Quantifiable outcome
- SNAP generates vaccine candidates in minutes vs. months for typical competitors
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use POP Biotechnologies
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
POP Biotechnologies technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
POP Biotechnologies partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, flagship and core.
- FunPep Co., Ltd.supportingJapanese partner for antibody-inducing peptide therapy collaboration. FunPep's peptides combined with SNAP platform for enhanced therapeutic antibody production. Advancing to advanced preclinical testing for undisclosed chronic disease indication.
- Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer CentersupportingNIH-funded collaboration for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment using PhotoDox (I-CPT). Gal Shafirstein's group at Roswell Park collaborates on interstitial chemo-phototherapy development. Part of $2M NIH-NCI Phase II STTR.
- EuBiologics Co., Ltd.flagshipSouth Korean pharmaceutical partner co-developing multiple vaccines using POP BIO's SNAP technology. Partnership on EuCorVac-19 (COVID-19, Phase 3 completed), RSV vaccine (Phase 1), shingles vaccine (Phase 1). EuBiologics provides antigen production, EcML adjuvant, and manufacturing scale-up with capacity for hundreds of millions of doses.
- EuPOP Life SciencesflagshipJoint venture between POP BIO and EuBiologics based in Buffalo, NY for global commercialization of vaccines using POP BIO's SNAP platform and EuBiologics' EcML adjuvant technology. Advancing RSV, shingles, and Alzheimer's disease vaccines toward clinical trials.
- University at BuffalocorePOP BIO operates from SUNY Buffalo incubator at Baird Research Park. Co-founder Dr. Jonathan Lovell developed the PoP technology at University at Buffalo. Ongoing research collaborations for vaccine development.
- SUNY Upstate Medical UniversitysupportingInternational research team collaboration for SNAP platform development against Disease X threats.
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases (Japan)supportingInternational research team collaboration as part of CEPI-funded SNAP platform project for SFTS and Disease X preparedness.
- New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental DisabilitiessupportingCollaboration on Alzheimer's immunotherapy with Dr. Chunling Dai as co-investigator. Part of $2.46M NIH Phase II STTR grant for mosaic SNAP active immunotherapy development.
- University of Puerto RicosupportingCollaboration on Alzheimer's immunotherapy research as part of NIH-funded mosaic SNAP vaccine program.
- Janssen Vaccines (Johnson & Johnson)supportingCollaboration resulted in HIV-1 vaccine candidate research published in Nature Communications. SNAP platform used with HIV-1 Env trimers to generate cross-clade neutralizing antibody immunity.
- NCI Nanotechnology Characterization LaboratorysupportingPOP BIO's cancer vaccine concept accepted into NCL's Assay Cascade characterization program for rigorous evaluation including sterility, endotoxin testing, physicochemical characterization, and in vivo studies to promote clinical translation.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
POP Biotechnologies competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- GSK Vaccines: GSK's vaccines business is a global leader with established franchises in shingles (Shingrix), HPV, and influenza. Directly relevant as the dominant commercial competitor in the shingles vaccine category where POP BIO's EuHZV is in Phase 1.
- Sanofi Pasteur: Sanofi Pasteur is one of the world's largest vaccine manufacturers with a portfolio spanning influenza, pediatric, and travel vaccines. Represents the established incumbent in the vaccine market that POP BIO's partnered programs ultimately compete against for share.
- BioNTech: BioNTech pioneered mRNA vaccine technology and partnered with Pfizer for the Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine. Its platform addresses infectious disease and oncology, directly overlapping with POP BIO's target therapeutic areas and partnership-driven GTM model.
- Moderna: Moderna is the leading mRNA vaccine platform company, with an established commercial COVID-19 vaccine franchise and pipeline spanning infectious disease, oncology, and rare disease. It represents the dominant competitive force in rapid-response vaccine development that POP BIO's SNAP platform must differentiate against.
Direct peers
- Soligenix: Soligenix is a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company developing vaccines and therapeutics for infectious disease and rare conditions. Comparable as a small, clinical-stage vaccine biotech pursuing partnered development of platform-derived products.
- Dynavax Technologies: Dynavax specializes in vaccine adjuvants (CpG 1018) and commercializes hepatitis B and COVID-19 vaccines. Comparable as a vaccine platform company whose adjuvant technology (similar to EuBiologics' EcML used with SNAP) is central to its partnership-based business model.
- VBI Vaccines: VBI Vaccines is a clinical-stage vaccine platform company developing enveloped virus-like particle (eVLP) vaccines for infectious disease and immuno-oncology. Comparable as a small-cap, platform-licensed vaccine developer pursuing partnership-driven commercialization.
- Gritstone bio: Gritstone bio develops neoantigen-based cancer vaccines and infectious disease vaccines using a self-amplifying mRNA platform combined with adenoviral vectors. Comparable as a clinical-stage biotech applying vaccine platform technology to oncology and infectious disease indications.
- Novavax: Novavax develops protein nanoparticle vaccines using recombinant nanoparticle technology with a built-in Matrix-M adjuvant, making it the closest structural analog to POP BIO's SNAP/CoPoP liposome platform. Both companies target infectious disease vaccine indications and pursue licensing/partnership models with global manufacturers.
Emerging players
- CureVac: CureVac is an mRNA technology company developing prophylactic vaccines and cancer immunotherapies. Comparable as a platform-based vaccine developer pursuing infectious disease and oncology applications, though with a different underlying technology than POP BIO's liposome-based SNAP platform.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
POP Biotechnologies social profiles
Digital presencePOP Biotechnologies financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
POP Biotechnologies leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
POP Biotechnologies subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
POP Biotechnologies funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
POP Biotechnologies 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 POP Biotechnologies
What does POP Biotechnologies do?
POP Biotechnologies develops proprietary porphyrin-phospholipid (PoP) liposome-based nanomedicine platforms, centered on the SNAP (Spontaneous Nanoliposome Antigen Particleization) vaccine platform that uses cobalt-modified CoPoP liposomes to rapidly display antigens. The company licenses this platform to pharmaceutical partners (notably EuBiologics) for co-development and commercialization of vaccines (COVID-19, RSV, shingles, influenza, H5N1, Alzheimer's) and develops the PhotoDOX light-activated chemotherapy product for solid tumors.
Is POP Biotechnologies a public or private company?
POP Biotechnologies is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was POP Biotechnologies founded?
POP Biotechnologies was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is POP Biotechnologies based?
POP Biotechnologies is headquartered in Buffalo, United States, in the North America region.
How does POP Biotechnologies make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Technology Licensing is the primary driver. The others are government Grants and Funding and co-development and Joint Ventures.
Who are POP Biotechnologies's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are GSK Vaccines, Sanofi Pasteur, BioNTech and Moderna. Direct peers are Soligenix, Dynavax Technologies, VBI Vaccines, Gritstone bio and Novavax. CureVac is listed as an emerging player.
Does POP Biotechnologies have an API?
No public API is recorded for POP Biotechnologies.
What industry is POP Biotechnologies in?
POP Biotechnologies's product category is Biopharmaceuticals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAEAF, Pandemic Preparedness & Rapid-Response Vaccines, with a secondary code of HLAAANAK, Personalized Therapeutic Design (neoantigen vaccines, individualized cell/gene therapies). Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2836.