What VirexpR does

VirexpR SAS is a French private consulting and laboratory services company founded in 2022 in the Lyon metropolitan area, specializing in microbiology and virology applied to indoor air quality. The firm originated from over a decade of applied virology research conducted at the VirPath laboratory and Virnext platform within CIRI (INSERM, CNRS, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, ENS de Lyon), and was established by Dr. Manuel Rosa-Calatrava, Thomas Julien, and Anaïs Proust. It operates from Reyrieux (Ain) near Lyon with R&D presence in Lyon and Grenoble, and established a North American subsidiary in Quebec in 2025.

The company's core offering is an integrated four-pillar service chain: (1) in-situ microbiological diagnostics (air, surface, and bio-process sampling with TCID50, PFU, PCR/qPCR, ELISA, and hemagglutination assays); (2) experimental testing in BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratories using test chambers of 2.5m³, 20m³, and 30m³ plus a One-Pass bench compliant with ISO 15714:2019 (up to 2,000 m³/h); (3) Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) numerical simulation using ANSYS Fluent and SpaceClaim; and (4) solution deployment and training. It also performs standards-based device evaluation under IEC PAS 63086, ASHRAE 185.3, and ISO 15714:2019, and conducts research under two flagship programs: GESPPAIR (a €3.5M France 2030-laureate program led by VirexpR) and VIRCATCHER (a CEA-Leti co-development for indoor-air respiratory pathogen detection).

VirexpR runs a sales-led, enterprise B2B go-to-market, engaging directly with air treatment device manufacturers, hospitals and EHPADs, pharmaceutical and cleanroom operators, public transport providers (e.g., ALSTOM), agricultural and livestock operators (e.g., Calistair deployed at Orvia Group), engineering consultancies, and research institutions (e.g., CEA-Leti, Bertin Technologies, ERLAB). Revenue is generated through project-based professional services engagements, standards-based testing and certification, and non-dilutive public R&D funding (France 2030, Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Bpifrance), supplemented by equity capital from Groupe TERA which entered shortly after the 2022 founding.

Name

VirexpR

Legal name

VIREXPR SAS

Website

https://virexpr.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

VirexpR is a French B2B consulting and laboratory services firm that evaluates and deploys air treatment technologies against airborne infectious pathogens, using BSL-3 test chambers, CFD simulation, and standards-based testing for enterprise clients in healthcare, transport, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Air Quality Testing & Consulting Services

NAICS

Medical Laboratories (621511), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Air & Aerosol Monitoring (Bioaerosols, Mold, Yeast, Airborne Pathogens) (AFALAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Monitoring & Ventilation Optimization (BPABAGAI), Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Testing & Monitoring (HSAOAIAD), Air Quality & Environmental Infection Control (HEPA Filtration, Isolation Barriers, CSSD/HVAC Solutions) (HLAHANAK)

Keywords

• Airborne infection control
• Indoor air quality
• BSL-3 testing services
• Virology consulting services
• CFD air simulation

Headquarters

HQ city

Lyon

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Consulting and advisory services: VirexpR provides expert consulting and advisory services in microbiology and virology applied to indoor air quality. Services include in-situ diagnostics, experimental bench testing, numerical simulation, and deployment optimization of air purification technologies. Revenue is generated through project-based professional service engagements with enterprise clients.
2. Testing and certification services: Performance evaluation of air treatment devices according to international standards (IEC PAS 63086, ASHRAE 185.3, ISO 15714:2019) in BSL-3 environments, generating revenue from device manufacturers and industrial clients seeking certification and comparative performance data.
3. R&D partnerships and public funding: Revenue partially derived from public R&D funding programs including France 2030 (GESPPAIR: €2.24M subsidy), Region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (VIRCATCHER), and Bpifrance support, representing non-dilutive funding for collaborative development projects.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

VirexpR provides consulting and technical services in microbiology and virology applied to indoor air quality. The offering combines four interconnected service pillars: (1) in-situ diagnostic sampling and pathogen detection, (2) experimental evaluation of air treatment devices in BSL-2/BSL-3 test chambers (2.5m³ to 30m³ and One-Pass), (3) CFD numerical simulation for airflow characterization, and (4) deployment optimization of air purification technologies. Services are sold to enterprise and institutional clients under international standards (IEC PAS 63086, ASHRAE 185.3, ISO 15714:2019).

Product overview

VirexpR offers an integrated service portfolio focused on airborne infectious contamination control. The core offering combines four interconnected service pillars: (1) Diagnostic services for in-situ sampling and pathogen detection, (2) Experimental testing using specialized test chambers (2.5m³, 20m³, 30m³, One Pass) in BSL-2/BSL-3 environments, (3) Numerical simulation using CFD modeling for airflow characterization and optimization, and (4) Solution deployment with custom air purification technology implementation and training. Two major R&D programs extend the portfolio: GESPPAIR (France 2030-funded collaborative program for contamination management) and VIRCATCHER (joint program with CEA-Leti for respiratory pathogen detection). The company also provides standards-based evaluation services per IEC PAS 63086, ASHRAE 185.3, and ISO 15714:2019 for device certification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VIRCATCHER: R&D program for respiratory pathogen detection and measurement device development in collaboration with CEA-Leti
• GESPPAIR

Products and services

• Diagnostic Services In-situ sampling services for detecting, identifying, and quantifying airborne pathogens in confined environments. Includes air sampling, surface sampling, and bio-process sampling, with analysis capabilities for infectious viruses (TCID50, PFU), genomes (PCR, qPCR, sequencing), other pathogens, and proteins (ELISA, hemagglutination, SRID). Sold to enterprise and institutional clients needing pathogen characterization in healthcare, pharmaceutical, transport, and agricultural settings.
• Experimental Testing Services Testing services using 2.5m³, 20m³, and 30m³ test chambers plus an ISO 15714:2019 One-Pass test bench for evaluating air treatment and analysis devices in BSL-2 and BSL-3 environments against pathogens including SARS-CoV-2, influenza viruses, coronaviruses, adenoviruses, and RSV. Sold to device manufacturers and industrial clients for performance evaluation.
• Numerical Simulation Services Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling and simulation services using ANSYS SpaceClaim and ANSYS Fluent to characterize airflow patterns, guide experimental positioning, generate realistic contamination scenarios, and optimize air treatment device deployment in real environments. Sold to enterprise clients for air quality modeling and solution optimization.
• Solution Deployment Services Custom solutions for air treatment deployment including environment-specific measurements, experimental guidance, device positioning optimization, and training services for sustainable and effective use of air treatment devices. Sold to enterprise and institutional clients seeking turnkey deployment of validated air treatment technologies.
• Standards Evaluation Services Testing and certification services for air treatment devices according to international standards including IEC PAS 63086, ASHRAE 185.3, and ISO 15714:2019. Evaluates device performance against various microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, molds) for air purification effectiveness. Sold to device manufacturers seeking regulatory compliance and certification evidence.

Quantifiable outcome

• ERLAB pharmaceutical technical zone achieved ISO-7 classification after VirexpR CFD-guided deployment optimization of Halo 35® air filtration system
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and supporting.

• CEA-LeticoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Strategic R&D collaboration between VirexpR (Lyon) and CEA-Leti (Grenoble) under the Region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Innovation Partnerships program. Jointly developing the VIRCATCHER device for detecting and measuring respiratory pathogens in indoor air, based on CEA-Leti's ARISE microtechnology. Aligned with Innovation Santé 2023 plan and contributes to national and European sovereignty in protection against emerging infectious diseases.
• IMeBIOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMeBIO is a partner in the GESPPAIR collaborative R&D program (France 2030). In 2025, IMeBIO and VirexpR deployed the IMEPod modular BSL-3 laboratory for expanded high-containment testing capabilities.
• VirPath / CIRI (INSERM, CNRS, UCBL1, ENS Lyon)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirexpR originated from over 10 years of applied research at the VirPath laboratory and its virnext technology platform within the Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI). VirPath and virnext remain academic partners in the GESPPAIR program, contributing virology expertise and BSL-3 research infrastructure.
• CONIDIA CONIPHYsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial partner in the GESPPAIR collaborative R&D program, contributing to the development of an ambitious technology offering for airborne pathogen management in confined environments.
• AXELERAsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes competitiveness cluster that has labelled the GESPPAIR program. Provides cluster support and networking within the regional innovation ecosystem.
• Lyonbiopôle Auvergne-Rhône-AlpessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes competitiveness cluster (health sector) that has labelled the GESPPAIR program, providing cluster support and ecosystem integration for VirexpR within the regional health innovation landscape.
• Lyon Ingenierie Projets (Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLYON INGENIERIE PROJETS, a subsidiary of Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, provides program accompaniment for the GESPPAIR collaborative R&D initiative.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• EMSL Analytical: U.S. IAQ testing laboratory offering microbiological, bioaerosol and air-quality analytical services. Direct comparable on indoor pathogen testing with overlapping use cases (mold, bacteria, allergen and viral panels).
• Aerobiology Laboratory Associates: North American specialized laboratory focused on bioaerosol and microbiological IAQ testing (mold, bacteria, viruses). Direct peer to VirexpR on diagnostic sampling and analysis of airborne pathogens in confined environments.
• BIOASTER: French non-profit applied microbiology research technology institute based in Lyon. Closely comparable on applied microbiology/virology methodology and overlapping scientific ecosystem with VirPath/CIRI.

Regional players

• INRS (Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurité): French occupational health and safety research body with exposure assessment capability relevant to airborne contaminants. Comparable on French workplace-IAQ expertise, though not a commercial competitor.

Broad incumbents

• ALS Global: International testing services network with environmental/IAQ and microbiological testing capabilities. Overlaps with VirexpR on standards-based IAQ testing for industrial clients, at broader scale.
• Eurofins Scientific: Global leader in testing/certification with established IAQ, environmental microbiology and biocontaminant assay services. Vastly larger scale and sales reach, but only partially overlaps with VirexpR's BSL-3 viral-aerosol specialization.
• SGS: Global testing, inspection and certification incumbent with industrial hygiene and air-quality service lines. Comparable business model and target OEMs, but broader portfolio and not specialized in BSL-3 viral aerosol evaluation.
• Bureau Veritas: International testing and certification group serving industrial clients with HSE/IAQ assessment services. Overlaps on standards-based performance evaluation for air treatment devices but at much greater breadth and lesser viral specialization.

Others

• Bertin Technologies: French instrumentation supplier (including Coriolis bio-collectors) and VirexpR customer/partner. Adjacent rather than directly competitive — they manufacture bio-collection devices VirexpR tests.

Emerging players

• ICARE Environnement / ICARE LAB: French specialized IAQ testing and consulting firm focused on microbiological and chemical indoor-air diagnostics. Closest France-based specialised peer in scope (diagnostic sampling and microbial IAQ testing) though at smaller scale and without BSL-3 capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/virexpr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 VirexpR