Vicebio secures $100M Series B for RSV combo vaccine Phase 1

Vicebio, a British biotech company, has secured $100 million in series B funding as it advances its research in the respiratory virus vaccine market. Despite the crowded landscape, the company is pushing forward with a phase 1 trial for its bivalent vaccine, VXB-241, which targets both respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV). The results of this trial are anticipated next year. Additionally, Vicebio plans to use part of the funding to advance VXB-251, a trivalent vaccine that targets RSV, hMPV, and parainfluenza virus 3.

Both VXB-241 and VXB-251 have been developed using Vicebio’s proprietary “molecular clamp” technology. This innovative approach enhances the stability of viral proteins, making the vaccines easier to administer and store. The molecular clamp technology was created by a team of researchers led by professors Paul Young, Ph.D., Daniel Watterson, Ph.D., and Keith Chappell, Ph.D., at the University of Queensland, Australia. The technology was subsequently licensed to Vicebio by UniQuest, the university's commercialization arm.

In a statement released on September 24, Vicebio highlighted that this technology allows for the production of highly effective vaccines that are easy to manufacture and come in ready-to-use prefilled syringes. The financing round was led by TCGX and included contributions from founding investor Medicxi, Goldman Sachs Alternatives, Avoro Ventures, venBio, and UniQuest.

Emmanuel Hanon, Ph.D., Vicebio's CEO, expressed his gratitude for the support from these high-caliber investors. He emphasized the strong data package Vicebio has generated for VXB-241, showcasing the significant potential of their molecular clamp technology to develop next-generation vaccines against respiratory viruses. Hanon, who joined Vicebio from GSK, noted that GSK had secured the first approval for an adult RSV vaccine, Arexvy, last year. Currently, Vicebio faces competition from Pfizer’s Abrysvo, Moderna's mRESVIA, and Merck & Co., all of which have entered the market. Additionally, AstraZeneca, which manufactures the approved RSV antibody Beyfortus, intensified the competition by purchasing RSV vaccine developer Icosavax late last year.

Despite the competition, there are no approved vaccines that target both RSV and hMPV, presenting an opportunity for Vicebio to establish itself in this niche. However, Vicebio's VXB-241 will compete with AstraZeneca’s IVX-A12, a combo vaccine for RSV and hMPV that was acquired through their Icosavax buyout and touted as “phase 3 ready” as of last December.

This funding and advancement in vaccine development signal Vicebio's commitment to addressing significant unmet medical needs in the respiratory virus domain, leveraging innovative technology to create effective and easily deployable vaccines. The industry's response to these developments will be closely monitored as Vicebio aims to achieve its ambitious goals in an increasingly competitive market.