AstriVax

About AstriVax

AstriVax is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company spun out of KU Leuven in 2022, focused on developing prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines for infectious diseases. The company was co-founded by CEO Hanne Callewaert, Professor Johan Neyts, and Kai Dallmeier, PhD. Dr. Callewaert brings over two decades of life sciences industry experience, including leadership roles at GSK Vaccines and Oxurion. The company's technology originated from the academic work of Professor Neyts and Dr. Dallmeier at the KU Leuven Rega Institute. AstriVax is built upon a 'plug-and-play' vaccine platform using a patented, DNA-based technology called Plasmid-Launched Live Attenuated Virus (PLLAV). This approach uses plasmids to deliver self-amplifying live attenuated virus vectors along with a target viral antigen, designed to elicit a strong and long-lasting immune response with minimal doses. A key feature of the platform is the development of thermostable vaccines, which simplifies logistics by reducing the need for a strict cold chain, a significant advantage for distribution in tropical regions. The production process is also described as being straightforward and scalable. In August 2022, AstriVax secured €30 million in a seed funding round, the largest in the history of KU Leuven spin-offs. This financing was led by V-Bio Ventures and Fund+, with participation from several other investment firms including Flanders Future TechFund, Thuja Capital, and Mérieux Equity Partners. The company has also received non-dilutive grant funding from Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO). As of December 2023, AstriVax had raised a total of $29.9 million over three rounds. The company's pipeline includes prophylactic vaccines for yellow fever and rabies, and therapeutic vaccines for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and human papillomavirus (HPV). In June 2024, AstriVax initiated its first-in-human Phase I clinical trial, named SAFYR, to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of its yellow fever and rabies vaccine candidates in healthy adults. The firm is also advancing its immunotherapy for chronic hepatitis B, a condition affecting over 250 million people globally, with plans for clinical trials.