Virometix

About Virometix

Virometix AG is a clinical-stage, privately held Swiss biotechnology company engineering a new class of precision vaccines and immunotherapies to combat infectious diseases and cancers. Founded in 2009 as a spin-out from the University of Zurich, the company's foundation rests on deep expertise in structural biology and synthetic chemistry. This scientific bedrock, contributed by co-founder Professor John A. Robinson, a leading expert in epitope mimetics from the university, underpins the company's entire approach.

The core of Virometix's operations is its proprietary Synthetic Virus-Like Particle (SVLP) platform technology. This platform enables the rational design and entirely chemical synthesis of vaccine candidates. Unlike traditional vaccines that may use biological materials, the SVLP approach is fully synthetic, which offers advantages in safety, stability, and the efficiency of the manufacturing process. The technology works by creating synthetic nanoparticles from a self-assembling lipopeptidic backbone. These nanoparticles display synthetically created B-cell epitope mimetics—peptides that mimic critical parts of a pathogen—to elicit a strong, targeted, and durable immune response without requiring an external adjuvant.

The company's business model is focused on advancing its portfolio of vaccine candidates through clinical development, targeting diseases with significant unmet medical needs. Its pipeline includes a first-in-class candidate vaccine for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), V-306, which has successfully completed a Phase 1 clinical trial. Virometix is also developing a serotype-independent vaccine for Streptococcus pneumoniae, aiming to overcome the limitations of existing polysaccharide-based vaccines. Additionally, the portfolio contains prophylactic approaches for coronaviruses and research into cancer vaccines. The company has secured approximately $18.9 million in total funding through multiple rounds, including a significant CHF 7.5 million Series B in July 2020, to advance these programs. Virometix seeks to partner and collaborate to further develop its platform and bring its solutions to market.