London-based biopharmaceutical company Vicebio Ltd has raised $100 million in a Series B financing round to support the development of its respiratory virus vaccine candidates. The round was led by TCGX, with participation from Goldman Sachs Alternatives, Avoro Ventures, venBio, UniQuest, and founding investor Medicxi.
The company plans to use the funds to accelerate the clinical development of its pipeline, including VXB-241, a bivalent vaccine targeting Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV). A Phase I clinical trial of VXB-241 is currently underway, with preliminary results expected in mid-2025.
Vicebio’s vaccine candidates are based on its proprietary Molecular Clamp platform, a technology licensed from UniQuest, the commercialization arm of The University of Queensland. Originally developed by professors Paul Young, Daniel Watterson, and Keith Chappell, the Molecular Clamp enables stabilization of viral glycoproteins in their prefusion state—a conformation considered important for eliciting a strong immune response.
This platform is being evaluated across a range of viral targets, including RSV, hMPV, Parainfluenza Virus 3 (PIV3), Influenza, and Coronaviruses. The company reports that preclinical and clinical data support the potential of its technology to produce vaccines that are stable, manufacturable, and suitable for delivery in prefilled syringes.
Vicebio’s pipeline also includes VXB-251, a trivalent vaccine candidate designed to target RSV, hMPV, and PIV3. The development of such multivalent vaccines may offer broader protection against multiple respiratory pathogens, particularly among vulnerable populations such as older adults and immunocompromised individuals.
With this funding round, Vicebio’s board of directors will expand to include new investor representation, including Cariad Chester (TCGX), Colin Walsh (Goldman Sachs), and Mark Chin (Avoro Ventures).
Commenting on the financing, Vicebio CEO Dr. Emmanuel Hanon described the investment as a reflection of confidence in both the company’s clinical data and the broader potential of the Molecular Clamp platform. TCGX Managing Partner Cariad Chester and Medicxi Partner Dr. Giovanni Mariggi also noted the strength of Vicebio’s scientific and leadership teams, and the relevance of the company’s technology in addressing unmet needs in respiratory infectious disease.
Founded with backing from Medicxi, Vicebio holds an exclusive license to the Molecular Clamp technology, which it is developing as a platform for next-generation vaccines.
