Affinivax is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering the Multiple Antigen Presenting System (MAPS™) platform to induce broad B‑cell and T‑cell immune responses. The company is developing MAPS vaccines against multiple pathogens, including a lead pneumococcal candidate, ASP3772, and programs targeting Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridium difficile, as well as exploratory SARS‑CoV‑2 and melanoma efforts. ASP3772 includes 24 pneumococcal polysaccharides and two conserved proteins; it was safe and highly immunogenic in a Phase 1 study in adults 18–64, has a completed Phase 2 in adults 65–85 with analyses ongoing, and an ongoing Phase 1 in toddlers. Affinivax was founded in 2014 with seed investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and holds an exclusive license to the MAPS technology from Boston Children’s Hospital; the company is based in Cambridge, Mass. The company’s S. aureus MAPS vaccine is being optimized for manufacturing and IND‑enabling preclinical studies with the goal of IND submission and clinical evaluation. Preclinical data from a lead S. aureus candidate demonstrated induction of B‑cell, Th1 and Th17 responses that reduced mortality, prevented skin abscesses, cleared gastrointestinal carriage, and prevented dermonecrosis in models. Affinivax pioneers a proprietary MAPS™ (Multiple Antigen Presenting System) platform, licensed from Boston Children’s Hospital, that links polysaccharide and protein antigens using a biotin–rhizavidin approach to elicit both B‑cell and T‑cell responses. Its lead candidate, ASP3772, is a Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccine containing 24 pneumococcal polysaccharides and two conserved proteins; ASP3772 was safe and highly immunogenic in a Phase 1 study in adults 18–64. A Phase 2 study in adults 65–85 has completed enrollment with data analyses ongoing, and a Phase 1 study in toddlers 12–15 months is underway. Affinivax is also developing a next‑generation pneumococcal MAPS vaccine and programs targeting healthcare‑associated bacterial pathogens including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridium difficile, plus exploratory programs for SARS‑CoV‑2 and melanoma. The company was founded in 2014 and initially seeded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Proceeds from its recent financing will be used to advance the MAPS vaccine pipeline across these indications. Affinivax leverages its proprietary MAPS technology to design vaccines that present both polysaccharide and protein antigens to induce broad B- and T-cell responses. Its lead program, ASP3772, a MAPS pneumococcal vaccine including 24 serotypes, has completed Phase 1 testing (safe and highly immunogenic) and is in a Phase 2 study nearing completion. The company is advancing ASP3772 toward Phase 3 and plans to expand the clinical program to include an infant indication. Affinivax is also developing first-in-class MAPS vaccine candidates targeting hospital-associated infections (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Clostridium difficile, and Staphylococcus aureus) and is exploring MAPS applications against viral diseases and cancer. The company has a partnership with Astellas Pharma to support certain programs, has grown to over 70 employees, and has previously been funded by non-dilutive grants and early investments from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Affinivax is advancing a proprietary Multiple Antigen Presentation System (MAPS) vaccine platform to develop next-generation vaccines. MAPS enables high-affinity binding of protective polysaccharides and proteins in a single vaccine and is designed to provide broader protection than current conjugate vaccines. The platform aims to protect against invasive disease, colonization, and transmission and has the potential to cover all pneumococcal serotypes. MAPS also offers a simpler, more cost-efficient manufacturing approach. The company has achieved preliminary preclinical proof-of-concept for several MAPS vaccines and is advancing its lead Streptococcus pneumoniae candidate toward IND submission and proof-of-concept clinical testing. Financially, Affinivax has received funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support its development work, including an initial $4.0M and an additional $2.5M follow-on investment. Affinivax is a biotechnology company developing novel vaccines built on its Multiple Antigen Presenting System (MAPS) platform. The company intends to use MAPS to combine protective polysaccharides and proteins in a single vaccine to induce broad immune responses. Its initial focus is a lead program targeting Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus). Affinivax launched with $4M in funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has committed additional funding contingent on future milestones. The company secured an exclusive license from Boston Children's Hospital to the MAPS-related intellectual property initially developed by Richard Malley, M.D., its scientific founder. Steven B. Brugger serves as President and CEO, and Frances K. Heller was appointed to the board.

Total raised

$375M

Funding rounds

5

Latest round

Series C

Latest activity

Jan 2021