Visterra is a clinical-stage biotech that uses its Hierotope® platform and ViStar™ Fc engineering to identify unique targets and design precision antibody-based therapies. Its lead product candidates include VIS410 (for hospitalized influenza A), VIS649 (for IgA nephropathy), VIS513 (dengue, developed with Serum Institute of India) and VIS705 (an ADC targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The company plans to advance VIS410 into a Phase 2b clinical trial and to initiate clinical trials for VIS649, while continuing to develop ViStar Fc modifications to extend antibody half-life and effector function. Visterra reported a Series C financing to support these development activities. Management highlighted several near-term clinical milestones, including top-line results from a VIS410 Phase 2a trial and initiation of VIS410 Phase 2b and VIS649 trials. The company is based in Cambridge, Mass. Visterra is a Cambridge, Mass.–based biotechnology company that uses its proprietary Hierotope™ Platform and Atomic Interaction Network (AIN) analysis to identify epitopes and design novel monoclonal antibody therapeutics. Its lead candidates include VIS410, a broad‑spectrum human monoclonal antibody for prevention and treatment of seasonal and pandemic influenza, and VIS513, a human monoclonal antibody that broadly neutralizes all four dengue virus serotypes. Proceeds from an upsized $30 million Series B will be used to advance multiple product candidates into the clinic, including moving VIS410 into Phase 2 trials and advancing VIS513 into the clinic. The company focuses on engineering antibodies to address polymorphism and mutational escape exhibited by infectious organisms. Visterra was founded based on scientific work developed in the laboratory of Dr. Ram Sasisekharan and licensed from MIT. Visterra discovers and develops novel monoclonal antibodies to prevent and treat major infectious diseases, with a lead candidate VIS410 targeting seasonal and pandemic influenza. The company uses a proprietary antibody engineering and network analysis technology to identify novel target epitopes and guide antibody design. Visterra plans to advance VIS410 into phase 1 clinical trials in 2014 and to build a broader pipeline of antibodies in infectious disease through internal programs and strategic partnerships. Financially, the company completed an upsized and final closing of its Series A, receiving $8.1 million in this closing and bringing total Series A proceeds to $34.2 million. Existing investors continue to back the company, and proceeds will be used to accelerate development and company growth. The company also expanded its executive team with appointments including a new CEO earlier in the year and recent hires for COO/CFO and VP of Business Development. Visterra discovers and develops novel antibodies to prevent and treat infectious and other major diseases. Its proprietary antibody discovery platform generates unique structural information to identify novel target epitopes and guide antibody design. The company’s lead product candidate, VIS410, is a broad‑spectrum monoclonal antibody for the prevention and treatment of seasonal and pandemic influenza. Proceeds from the financing will be used to further develop and validate Visterra’s technology platform and advance its infectious disease product pipeline. Visterra announced an antibody discovery collaboration with Pfizer in September 2012 and was founded based on the scientific work of Dr. Ram Sasisekharan at MIT. The company is backed by Polaris Venture Partners, Flagship Ventures, Lux Capital, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Omega Funds and is based in Cambridge, Mass.

Total raised

$75M

Funding rounds

4

Latest round

Series C

Latest activity

Oct 2017