Centivax Secures $45M to Revolutionize Global Immunity
July 11, 2025, 9:30 pm
Location: United States, California, Menlo Park
Employees: 11-50
Founded date: 2012
Location: United States, Washington, Seattle
Employees: 1001-5000
Founded date: 2000
Centivax closed an oversubscribed $45 million Series A funding round. Future Ventures led the investment. This capital fuels the advancement of Centivax’s lead universal flu vaccine candidate. The vaccine will enter Phase I clinical trials within eight months. The company’s innovative computational immune-engineering platform holds the promise of universal protection. This technology targets entire classes of pathogens. It extends beyond influenza to include a broad spectrum of infectious diseases. The pipeline also addresses oncology and chronic health conditions. This substantial backing marks a pivotal moment for universal vaccine development.
Centivax, a biotech innovator, recently announced a significant financial milestone. The company secured an oversubscribed $45 million in Series A funding. This substantial investment bolsters its mission. It aims to develop universal vaccines and therapies. These solutions promise long-lasting, broad protection against diverse health threats.
Future Ventures spearheaded the funding round. Steve Jurvetson, an early supporter of industry-defining companies, led the investment. Other notable participants included NFX, BOLD Capital Partners, Base4 Capital, Kendall Capital Partners, and Amplify Partners. Existing investors also increased their commitment. This strong syndicate reflects confidence in Centivax’s groundbreaking approach.
The new capital has a clear immediate objective. It will accelerate the company’s first clinical candidate. This candidate is a universal flu vaccine. It is currently in CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls) development. The funds will push it through to a Phase I clinical trial. This trial is slated to commence within eight months.
The universal flu vaccine targets a massive global market. This market exceeds $7 billion. Current flu vaccines offer limited, strain-specific protection. Centivax seeks to change this paradigm. Its vaccine aims for broad protection. A single shot could shield against numerous influenza strains.
Clinical testing for the universal flu vaccine will employ rigorous methods. The hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) assay will be the gold standard. This assay will compare the candidate directly against standard flu vaccines. The trial will assess efficacy against over twenty flu strains. These include current, historic, mismatch, and pandemic variants. Positive results would demonstrate unprecedented broad protection.
Preclinical studies have already shown compelling results. The Centivax technology consistently induced universal immunity. This was observed across multiple influenza viruses. These studies involved various animal models. Ferrets, pigs, cows, mice, and rats were among them. Human immune organoids also showed promising responses. Notably, the technology demonstrated effectiveness against the 2024-2025 H5N1 "bird flu." This highlights its potential against high-concern threats.
Centivax’s core strength lies in its proprietary platform. This is a computational immune-engineering system. It is designed to create vaccines and therapies with universal protection. The platform focuses on conserved epitopes. These are regions of pathogens that do not change across strains. This unique approach allows for broad-spectrum defense. It overcomes the challenge of antigenic drift.
The platform's versatility extends far beyond influenza. Centivax is developing a robust pipeline of follow-on programs. These target other critical health challenges. The pipeline includes RSV/hMPV, herpesviruses, and HIV. Malaria, oncology, and universal antivenom are also in development. This diverse portfolio underscores the technology’s wide applicability. It addresses viral, bacterial, protozoan, fungal, parasitic, and bioterror threats.
The company also envisions broader healthspan benefits. Its technology could reduce long-term complications. These include cancer, autoimmune diseases, and neurodegenerative conditions. This broad applicability positions Centivax at the forefront of bioengineering innovation. It meets significant global health needs.
Centivax operates from South San Francisco, California. The company benefits from strong leadership. Dr. Jacob Glanville is CEO and founder. He previously founded Distributed Bio. That company was acquired by Charles River Labs in 2020. Dr. Glanville has led over 75 discovery programs. He collaborated with major pharmaceutical partners like Pfizer and Gilead.
The leadership team boasts extensive experience. Dr. Jerald Sadoff serves as Chief Medical Officer. He has a distinguished career in vaccine development. Dr. Sadoff previously led programs at Johnson & Johnson, Merck, WRAIR, and AERAS. His work resulted in 14 approved vaccines, including Gardasil. Dr. Sawsan Youssef is Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder. She contributed to Pfizer’s clinical-stage drug sasanlimab. Stephanie Wisner, co-founder and Chief Business Officer, brings strategic insights from ARCH Venture Partners. She is also the author of "Building Backwards to Biotech." Dr. Gusti Zeiner is Chief Innovation Officer. David Tsao is Chief Operations Officer and co-founder. Dr. Nicholas Bayless is Chief Technology Officer and co-founder.
The company recently strengthened its board. Emilio Emini, PhD, joined the Centivax Board of Directors. Dr. Emini has a storied background. He was former CEO of the Gates Medical Research Institute. He directed HIV and TB programs at the Gates Foundation. He also served as ex-SVP of Vaccine R&D at Pfizer and Merck. His expertise was crucial in developing vaccines like Prevnar.
Beyond venture capital, Centivax has secured significant non-dilutive funding. To date, this totals $24 million. Initial support came from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. A $2 million "Grand Challenge: End the Pandemic Threat" grant kickstarted this funding. Subsequent awards followed. These came from CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Military Infectious Diseases Research Program, and the U.S. Naval Medical Research Command. These competitive awards validate the company’s scientific foundation. They underscore its potential impact.
Centivax’s financing positions it to achieve ambitious goals. It aims to help the U.S. government meet its objective. That objective is a universal influenza vaccine within five years. The company envisions ending the pandemic era. Its universal vaccines could be safer, more reliable, and more convenient. They represent a fundamental shift in medical response.
This funding round represents more than just capital. It signifies validation. It affirms the power of Centivax’s disruptive technology. The company stands ready to deliver on its promise. It seeks universal protection against humanity’s most complex immunological threats. This marks a new frontier in public health.
Centivax, a biotech innovator, recently announced a significant financial milestone. The company secured an oversubscribed $45 million in Series A funding. This substantial investment bolsters its mission. It aims to develop universal vaccines and therapies. These solutions promise long-lasting, broad protection against diverse health threats.
Future Ventures spearheaded the funding round. Steve Jurvetson, an early supporter of industry-defining companies, led the investment. Other notable participants included NFX, BOLD Capital Partners, Base4 Capital, Kendall Capital Partners, and Amplify Partners. Existing investors also increased their commitment. This strong syndicate reflects confidence in Centivax’s groundbreaking approach.
The new capital has a clear immediate objective. It will accelerate the company’s first clinical candidate. This candidate is a universal flu vaccine. It is currently in CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls) development. The funds will push it through to a Phase I clinical trial. This trial is slated to commence within eight months.
The universal flu vaccine targets a massive global market. This market exceeds $7 billion. Current flu vaccines offer limited, strain-specific protection. Centivax seeks to change this paradigm. Its vaccine aims for broad protection. A single shot could shield against numerous influenza strains.
Clinical testing for the universal flu vaccine will employ rigorous methods. The hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) assay will be the gold standard. This assay will compare the candidate directly against standard flu vaccines. The trial will assess efficacy against over twenty flu strains. These include current, historic, mismatch, and pandemic variants. Positive results would demonstrate unprecedented broad protection.
Preclinical studies have already shown compelling results. The Centivax technology consistently induced universal immunity. This was observed across multiple influenza viruses. These studies involved various animal models. Ferrets, pigs, cows, mice, and rats were among them. Human immune organoids also showed promising responses. Notably, the technology demonstrated effectiveness against the 2024-2025 H5N1 "bird flu." This highlights its potential against high-concern threats.
Centivax’s core strength lies in its proprietary platform. This is a computational immune-engineering system. It is designed to create vaccines and therapies with universal protection. The platform focuses on conserved epitopes. These are regions of pathogens that do not change across strains. This unique approach allows for broad-spectrum defense. It overcomes the challenge of antigenic drift.
The platform's versatility extends far beyond influenza. Centivax is developing a robust pipeline of follow-on programs. These target other critical health challenges. The pipeline includes RSV/hMPV, herpesviruses, and HIV. Malaria, oncology, and universal antivenom are also in development. This diverse portfolio underscores the technology’s wide applicability. It addresses viral, bacterial, protozoan, fungal, parasitic, and bioterror threats.
The company also envisions broader healthspan benefits. Its technology could reduce long-term complications. These include cancer, autoimmune diseases, and neurodegenerative conditions. This broad applicability positions Centivax at the forefront of bioengineering innovation. It meets significant global health needs.
Centivax operates from South San Francisco, California. The company benefits from strong leadership. Dr. Jacob Glanville is CEO and founder. He previously founded Distributed Bio. That company was acquired by Charles River Labs in 2020. Dr. Glanville has led over 75 discovery programs. He collaborated with major pharmaceutical partners like Pfizer and Gilead.
The leadership team boasts extensive experience. Dr. Jerald Sadoff serves as Chief Medical Officer. He has a distinguished career in vaccine development. Dr. Sadoff previously led programs at Johnson & Johnson, Merck, WRAIR, and AERAS. His work resulted in 14 approved vaccines, including Gardasil. Dr. Sawsan Youssef is Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder. She contributed to Pfizer’s clinical-stage drug sasanlimab. Stephanie Wisner, co-founder and Chief Business Officer, brings strategic insights from ARCH Venture Partners. She is also the author of "Building Backwards to Biotech." Dr. Gusti Zeiner is Chief Innovation Officer. David Tsao is Chief Operations Officer and co-founder. Dr. Nicholas Bayless is Chief Technology Officer and co-founder.
The company recently strengthened its board. Emilio Emini, PhD, joined the Centivax Board of Directors. Dr. Emini has a storied background. He was former CEO of the Gates Medical Research Institute. He directed HIV and TB programs at the Gates Foundation. He also served as ex-SVP of Vaccine R&D at Pfizer and Merck. His expertise was crucial in developing vaccines like Prevnar.
Beyond venture capital, Centivax has secured significant non-dilutive funding. To date, this totals $24 million. Initial support came from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. A $2 million "Grand Challenge: End the Pandemic Threat" grant kickstarted this funding. Subsequent awards followed. These came from CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Military Infectious Diseases Research Program, and the U.S. Naval Medical Research Command. These competitive awards validate the company’s scientific foundation. They underscore its potential impact.
Centivax’s financing positions it to achieve ambitious goals. It aims to help the U.S. government meet its objective. That objective is a universal influenza vaccine within five years. The company envisions ending the pandemic era. Its universal vaccines could be safer, more reliable, and more convenient. They represent a fundamental shift in medical response.
This funding round represents more than just capital. It signifies validation. It affirms the power of Centivax’s disruptive technology. The company stands ready to deliver on its promise. It seeks universal protection against humanity’s most complex immunological threats. This marks a new frontier in public health.