Antiva Biosciences is a technology company.
Antiva Biosciences has raised $137.0M across 5 funding rounds.
Antiva Biosciences has raised $137.0M in total across 5 funding rounds.
Antiva Biosciences is a clinical-stage, venture-backed biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Del Mar, CA, focused on developing novel topical therapeutics for high-risk HPV infections and pre-cancerous cervical lesions (CIN 2/3) in women.[1][2][3] Their lead candidate, ABI-2280, is a first-in-class antiviral prodrug applied topically at home, addressing the lack of approved treatments for HPV—the world's most common sexually transmitted infection—and offering a non-surgical alternative to invasive procedures that risk reproductive health.[1][2][4] ABI-2280 targets high-risk HPV and CIN 2/3, supporting the WHO's Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative by enabling early, accessible treatment worldwide.[2]
The company serves women with HPV-related conditions, solving unmet needs in a market where patients currently "watch and wait" or undergo surgery, with cervical cancer ranking as the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in women.[1][2] Recent positive top-line results from a Phase 1b/2 study of ABI-2280 were announced in August 2025, signaling strong growth momentum in their pipeline.[3]
Founded in 2012, Antiva Biosciences emerged from antiviral prodrug chemistry pioneered by Dr. Karl Hostetler at the University of California San Diego, initially under the name Hera Therapeutics before rebranding.[1][3] The idea stemmed from the critical gap in HPV treatments: no approved therapies exist for clearing infections early, leaving women vulnerable to progression toward precancer or cancer, while surgical options for lesions are invasive and inaccessible, especially in underserved areas.[1][2]
Early traction built on this innovation, with the company advancing ABI-2280 into clinical trials (Phase 2 ongoing as of 2024-2025) and securing venture backing.[3][4] Pivotal moments include patent filings for HPV treatments in 2025 and the Phase 1b/2 data readout, validating the topical approach endorsed by clinicians like those treating cervical precancer for decades.[1][3]
Antiva rides the HPV/cervical cancer elimination wave, fueled by WHO's global initiative and rising awareness of HPV as a vaccine-preventable yet persistent threat, with no curative therapies until now.[2] Timing is ideal amid expanding HPV markets (projected moderate growth to 2034) and post-vaccine era needs for infection clearance, where market forces like aging populations and screening improvements amplify demand for non-invasive options.[2][3]
They influence biotech by pioneering topical antivirals for STIs, potentially reducing cervical cancer burden (fourth globally for women) and enabling scalable access in low-resource settings, reshaping women's health ecosystems beyond surgery-centric care.[1][2]
Antiva's Phase 1b/2 success positions ABI-2280 for Phase 3 trials and potential approval, unlocking a massive unmet need in HPV treatment.[3][4] Trends like AI-driven drug discovery, global health equity pushes, and combo therapies with vaccines will shape their path, with 2025 patents bolstering defensibility.[3]
Their influence could evolve from niche innovator to category leader, delivering the first home-based HPV cure and transforming cervical cancer prevention—stopping it before it starts, as their mission promises.[2]
Antiva Biosciences has raised $137.0M in total across 5 funding rounds.
Antiva Biosciences's investors include Adjuvant Capital, Canaan Partners, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Osage University Partners.
Antiva Biosciences has raised $137.0M across 5 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $53.0M Series E in April 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2023 | $53.0M Series E | Adjuvant Capital, Canaan Partners, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Osage University Partners | |
| Nov 1, 2021 | $31.0M Series D | Adjuvant Capital, Canaan Partners, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Osage University Partners | |
| Jul 1, 2018 | $15.0M Series C | Canaan Partners, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Osage University Partners | |
| Mar 1, 2017 | $22.0M Series C | Canaan Partners, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Osage University Partners | |
| Aug 1, 2015 | $16.0M Series B | Canaan Partners, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Osage University Partners |