Aptimmune Biologics
AcquiredChampaign, US · Illinois corporation · 9 known investors
Aptimmune develops vaccines for swine health, partnering with vaccine development and swine health consulting companies to speed product development, testing and manufacturing. It serves the swine veterinary and animal health industry.
Also known as Aptimmune Biologics Inc · Aptimmune Biologics, Inc.
Founders & leadership
Board
Investors · 9
Also in the syndicate · 3
Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements$4.6M disclosed across 2 rounds · 2015–2017
▶$2.2MraisedJul 2017 · 3 investors · BiotechnologyRule 506(b)
- Paul OlivoDirector
- Aaron GilbertieExecutive Officer, Director
- Gary DurackDirector
- Robert EasterDirector
- Federico ZuckermannExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $7M
- Amount sold
- $2.2M
- Minimum investment
- $80K
- Proceeds to insiders
- $400K
- First sale
- Jun 2017
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Illinois
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$2.4MraisedMar 2016 · 8 investors · BiotechnologyRule 506(b)
- Robert EasterDirector
- Paul OlivoDirector
- Aaron GilbertieExecutive Officer, Director
- Gary DurackDirector
- Federico ZuckermannExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $3.3M
- Amount sold
- $2.4M
- Minimum investment
- $1
- Proceeds to insiders
- $432K
- First sale
- Jun 2015
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Illinois
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Aptimmune Biologics, Inc. develops prophylactic mucosal vaccines targeting viral diseases of pigs. Its initial focus is Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus (PRRSV) and swine influenza A virus (IAV-S), diseases whose combined annual economic impact on the U.S. swine industry alone was described as over $1.4 billion at the time of the company's 2015 Series A. The company's vaccine approach rests on patented technologies licensed from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, notably the proprietary porcine alveolar macrophage cell line ZMAC, and it markets its PRRSV and influenza vaccines under the Barricade brand, developed in 2017.
Beyond PRRSV and influenza, Aptimmune entered into agreements with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to collaborate on commercial development of a vaccine against African Swine Fever (ASF), pursuing regionally specific development programs with the stated aim of reaching the commercial market by 2023. Management has emphasized an extensive intellectual property portfolio underpinning the product pipeline, with activity spanning pipeline development, product registration and commercialization.
Founding story
Dr. Federico (also rendered Frederico) Zuckermann, a swine immunologist and Professor of Immunology in the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, founded Aptimmune Biologics in 2010 to commercialize vaccine technologies he invented, drawing on roughly three decades of research into PRRSV and other swine diseases. The company licensed the patented ZMAC cell line technology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and began as a faculty startup tenant at the University of Illinois Research Park's EnterpriseWorks incubator.
Traction
Barricade vaccines for PRRSV and IAV-S were developed in 2017; agreements were established with the USDA and the Department of Homeland Security for collaboration on commercial African Swine Fever vaccine development, with a stated target of commercial market entry by 2023.
Latest developments
Aptimmune was acquired by Kemin Industries following its 2018 graduation from the EnterpriseWorks incubator, and the companies announced a partnership in the global vaccine industry. St. Louis Arch Angels led two convertible note rounds in 2020 and are collectively the company's second-largest shareholder. Heather Bessoff, DVM, is identified as CEO in that account.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
A university spin-out positioned in swine vaccines, addressing PRRSV and influenza, which together were cited as causing more than $1.4 billion in annual economic impact in the U.S. swine industry; following the 2018 transaction the business is aligned with Kemin Industries in the global vaccine industry.
Mucosal rather than conventional systemic vaccination for swine, built on an extensive patent portfolio licensed from the University of Illinois including the ZMAC porcine alveolar macrophage cell line.
Technology
Aptimmune's platform centers on mucosal immunization against respiratory viral diseases of swine, using patented technologies invented at the University of Illinois. A key component is the proprietary ZMAC pig alveolar macrophage cell line, licensed from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, which underpins production of vaccines against PRRSV. The Barricade vaccine products address PRRSV and swine influenza A virus, and the company has also pursued African Swine Fever vaccine development.
Go-to-market
Swine producers and the swine veterinary and animal health industry globally, with regionally specific programs for African Swine Fever.
Geography
Originally based in Champaign, Illinois (60 Hazelwood Drive) within the University of Illinois Research Park; later headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri at 1005 N. Warson Road, Suite 305, in BRDG Park in the 39 North Innovation District.
History
Founded in 2010 at the University of Illinois, Aptimmune was a tenant of the EnterpriseWorks incubator in the Illinois Research Park from 2010 to 2018. In July 2015 it raised $2.75 million of Series A funding and Aaron Gilbertie joined as CEO shortly before the round; a prior Series AA round had included seed fund Common Place Holdings as an investor and business advisor. St. Louis Arch Angels members first invested in 2016 and subsequently led or co-led a series of rounds: a convertible note round in early 2017, co-led rounds in late 2017 and early 2018, and two convertible note rounds in 2020, making Arch Angels collectively the company's second-largest shareholder. The company developed its Barricade vaccines for PRRSV and IAV-S in 2017 and, with Arch Angels' involvement in the decision, relocated its headquarters and laboratory from Illinois to St. Louis, where it operates at BRDG Park in the 39 North Innovation District. After graduating from EnterpriseWorks in 2018 Aptimmune was acquired by Kemin Industries, and the two companies announced a partnership in the global vaccine industry; a transaction database records the acquisition date as 7 August 2018.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Competitors · 9
by search overlap
Companies competing with Aptimmune Biologics for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
Non-dilutive funding · 2 SBIR/STTR awards
Federal grants — no equity taken| Agency | Phase | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture (USDA) | Phase II | 2017 | $600K |
| Department of Agriculture (USDA) | Phase I | 2015 | $99.9K |
Source: SBIR.gov award data (U.S. Small Business Administration). SBIR/STTR awards are competitive federal R&D grants and contracts — non-dilutive capital alongside any venture rounds above.
Timeline · 7
launches, deals, and filingsAptimmune established agreements with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Homeland Security to collaborate on commercial development of an African Swine Fever vaccine, with regionally specific programs aimed at commercial market entry by 2023.
St. Louis Arch Angels led two convertible note rounds in 2020; collectively Arch Angels members became the company's second-largest shareholder.
After graduating from the EnterpriseWorks incubator in 2018, Aptimmune Biologics was acquired by Kemin Industries; the two companies announced a partnership in the global vaccine industry. A transaction database records the acquisition date as 7 August 2018.
Following an initial investment by four Arch Angels members in 2016, the group led a convertible note funding round in early 2017 and co-led funding rounds in late 2017 and early 2018.
The company developed its Barricade vaccines against Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus and swine influenza A virus.
Aaron Gilbertie joined Aptimmune as CEO weeks before the July 2015 Series A round, to lead pipeline development, product registration and commercialization.
Aptimmune was a tenant of the EnterpriseWorks incubator at the University of Illinois Research Park from 2010 until graduating in 2018.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
Legal entities · 1
corporate structureIn the news
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- Aptimmune Biologics Raises $2.75 Million of Series A Funding Led by Arsenal Capital Management | www.inknowvation.cominknowvation.com · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Aptimmune Biologics do?
- Aptimmune Biologics develops mucosal vaccines against costly viral diseases of swine, including PRRSV, swine influenza and ASF.
- Who are Aptimmune Biologics's investors?
- Aptimmune Biologics's investors include Missouri Technology Corporation, Arsenal, Cultivation Capital, The Yield Lab, Illinois Ventures, The Yield Lab Asia Pacific.
- How much funding has Aptimmune Biologics raised?
- Aptimmune Biologics has disclosed $4.6M raised across 2 rounds.
- Where is Aptimmune Biologics headquartered?
- Aptimmune Biologics is headquartered in Champaign, US.