# Virica Biotech

Startup profile on Capital Atlas: https://capitalatlas.ai/startups/virica-biotech

- Industry: Biotechnology
- Headquarters: Ottawa, Canada
- Website: www.viricabiotech.com
- Latest round: Series A (Oct 4, 2021)
- Investors on record: 1

## About

Virica Biotech Inc. focuses on enhancing cell and gene therapy and vaccine manufacturing through innovative small molecule cell enhancers, improving productivity and quality in viral production processes.Virica Biotech Inc. develops solutions to optimize viral vector production for therapies and vaccines. Founded in 2018, the company is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada. The founders include Ella Korets-Smith and Jean-Simon Diallo, with Jean-Simon Diallo serving as the CEO. The company has engaged in one funding round, with its most recent deal occurring on October 4, 2021.Virica Biotech specializes in enhancing the manufacturing processes of cell and gene therapies as well as vaccines through its proprietary library of small molecule cell enhancers known as Viral Sensitizers (VSE™). These enhancers function by temporarily reducing innate cellular defenses during viral vector production, thereby allowing for improved infection, transduction, and replication of viruses. The enhancements achieved through VSEs have been reported to yield up to a sevenfold increase in productivity, while also improving critical quality attributes (CQAs) of the final products. Virica's offerings serve a diverse clientele, including cell and gene therapy manufacturers and vaccine producers, across various geographical markets including North America, Europe, and Asia. The company's VSE technology has been evaluated across more than 50 applications, showcasing its versatility in enhancing viral yield and quality for multiple cell lines and virus combinations.Virica Biotech's revenue is generated primarily through partnerships with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies that utilize its VSE technology. The transaction structure typically involves B2B relationships where clients engage in collaborative agreements for the use of VSEs in their production processes. These arrangements may include licensing agreements, service contracts, or project-based collaborations tailored to specific applications within cell and gene therapy and vaccine production. The company offers its VSEs as part of a comprehensive service portfolio designed to optimize manufacturing productivity and reduce costs, further facilitating client research and development activities. Specific pricing plans for the VSE technology and associated services are structured to reflect the complexity and scale of each client’s needs, ensuring that Virica’s solutions are adaptable to various operational contexts within the life sciences industry.In October 2021, Virica Biotech Inc. raised an undisclosed amount of Series A funding led by new investor Dynamk Capital. The company will use the investment to further support the launching of its new lab facility which is a part of the Ottawa Health Innovation Hub as part of its expansion. Virica plans to enhance its product offerings and expand into new markets, targeting growth in regions such as Asia and Europe by mid-2023.

## Funding rounds

- Series A, Oct 4, 2021 — Dynamk Capital

## Investors

- Dynamk Capital (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/dynamk-capital) — Series A