Vir Biotechnology, a US-based biotechnology developer backed by telecommunications and internet group SoftBank’s Vision Fund, has raised an undisclosed sum to increase its total funding to more than $500m.
Vir is developing drugs designed to treat chronic infectious diseases such as hepatitis B, tuberculosis and HIV, as well as respiratory diseases including influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and metapneumovirus, a virus linked to upper and lower respiratory disease.
The funding was announced alongside the acquisition of Switzerland-based antibody developer Humabs BioMed for an undisclosed amount, in a deal that adds more than 15 antibody development candidates to its portfolio.
Vir has also signed collaboration and license agreements with antibody developer Visterra and pharmaceutical firm Alnylam.
Arch Venture Partners and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation led a round of undisclosed size for Vir in 2017 that included $150m from Arch Venture Partners and additional funding from unnamed sovereign wealth funds, public mutual funds, individuals and family offices.
The company’s other investors include SoftBank Vision Fund, Altitude Life Science Ventures, Alta Partners, Temasek, Baillie Gifford, Alaska Permanent Fund and unnamed institutional investors.