Centivax is Accelerating Phase 2 Clinical Development of Universal Flu and Advance Follow-On Portfolio to Clinical Readiness

Centivax, a clinical-stage company on a mission to accelerate the world’s transition to a post-pathogen humanity, led by Jacob Glanville, and the team, has announced the closing of a $37 million oversubscribed financing led by Structure Fund, with participation from Meiji Seika Pharma Co., Ltd., Sigmas Group, Kendall Capital Partners, and Patrick(Stripe) and John Collison. Meiji Group holds the No. 1 market share for influenza vaccines in Japan. 

This financing builds on Centivax's $45 million oversubscribed Series A, completed in June 2025, led by Steve Jurvetson of Future Ventures, with participation from BOLD Capital Partners, Kendall Capital Partners, Amplify Partners, Base4 Capital, seed investor Global Health Investment Corporation, and NFX, Centivax's largest shareholder.

Dr. Jacob Glanville, CEO, noted that Centivax’s June 2025 Series A enabled Phase 1 studies with nearly all 180 participants enrolled. The new oversubscribed funding will advance Centi-Flu 01 to Phase 2, accelerate follow-on universal immunity programs, and deploy scalable manufacturing for current and future programs.

Conventional seasonal flu vaccines require biannual reformulation and provide variable protection (10–60%), with no efficacy against pandemics. Centi-Flu 01 targets conserved viral regions across strains and subtypes, aiming for broad, durable immunity without yearly updates. Its ongoing Phase 1 study, involving over 300 subjects and concluding in 2026, evaluates safety and efficacy against 24 influenza strains, including seasonal, pandemic, mismatch, and current circulating strains.

Phase 2, set to begin in early 2027 and enabled by the current financing, marks a key milestone for Centi-Flu and Centivax’s epitope-focusing platform. The 500-subject trial will assess universal breadth, superiority against mismatch and current circulating strains, and non-inferiority versus guidance strains, allowing seamless progression from Phase 1 to Phase 2 without fundraising delays.

The financing also advances four follow-on candidates from Centivax’s universal immunity platform to manufacturing and clinical readiness: a broad cancer therapy, a malaria vaccine, a universal antivenom, and a preventative Alzheimer’s program inspired by CMO Dr. Jerald Sadoff’s shingles vaccine research. Progressing these programs positions Centivax to address multiple high-need indications while validating the platform’s versatility across diverse diseases.

The financing will also enable the deployment of Centivax’s scalable, cell-free manufacturing process into GMP in 2026. This will support Phase 2 material for Centi-Flu, Phase 3 consistency lots, and GMP production for follow-on programs, reducing time, cost, and technical risk while accelerating global access to Centi-Flu and future candidates.

“These milestones enhance Centivax’s downstream partnering and development flexibility,” said Stephanie Wisner, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer. “Securing oversubscribed financing reflects the strength of our programs and leadership in a challenging funding environment. A rapid Phase 2 start allows progress on value-driving milestones without delay and aligns studies to clinical readiness rather than the flu season calendar.”