OSIVAX SAS

Their core work

OSIVAX is a French biotech SME developing vaccines against respiratory viral infections, including universal influenza and coronavirus vaccines. Their platform technology focuses on T-cell immunity rather than traditional antibody-based approaches, targeting both seasonal and pandemic threats. Earlier in their trajectory, they contributed vaccine antigen design expertise to international malaria vaccine consortia, working on multi-antigen virus-like-particle constructs using SpyCatcher technology. Their pivot to respiratory viruses — culminating in a €2.5M coordinator-led project during the COVID-19 pandemic — signals a company that has matured from niche contributor to independent vaccine developer.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

OSIVAX began its H2020 journey (2017) as a specialist contributor to large malaria vaccine consortia, providing antigen design and virus-like-particle technology for Plasmodium falciparum and vivax projects. By 2020, the company pivoted decisively to respiratory viral infections — influenza and COVID-19 — taking the coordinator role on OSIRIX with over 97% of their total EU funding concentrated in this single project. This shift from tropical disease participant to pandemic vaccine leader reflects both a strategic repositioning and a company reaching the maturity to lead its own clinical-stage programs.

OSIVAX is moving toward clinical-stage universal respiratory virus vaccines, positioning itself as an independent vaccine developer rather than a platform technology supplier to larger consortia.

How they like to work

OSIVAX operates as both a specialist contributor and a project leader. In their earlier malaria projects, they joined large international consortia (20 unique partners across 8 countries) as a participant with modest budgets, providing targeted platform technology. When they coordinated OSIRIX, they demonstrated the ability to lead and manage a significant EU-funded program independently. This dual track — willing to contribute niche expertise to big teams, but also capable of running their own show — makes them a flexible partner.

OSIVAX has collaborated with 20 unique partners across 8 countries, built primarily through two large malaria vaccine consortia and their own OSIRIX project. Their network spans European and global partners active in infectious disease research and vaccine development.

What sets them apart

OSIVAX brings a rare combination: a proprietary vaccine platform technology (virus-like-particles, SpyCatcher conjugation) proven across multiple disease targets — from malaria to influenza to COVID-19. Unlike academic vaccine groups, they are a company with SME Instrument Phase 2 backing, meaning the EU vetted their business plan and commercial viability. Their ability to pivot rapidly from tropical disease to pandemic response demonstrates both platform versatility and organizational agility that larger pharma companies typically lack.

Highlights from their portfolio

• OSIRIX
  Their flagship project as coordinator (€2.4M via SME Instrument), targeting universal respiratory virus vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic — represents 97% of their total EU funding.
• OptiMalVax
  Demonstrated their multi-antigen VLP platform in a complex malaria vaccine project tackling all four parasite lifecycle stages simultaneously.