Top 7 AIDS treatment startups

Updated: Jan 11, 2026
|
These startups develop new technologies to diagnose and treat AISD, such as gene editing technologies, long-acting antiretroviral therapies, point-of-care testing devices, viral load monitoring systems, mRNA vaccine platforms, nanotechnology for drug delivery.
1
Vir Biotechnology
Country: USA | Funding: $908.6M
Vir Biotechnology brings together cutting-edge innovations with scientific expertise and management.
2
Sangamo BioSciences
Country: USA | Funding: $569.1M
Sangamo is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the research, development and commercialization of engineered zinc finger DNA-binding proteins (ZFPs) as novel ZFP Therapeutics targeting various monogenic and infectious diseases with unmet medical needs.
3
Nurx
Country: USA | Funding: $115.9M
Nurx is offering Truvada as "PrEP," or an HIV preexposure prophylaxis. People looking to get on PrEP can sign up via Nurx's website or smartphone app.
4
Addition Therapeutics
Country: USA | Funding: $100M
Addition Therapeutics (University of California spinoff) develops RNA-only therapeutics using PRINT technology for genetic medicine. PRINT stands for Precise RNA-Mediated Insertion of Transgenes and involves the creation of all-RNA, non-viral lipid nanoparticles. In drugs created using PRINT technology, only the genetic sequence of the messenger RNA is altered, all other components remain unchanged. The company claims this enables the creation of safer, long-lasting, single-dose treatments that overcome the limitations of existing genetic medicine. One of the company's primary goals is the treatment of HIV. With a grant from the Gates Foundation, Addition is developing PRINT therapy to stimulate endogenous antibody production with a single dose for "lifelong protection against HIV."
5
Aethlon Medical
Country: USA | Funding: $34.8M
Aethlon Medical creates immunotherapeutic devices to combat infectious disease and cancer.
6
ImmunoLogik
Country: Germany | Funding: €301.4K
ImmunoLogik has identified an active agent that helps patients who have developed a resistance against standard HIV treatment therapies.
7
HIVSmart
Country: Canada
An award-winning smartphone application that allows self-testing for HIV.
  See also:
Jason Kwon
Editor: Jason Kwon
Jason Kwon is a senior editor for MedicalStartups. He has previously covered the pharmaceutical and medical research industries for FDAnews and worked as a head of marketing for medical startup Sonic Therapeutics. Before that, he co-founded a startup consulting business for emerging entrepreneurial hubs in Asia. Jason graduated from St. Bonaventure University’s journalism school. In his free time, Jason enjoys yoga, watching movie trailers, traveling to places where he can't get cell service. You can contact Jason at jaskwon(at)medicalstartups(dot)com