Top 15 Startups developing Cancer Vaccines

Updated: Dec 01, 2025
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These startups develop personalized cancer vaccines that aim to prevent or treat cancer by stimulating the body's targeted immune response against cancer cells.
1
Azalea Therapeutics
Country: USA | Funding: $100M
Azalea Therapeutics is a biotech company co-founded by Nobel laureate and CRISPR co-creator Jennifer Doudna to develop a revolutionary cancer vaccine - a single injection that reprograms a patient's T cells directly within the body (in vivo). The technology combines virus-like particles (EDVs) for precise delivery of the CRISPR editor and adeno-associated viruses, which allow genes to be inserted into precisely defined sections of DNA. The combination of these technologies enables a single injection that modifies T cells while preserving their natural behavior. The company is also exploring the possibility of applying the technology to hematopoietic stem cells and B cells. Azalea stands out from its competitors thanks to its unique ability to precisely program gene placement in immune cells.
2
BioNTech
Country: Germany | Funding: $2B
BioNTech is a global leader in mRNA-based immunotherapy. The company was the first to invent and commercialize a COVID-19 vaccine (in partnership with Pfizer). BioNTech is currently developing several personalized immunotherapeutic agents (vaccines) against cancer and infectious diseases, including melanoma, human papillomavirus, non-small cell lung cancer, tuberculosis and malaria. The company's flagship platform, FixVac, enables the creation of ready-to-use mRNA cancer vaccines that can be used off-shelf to a specific indication (fixed-dose vaccines). These vaccines are a fixed combination of unmutated tumor antigens encoded by mRNA, which are frequently expressed in certain types of cancer. The mRNA is delivered using a proprietary RNA-lipoplex delivery system, which is designed to enhance mRNA stability in the body and target antigen-presenting dendritic cells (DCs), the training grounds of our immune system.
3
Moderna Therapeutics
Country: USA | Funding: $3.9B
Moderna is a pioneer in developing a new class of drugs based on messenger RNA (mRNA). This new drug platform is based on the discovery that in-vitro engeneered and injected mRNA can direct the body's cellular machinery to produce virtually any protein of interest, from native proteins to antibodies and other entirely new protein constructs with therapeutic activity both inside and outside cells. In other words, mRNA can guide the body to produce its own drugs. Moderna used mRNA to create the first COVID-19 vaccine and is now applying this technology to create vaccines for infectious diseases (influenza, RSV, HSV, etc.), immuno-oncology (melanoma, lung cancer, liver cancer, etc.), rare diseases and autoimmune diseases.
4
Elicio Therapeutics
Country: USA | Funding: $263.8M
Elicio Therapeutics is a pharmaceutical research company that develops an immuno-tumor vaccine to treat cancer.
5
IO Biotech
Country: Denmark | Funding: $235M
IO Biotech ApS is a clinical stage biotech company developing disruptive immune therapies i.e. checkpoint/cancer vaccines.
6
Imugene
Country: Australia | Funding: A$80M
Imugene is a publicly-listed biotechnology company with operations in America and Europe,
7
Immunomic Therapeutics
Country: USA | Funding: $84.9M
Immunomic Therapeutics is a development stage biotechnology company that develops lysosomal associated membrane protein-based vaccines.
8
TransCode Therapeutics
Country: USA | Funding: $48.1M
TransCode Therapeutics is an RNA oncology company that develops and commercializes drugs for the treatment of metastatic cancer.
9
Anixa Biosciences
Country: USA | Funding: $34.3M
Anixa is a publicly-traded biotechnology company focused on harnessing the body's immune system in the fight against cancer. Anixa's therapeutic portfolio includes a cancer vaccine technology focused on the immunization against α-Lactalbumin to prevent triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), as well as a cancer immunotherapy program which uses a novel type of CAR-T, known as chimeric endocrine receptor T-cell (CER-T) technology.
10
Scancell
Country: UK | Funding: £27M
Scancell is focused on developing innovative immunotherapies for cancer that stimulate the body’s own immune system.
11
Aston Sci
Country: South Korea | Funding: ₩27B
Aston Sci is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that develops medicines in oncology, immunology, and geriatrics. It's cancer vaccine is being evaluated for breast and gastric cancer
12
BioVaxys
Country: USA | Funding: $13.8M
BioVaxys is a clinical stage biotechnology company developing immunotherapeutic cancer vaccines targeting melanoma and ovarian cancer.
13
VacV Biotherapeutics
Country: UK | Funding: $3M
VacV Biotech develops an oncolytic virus platform based on the vaccinia virus.
14
Dendreon
Country: USA
Dendreon was a biotechnology company produces immunotherapy for prostate cancer. Its cancer vaccine uses a patient’s own immune cells, which are collected, processed and infused back into the individual through an intravenous infusion that is completed in three cycles.
15
Takis
Country: Italy
Takis main focus is the development of therapeutic cancer vaccines against tumor antigens which play a role in tumor development and maintenance.
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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