# Virogin Biotech

> Virogin Biotech is a Canadian clinical-stage immuno-oncology company engineering HSV-1 viruses to kill tumor cells and deliver immune-stimulating payloads. Its lead candidate VG161 has produced early liver cancer data, while VG201 and a discovery-stage mRNA vaccine platform extend its strategy.

- **Founded:** 2015
- **Headquarters:** Richmond, Canada
- **Founders:** Chris Huang (Co-founder and CEO), William Jia (Founder and chief scientific officer)
- **Products:** VG161, VG201, VG203, mRNA vaccine platform
- **Notable:** VG161 received FDA orphan-drug designation for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in 2023., VG161 received FDA Fast Track designation for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma in 2023., VG161 received China's breakthrough-therapy designation for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma in 2024.

## Products & services

- **VG161** — Investigational attenuated HSV-1 oncolytic virus carrying IL-12, IL-15/IL-15Rα, and a PD-L1 blocking peptide; studied in liver and other solid tumors.
- **VG201** — Investigational tumor-regulated HSV-1 oncolytic virus with IL-12 and IL-15/IL-15Rα payloads; studied via intratumoral injection with an intravenous route also under development.
- **VG203** — Investigational next-generation oncolytic virus for solid tumors; received US FDA IND clearance in 2023.
- **mRNA vaccine platform** — Discovery-stage conventional and self-amplifying RNA programs including HPV, HER2, EBV and mpox vaccine candidates.

## Achievements

- VG161 received FDA orphan-drug designation for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in 2023.
- VG161 received FDA Fast Track designation for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma in 2023.
- VG161 received China's breakthrough-therapy designation for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma in 2024.
- A multicenter Phase 1 VG161 study was published in Nature in 2025.

## Latest updates

- **2025-04** — Announced a clinical collaboration with Akeso to test VG201 plus ivonescimab in colorectal cancer liver metastasis.
- **2025-03** — Multicenter Phase 1 data on VG161 in refractory hepatocellular carcinoma were published in Nature.
- **2024-09** — VG161 received breakthrough-therapy designation from China's CDE for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

## Links

- Website: https://virogin.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/viroginbiotech/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/virogin_biotech
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/viroginbiotech/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/virogin-biotech
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-29