Here are 1-3 brief analogies for Vir Biotechnology (VIR):

• Gilead Sciences for emerging infectious diseases. (Both companies have a strong focus on combating infectious diseases, with Vir specifically targeting novel therapies for a broad spectrum of global threats.)
• Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, but focused solely on developing advanced therapies for infectious diseases. (Like Regeneron, Vir is an R&D-intensive biotech utilizing cutting-edge platforms, but with an exclusive specialization in infectious disease.)

• VIR-2482 (Influenza A): An investigational monoclonal antibody developed for the prevention of influenza A.
• VIR-1388 (HIV): An investigational T-cell vaccine candidate aimed at preventing HIV infection.
• VIR-3434 (Hepatitis Delta Virus): An investigational monoclonal antibody designed to treat Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV) infection by blocking virus entry.

Vir Biotechnology (symbol: VIR) sells primarily to other companies.

Its major customer is:

• GlaxoSmithKline plc (symbol: GSK)

Vir Biotechnology's collaboration revenue, which constitutes substantially all of its revenue, is primarily derived from its partnership with GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK). GSK often handles the late-stage development, manufacturing, and commercialization of therapeutics initially developed by Vir, paying Vir through upfront payments, development and commercial milestone payments, and royalties on net product sales.

null

Marianne De Backer, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Marianne De Backer joined Vir Biotechnology as CEO and Director in April 2023. Prior to Vir, she was the Executive Vice President and Global Head of Strategy, Business Development & Licensing for the Pharmaceuticals division of Bayer AG, where she spearheaded external innovation, resulting in over 50 new alliances and company acquisitions. From 1991 to 2019, Dr. De Backer held global business and corporate development roles at Johnson & Johnson, including Head and Vice President of M&A Operations and Divestitures for the Pharmaceuticals Group. She started her career in drug discovery research and is an inventor on seven patents. Her tenure at Vir is her first role as a CEO, following three decades in executive positions at other biotechnology companies.

Jason O'Byrne, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Jason O'Byrne was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Vir Biotechnology, effective October 2, 2024. Before joining Vir, he served as CFO of Caribou Biosciences, Inc., where he was responsible for finance, investor relations, corporate communications, IT, procurement, and operations. Previously, Mr. O'Byrne was Senior Vice President of Finance at Audentes Therapeutics, where he managed financial due diligence and integration during its acquisition by Astellas Pharma in 2020. He also spent 13 years at Genentech, a member of the Roche group, gaining extensive operational finance expertise across various functions, including manufacturing, research, clinical development, business development, and commercialization.

Jeff Calcagno, Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer

Jeff Calcagno serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer at Vir Biotechnology.

Vanina de Verneuil, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Vanina de Verneuil is the Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Vir Biotechnology.

Mark Eisner, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer

Mark Eisner serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Vir Biotechnology.

Key Risks to Vir Biotechnology (VIR)

Vir Biotechnology, a clinical-stage immunology company, faces several significant risks inherent to the biotechnology sector, primarily centered around the success of its clinical pipeline, financial sustainability, and the highly competitive landscape. The most prominent risks include:

1. Clinical Trial Risks and Regulatory Hurdles: As a company with a strong focus on developing novel treatments, the success of Vir Biotechnology's business is heavily dependent on the outcomes of its clinical trials and its ability to navigate complex regulatory approval processes. The company's key assets, including its Phase 3 program for Hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) and its oncology programs, are subject to inherent uncertainties. Unexpected safety or efficacy data, delays in trials, and difficulties in obtaining regulatory approvals pose substantial threats to the company's prospects. For instance, the timing and outcome of interactions with regulatory authorities, as well as the potential for unexpected costs or hurdles, could significantly impact the company's trajectory.


2. High Cash Burn Rate and Need for Additional Funding: Vir Biotechnology is characterized by a "high-burn" operating model, driven by substantial research and development (R&D) expenses associated with advancing its clinical programs. While the company reported a robust cash reserve of $810.7 million as of September 30, 2025, with management projecting it to fund operations into mid-2027, its minimal revenue streams and negative earnings per share (EPS) forecasts through 2027 highlight a significant ongoing cash burn. This raises concerns about its long-term financial viability and the potential need for future dilutive financing rounds if clinical milestones are delayed or additional funding becomes necessary.


3. Intense Competition in the Biotechnology Industry: The biotechnology industry is highly competitive, and Vir Biotechnology operates within this challenging environment. The company faces significant competition from established pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as other emerging players developing alternative product candidates for infectious diseases and oncology. This intense competition could impact the market potential and commercialization success of Vir's product candidates, even if they achieve regulatory approval.

The accelerated development and potential market launch of broadly protective, long-lasting universal influenza vaccines by major pharmaceutical companies leveraging advanced platforms (e.g., mRNA technology). Such vaccines, if successful, could significantly diminish the market for Vir Biotechnology's antibody-based influenza A prophylaxis (VIR-2482) by offering a superior, more scalable, and potentially more cost-effective preventive solution.

Vir Biotechnology (symbol: VIR) is a clinical-stage immunology company focused on developing medicines for serious infectious diseases and cancer. The addressable markets for their main products and services, primarily pipeline candidates, are outlined below:

Chronic Hepatitis Delta (CHD)

• Vir Biotechnology's pipeline includes Tobevibart (VIR-3434) and Elebsiran (VIR-2218) for chronic hepatitis delta (CHD) infection.
• The global market size for Chronic Hepatitis D Treatment was valued at approximately USD 1.2 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 2.8 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.5%.
• Another estimate places the global hepatitis D market size at USD 749.86 million in 2024, projected to surpass around USD 1,057.75 million by 2034, with a CAGR of 3.5%.
• The U.S. hepatitis D market size is exhibited at USD 278.20 million in 2024 and is projected to be worth around USD 398.96 million by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 3.67%.
• Globally, there are an estimated 7 million active viremic HDV RNA-positive patients. In the United States, there are an estimated 61,000 RNA-positive patients, and in the EU + UK, there are an estimated 113,000 RNA-positive patients.

Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB)

• Vir Biotechnology is developing Tobevibart (VIR-3434) + Elebsiran (VIR-2218) ± PEG-IFN-α, and VIR-2405 (siRNA therapeutic) for chronic hepatitis B (CHB).
• The global hepatitis B market size reached USD 3.3 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 4.9 billion by 2034, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.83%.
• Other estimates project the global Hepatitis B Treatment Market to grow from USD 4.68 billion in 2024 to an estimated USD 10.3 billion by 2035, reflecting a robust CAGR of 7.42%.
• In the 7MM (United States, EU5, and Japan), the chronic hepatitis B market size was estimated at around USD 1603 million in 2025 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 12.3% from 2025 to 2034. The United States dominated the CHB market among the 7MM in 2024, capturing approximately 72% of the total market share.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

• Vir Biotechnology's HIV program included VIR-1388, a T-cell vaccine, which was in Phase 1 trials. However, VIR-1388 was terminated in August 2024.
• The global HIV drugs market size was valued at USD 32.85 billion in 2024 and is estimated to reach USD 45.07 billion by 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.40%.
• Other projections estimate the global HIV drugs market size to grow from USD 34.75 billion in 2024 to USD 52.95 billion by 2034, with an expected CAGR of 4.3%.
• The U.S. HIV drugs market size is estimated at USD 13.27 billion in 2025 and is projected to be worth around USD 23.23 billion by 2034, poised to grow at a CAGR of 6.39%.
• North America dominates the HIV drugs market, holding a significant market share of over 45.7% in 2024.

Influenza A (and A+B)

• Vir Biotechnology has pipeline candidates such as VIR-2482 (prophylactic monoclonal antibody) and VIR-2981 (monoclonal antibody for influenza A and B).
• The global influenza treatment market size was estimated at USD 5,912.0 million in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 6,444.8 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 1.2%.
• The influenza A infections market is estimated to be valued at USD 744.2 million in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 909.1 million by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 2.9%.
• The influenza A segment of the influenza medications market was valued at over USD 704 million in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 897.4 million by 2032.
• North America dominated the influenza treatment market with a revenue share of 41.49% in 2023.

Oncology (Solid Tumors)

• Vir Biotechnology's oncology pipeline includes VIR-5818 (HER2), VIR-5500 (PSMA), and VIR-5525 (EGFR), which are T-cell engagers utilizing the PRO-XTEN masking platform for solid tumors.
• Specific addressable market sizes for these individual T-cell engagers (VIR-5818, VIR-5500, VIR-5525) were not readily available in the search results.

COVID-19

• Vir Biotechnology developed Sotrovimab, an FDA-approved monoclonal antibody for early treatment of COVID-19, and has VIR-7229, a prophylactic monoclonal antibody, in the Investigational New Drug (IND) filing phase.
• Specific addressable market sizes for Vir's COVID-19 products were not clearly identified in the provided search results beyond general antiviral therapeutics.

Preclinical Programs

• Vir Biotechnology also has preclinical programs targeting pre-cancerous HPV lesions (VIR-1949, a T-cell based vaccine) and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Human Metapneumovirus (MPV) (VIR-8190, a monoclonal antibody).
• Addressable market sizes for these specific preclinical products are not available.

Expected Drivers of Future Revenue Growth for Vir Biotechnology (VIR)

Over the next 2-3 years, Vir Biotechnology's future revenue growth is anticipated to be driven by the advancement and potential commercialization of its clinical pipeline, transitioning from previous pandemic-related revenue streams to long-term therapeutic assets. The key drivers include:

• Commercialization of Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV) Treatment: Vir Biotechnology's most advanced program, the combination of tobevibart and elebsiran for Hepatitis Delta, is a significant expected driver. The company is progressing with its Phase 3 ECLIPSE trials, with topline data for all three studies anticipated by the first quarter of 2027. This program addresses a substantial unmet medical need, and Vir plans to pursue commercialization partnerships in Europe and other international markets.
• Advancement of Oncology Pipeline with T-Cell Engagers: The development of Vir Biotechnology's oncology pipeline, leveraging its proprietary PRO-XTEN® technology, represents another crucial revenue driver. Key programs include VIR-5818 (targeting HER2), VIR-5500 (targeting PSMA), and VIR-5525 (targeting EGFR), all of which are in Phase 1 clinical development. Updates, including comprehensive data for the VIR-5500 program, are expected in the first quarter of 2026. These T-cell engagers have the potential to address significant unmet needs across various solid tumor types by redirecting T cells to kill tumor cells.
• Expansion of VIR-5500 into Earlier Lines of Prostate Cancer Treatment: Vir Biotechnology is actively exploring the potential of VIR-5500 in earlier lines of prostate cancer treatment, specifically in combination with androgen receptor pathway inhibitors. This expansion aims to broaden the market opportunity for VIR-5500 within the prostate cancer treatment continuum.

Share Issuance

• In July 2020, Vir Biotechnology announced the pricing of an underwritten public offering of 7,142,857 shares of its common stock at $42.00 per share, expecting gross proceeds of approximately $300.0 million.
• The public offering closed on July 10, 2020, with the underwriters fully exercising their option to purchase an additional 1,071,428 shares, resulting in aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $345.0 million from the issuance of 8,214,285 shares of common stock.
• As of February 27, 2025, an additional 1,369,541 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under the company's Incentive Plan, representing an automatic annual increase based on 5% of outstanding capital stock from the preceding year.

Inbound Investments

• In October 2023, Vir Biotechnology was awarded approximately $50 million in new funding from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to advance novel monoclonal antibody (mAb) candidates and delivery solutions for COVID-19 and pandemic preparedness.
• This BARDA funding is part of an existing Other Transaction Authority (OTA), which allows for a potential total investment of up to $1 billion to support the development of future pandemic influenza mAbs and up to 10 emerging infectious disease or CBRN medical countermeasure candidates.
• Grant revenue related to enhancing their financial position saw significant growth due to a $14.3 million grant from BARDA, indicating external financing for their initiatives.

Outbound Investments

• As of June 30, 2025, Vir Biotechnology's equity investment consisted solely of ordinary shares of Brii Biosciences Limited (Brii Bio Parent), which are marketable equity securities listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.
• In the full year of 2024, the company made a $103.7 million upfront payment to Sanofi upon the closing of a license agreement.
• A $75.0 million milestone payment to the former shareholders of Amunix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., was reclassified to restricted cash in the third quarter of 2024 and was due upon VIR-5525 achieving "first in human dosing" in July 2025.

Capital Expenditures

• Capital expenditures were approximately $7.3 million for the full year 2024, $21.57 million for 2023, and $68.01 million for 2022.
• For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, capital expenditures were approximately $6.48 million.
• The company's investment activities primarily aim to preserve capital to fund operations and maximize income from investments without significant risk.