ILiAD's $115M Bet on a Next-Gen Pertussis Vaccine

ILiAD Biotechnologies has secured $115 million in venture financing to advance its live attenuated pertussis vaccine candidate, BPZE1, into a pivotal Phase 3 trial. The Florida-based biotech is developing BPZE1, a nasally administered vaccine designed to prevent colonization and transmission of Bordetella pertussis, the bacterium that causes whooping cough. The new capital is earmarked specifically for the global Phase 3 clinical efficacy study of BPZE1, which aims to demonstrate protection against infection and disease. While the investor syndicate was not disclosed, the substantial round reflects a strategic bet on a differentiated asset in a core vaccine category. Vaccine platform companies addressing persistent infectious diseases continue to attract significant private investment, even as public markets remain selective.