VVAXICAN, a spin-off of the University of Gdańsk originating from the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of the University of Gdańsk and the Medical University of Gdańsk (MWB UG i GUMed), a biotechnology company developing a modern platform for anti-cancer vaccines based on proprietary virus-like particle (eVLP) technology and providing advanced next-generation sequencing (NGS) services, has raised PLN 10.5 million in a seed round from DeepTech Capital Consortium. The funds will be used to develop preclinical programs and bring the first two candidates for therapeutic cancer vaccines to clinical readiness.
The ceremonial signing of the agreement took place on November 13, 2025, at the University of Gdańsk. The event was attended by, among others, representatives of the management board of the special purpose vehicle UG Univentum Labs – Dr. Sylwia Mrozowska and Dr. Andrzej Poszewiecki, President of the Management Board of Vaxican – Dr. Łukasz Rąbalski, Director of the UG Technology Transfer Center – Katarzyna Gronowska, and representatives of DeepTech Capital Consortium.
Investors from DeepTech Capital Consortium, which includes iif.vc, Rubicon Partners, Radix VC, and a group of individual investors, recognized the potential of solutions developed by a team of scientists from the Department of Recombinant Vaccines at the University of Gdańsk and the Medical University of Gdańsk.
The funds raised will be used to develop and validate the eVLP platform, bring two vaccine candidates to clinical readiness, expand the laboratory infrastructure and research team, and develop the Vaxican Genomics division in the area of next-generation sequencing (NGS) services as a certified partner of Oxford Nanopore Technologies.
–VAXiCAN is a project that not only combines scientific knowledge from the University of Gdańsk, but is also supported by the experience of Mateusz Sagan, the Rubicon Partners venture building model, and the expertise of funds that have successfully listed companies on the Warsaw Stock Exchange – says Dr. Łukasz Rąbalski, co-founder, and CEO of Vaxican Sp. z o.o.
–From the perspective of the University of Gdańsk, this is an example of the successful commercialization of scientific research results and effective cooperation between science and business. – emphasizes Dr. Paweł Antonowicz, Professor at the University of Gdańsk, Vice-Rector for Development and Finance at the University of Gdańsk.
The University of Gdańsk has been conducting research in the field of medical biotechnology for many years. Scientists from the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of the University of Gdańsk and the Medical University of Gdańsk are among the leading experts. Many of them conduct research whose results are protected by Polish, European, and international patents.
– We have been cooperating with VAXiCAN in the field of knowledge transfer for years. We license innovative technology that was developed in the laboratories of the University of Gdańsk and is being developed by the company. – emphasizes Katarzyna Gronowska, Director of the Technology Transfer Center at the University of Gdańsk. – This is an example of how securing research results and protecting intellectual property at an early stage translates into the safe launch of technology commercialization and further development of cooperation with the market. – she adds.
– We are delighted that the project developed by our scientists is receiving such strong investment support. From the very beginning, we have participated as a special purpose vehicle of the University of Gdańsk in the development of VAXiCAN as its shareholder, actively supporting the implementation of its strategy – comments Dr. Sylwia Mrozowska, professor at the University of Gdańsk, President of the Management Board of Univentum Labs Sp. z o.o., a special purpose vehicle of the University of Gdańsk.
The global market for cancer vaccines, valued at over $11 billion in 2025 with an estimated growth to approximately $29 billion in 2034, is growing alongside advances in immunotherapy and personalized medicine. The eVLP technology developed by VAXiCAN allows the creation of vaccines with a high safety and efficacy profile, with the possibility of rapid adaptation to different types of cancer. Support for proprietary advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence (ML/AI) models, integration with the company’s own next-generation sequencing (NGS) facilities, ensure full control over the research and development process and are a key differentiator for the company.
Vaxican Sp. z o. o.
VAXiCAN is a spin-off of the University of Gdańsk, a biotechnology company developing a modern platform for anti-cancer vaccines based on proprietary eVLP (enveloped virus-like particles) technology and offering advanced next-generation sequencing (NGS) services as a certified partner of Oxford Nanopore Technologies. www.vaxican.com
DeepTech Capital Consortium
An initiative bringing together experienced private and institutional investors, whose goal is to support projects at the intersection of science and business. The DeepTech Capital Consortium comprises Rubicon Partners, iif.vc, Radix Ventures, and a group of individual investors associated with the rynkowyrebeliant.pl portal, with a combined capital of approximately PLN 572 million. The Consortium’s goal is to support young technology companies, focusing on areas such as deep tech, life science, and space tech.
fot. Bartłomiej Jętczak/CKiP UG
