RQ Bio secures $115 million to advance seasonal flu antibody therapies

The Series A round was led by Frazier Life Sciences, with EQT Life Sciences, Forbion, Monograph, and Wellington Management joining existing backers LifeArc, Oxford Science Enterprises, and Oxford University Innovation. The capital will primarily support the clinical progression of RQB01, the company's flagship therapy, while fueling the expansion of its broader infectious disease pipeline.

Founded in 2021, RQ Bio focuses on antibody therapies designed to bypass the limitations of traditional vaccination in vulnerable populations. To steer the company through its next phase of growth, the board has appointed Christian S. Schade as Executive Chairman. Schade, who previously led Halda Therapeutics before its $3 billion acquisition by Johnson & Johnson, will oversee corporate strategy and team scaling. Felice Verduyn-van Weegen of EQT Life Sciences noted that the company’s single-administration approach addresses a critical gap for patients whose immune systems do not respond adequately to standard vaccination strategies.