people carry S. aureus
Disarming pathogens, empowering immunity
Staph evades immunity. We restore it.
Immunartes is developing therapies that neutralize immune evasion to restore host defense and prevent serious S. aureus disease.
Why Staph
Silent carriage. Serious risk.
Carriage is common, often silent, and clinically important: it seeds transmission, increases the likelihood of invasive infection, and creates a large preventable burden.
higher infection risk in clinical settings
U.S. bloodstream infections each year
Platform
Neutralize a central immune-evasion mechanism.
WHERE OTHERS HAVE FALLEN SHORT
S. aureus persists because prior strategies ignored immune evasion.
Prior approaches targeted antigens without addressing immune evasion — leaving the pathogen's core defense intact.
WHERE IMMUNARTES SUCCEEDS
TARGET BIOLOGY
We target the immune-evasion pathway that enables S. aureus to persist in the host.
TRANSLATIONAL OUTPUT
Coordinated vaccine and mAb programs aimed at prevention, not just treatment.
Programs
One target. Two modalities. Immediate and durable protection
Immunartes is translating a shared mechanistic insight into two complementary prevention strategies: one designed for durable immunity, and one designed for immediate protection when risk is acute.
Together, these programs enable immediate protection in perioperative and other high-risk settings while building durable immunity over time.
Vaccine modality
Designed for durable, population-scale prevention
Enables the body to generate its own neutralizing antibodies and maintain protection over time.
Current stage: Preclinical
mAb modality
Designed for immediate protection in perioperative and other hospital high-risk settings
Provides rapid, passive immunity in perioperative and other hospital high-risk settings where vaccination is not feasible.
Current stage: Preclinical
Team
Built by leaders in staphylococcal biology and translational immunology.
The team combines deep expertise in Staphylococcus aureus pathogenesis, immune evasion, animal models, vaccine antigen evaluation, and antibody development to move mechanistic insight into preventive programs.
Vilasack Thammavongsa, Ph.D.
CEO and Director of Research
Leads Immunartes strategy and research with deep expertise in immunology, microbial pathogenesis, and immune-based prevention.
Dominique Missiakas, Ph.D.
Founder and Chief Scientific Officer
Shapes the scientific direction of the company through foundational expertise in staphylococcal pathogenesis, immune evasion, and translational microbiology.
Josh Lensmire, Ph.D.
Senior Staff Scientist
Drives preclinical execution across translational immunology, antibody characterization, and mechanistic studies in Staphylococcus aureus biology.
Hwan Keun Kim, Ph.D.
Scientific Advisor
Advises program development with strength in animal models, vaccine antigen analysis, and antibody-focused infectious disease research.
News
Featured
January 23, 2025
CARB-X funds Immunartes to develop a Staphylococcus aureus preventative.
CARB-X selected Immunartes to advance a preventive program against Staphylococcus aureus.
Open announcement ↗December 2022
NIH contract awarded for advanced development of a vaccine candidate for Staphylococcus aureus infection and colonization.
Contract no. 75N93022C00057 supported advanced vaccine development for infection and colonization prevention.
Open announcement ↗January 4, 2022
NIH Phase I STTR awarded for optimal adjuvant and antigen formulation toward a Staphylococcus aureus human vaccine.
Award 1R41AI167268-01 supported formulation work to improve a human vaccine strategy against S. aureus.
October 12, 2021
CEO Vilasack Thammavongsa presented a Protein A based Staphylococcus aureus vaccine with improved safety.
The presentation was delivered at the World Vaccine Conference Europe and highlighted a safer Protein A vaccine approach.
April 16, 2021
NIH Phase I STTR awarded for development of a vaccine for staphylococcal infections.
Award 1R41AI157087-01A1 supported early development of a vaccine program for staphylococcal infections.
October 18, 2019
Grant awarded from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the 3F6 staph monoclonal antibody program.
The project explored monoclonal antibody approaches to reducing antibiotic-resistant sepsis in newborns.
July–August 2018
Immunartes named a finalist in the MassChallenge startup competition.
The company was recognized as a finalist in the MassChallenge competition for startup companies.
December 6, 2017
University of Chicago Innovation Fund award supports immune therapeutics targeting Staphylococcus aureus.
The translational award supported development of immune therapeutics directed at Staphylococcus aureus.
Open announcement ↗Collaborations
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We are building a focused prevention company around differentiated staphylococcal biology and welcome conversations with collaborators, strategic partners, and investors.
Located in Portal Innovations 400 North Aberdeen Street Suite 900 Chicago, IL 60642
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