Evrys Bio

Evrys Bio develops host-targeted antivirals — small molecules that block the human cell proteins viruses require for replication rather than attacking the virus directly. The platform originated from Princeton University research on sirtuins, a class of host proteins that regulate cellular responses to stress and that viruses exploit. By inhibiting these host factors, Evrys aims to create drugs effective against multiple virus families with a higher genetic barrier to resistance than traditional direct-acting antivirals.

Thomas Shenk and Lillian Chiang founded Evrys Bio in 2014 based on intellectual property licensed from Princeton University. Shenk, a prominent virologist, is the James A. Elkins Jr. Professor in the Life Sciences at Princeton and a past president of the American Society for Virology. Chiang, a Princeton-trained molecular biologist who worked in Shenk's lab, now leads the company as President and CEO.

Evrys Bio's pipeline targets human cytomegalovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, filoviruses such as Ebola and Marburg, and herpesviruses. Because its mechanism acts on host cell pathways rather than viral proteins, the same underlying technology can be applied to multiple viral families. The firm received a BARDA contract in 2020 to advance filovirus candidates.

Yes. In 2020, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority awarded Evrys Bio a contract valued at up to $63 million (over a multi-year period subject to milestones) to support the development of host-targeted antivirals against filoviruses. This non-dilutive funding has been a significant source of research capital for the company.

Evrys Bio is a venture-backed biotechnology operating company, not a family office. It develops its own drug pipeline and has raised funding from venture capital investors including Charles River Associates. There is no public record of a single family wealth source backing the firm. The presence of the firm in Altss research likely reflects its cross-border multi-location structure or a specific family office investment that has not been publicly detailed.