On February 26, 2025, the biotech funding landscape saw important developments with substantial financial backing for two companies working on high impact programs in immunology and global health.

Afrigen, a leader in mRNA vaccine development and a champion of expanding vaccine access in underserved regions, received significant grant support to continue its research. The company is now advancing an mRNA vaccine for Rift Valley fever, a mosquito borne illness that poses serious risks across Africa and parts of the Middle East. The grant provides Afrigen with the resources needed to progress toward early clinical testing and regional availability. This achievement reflects growing recognition of the importance of equitable vaccine development for diseases that often receive limited global attention.

Tourmaline Bio also reported strong progress. The company is advancing a monoclonal antibody that targets interleukin 6, a pathway associated with systemic inflammation. Designed for subcutaneous administration, the therapy is being tested in phase 2 clinical trials in patients with chronic kidney disease who show elevated markers of inflammation. Early results have demonstrated reductions in high sensitivity C reactive protein, suggesting the potential for meaningful benefits across inflammatory and cardio renal diseases.

These two cases illustrate where investment is currently flowing in 2025. Afrigen represents the commitment to funding programs that address public health needs in vulnerable populations. Tourmaline, on the other hand, highlights the continued investor focus on antibody therapies that are supported by strong scientific rationale and early clinical data.

The broader funding environment remains more selective than it was during the peak years earlier in the decade, yet capital continues to support companies that combine innovation with clear medical impact. Global health initiatives and therapies targeting systemic inflammation stand out as areas drawing particular attention.

Together, the funding milestones announced by Afrigen and Tourmaline offer a measure of optimism for patients and clinicians. Afrigen’s work may soon deliver a vaccine that helps prevent a devastating infectious disease, while Tourmaline’s program could provide new treatment options for people with chronic kidney disease and related inflammatory conditions. Both stories underscore how carefully directed funding can shape the future of clinical research and ultimately change lives.