Scorpius Holdings
Scorpius Holdings is a United States biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization that evolved from the oncology-immunotherapy company Heat Biologics.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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History
Scorpius Holdings traces its origins to Heat Biologics, which was founded in 2008 by Jeff Wolf and Eckhard Podack in partnership with the University of Miami and Seed-One Ventures. The original company was established as an immunotherapy biotechnology business, with research directed toward therapeutic approaches that could stimulate immune responses against cancer. Its scientific work included the use of immune-signaling mechanisms and engineered cellular platforms intended to activate T cells. In 2011, the company relocated to North Carolina. The same year, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center provided $225,000 in initial funding. This move placed the business within the state's growing biotechnology ecosystem and preceded its transition into a publicly traded enterprise. On July 24, 2013, Heat Biologics completed its Nasdaq listing under the ticker HTBX. The company broadened its oncology portfolio in 2017 by acquiring an 80% controlling interest in Pelican Therapeutics. In 2019, it moved its headquarters to Morrisville, North Carolina. During this period, its principal identity remained that of a clinical-stage biotechnology company pursuing cancer-immunotherapy candidates. A significant additional research direction emerged in 2020. Heat Biologics collaborated with the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami on a COVID-19 vaccine concept based on its gp96 platform. The approach was intended to express antigens associated with COVID-19 and stimulate immune responses, with the possibility of generating longer-lasting protection. The available reference material does not establish that this program became an approved or commercially marketed vaccine. The oncology pipeline continued to advance in 2021. HS-110, also called viagenpumatucel-L, entered Phase 2 testing for non-small-cell lung cancer, including evaluation in combination with cyclophosphamide. Other studies examined combinations with nivolumab and additional checkpoint inhibitors. HS-130 entered a Phase 1 clinical study in patients with solid tumors. It was described as an allogeneic, or off-the-shelf, cell line engineered to express an OX40 ligand fusion protein. The intended mechanism was to strengthen antigen-specific CD8-positive T-cell responses. The company changed its name to NightHawk Biosciences in 2022. That year also marked a retreat from parts of its earlier proprietary therapeutic strategy: development of HS-110 and PTX-35 was halted in November. PTX-35 had been investigated as a potential first-in-class T-cell co-stimulator targeting TNFRSF25, also known as death receptor 3. Preclinical work reportedly showed a favorable safety profile in mice and non-human primates, but the program did not continue under the referenced development plan. In 2024, the organization underwent a strategic restructuring. Rather than continuing to prioritize internal research and development, it shifted toward a contract development and manufacturing organization model. This change repositioned the business around services for biopharmaceutical customers, including development and manufacturing capabilities, instead of relying primarily on the advancement of its own clinical pipeline. The referenced history reports a further transaction in December 2025, under which the company's manufacturing and development assets were sold to Tivic Health Systems. The available material does not provide transaction terms, valuation, or a definitive statement about whether the Scorpius Holdings legal entity continued independently after the asset sale. Consequently, the brand's current operating status remains uncertain. Its documented history is best understood as a progression from an oncology-focused public biotechnology company to a contract development and manufacturing business, followed by a reported transfer of key assets.
- 2025
Reported asset sale to Tivic Health Systems
[1]The referenced history states that manufacturing and development assets were sold to Tivic Health Systems in December 2025.
- 2024
Shift to contract development and manufacturing
[1]The company restructured and moved away from internal R&D toward a contract development and manufacturing organization model.
- 2022
Corporate renaming and pipeline reductions
[1]The company became NightHawk Biosciences, and development of HS-110 and PTX-35 was halted in November.
- 2021
Clinical pipeline advances
[1]HS-110 began Phase 2 testing for non-small-cell lung cancer, while HS-130 entered a Phase 1 trial for solid tumors.
- 2020
COVID-19 vaccine collaboration
[1]Heat Biologics and the University of Miami initiated a gp96-based COVID-19 vaccine collaboration.
- 2019
Headquarters move to Morrisville
[1]The company moved its headquarters to Morrisville, North Carolina.
- 2017
Pelican Therapeutics investment
[1]Heat Biologics acquired an 80% controlling interest in Pelican Therapeutics.
- 2013
Nasdaq listing
[1]Heat Biologics began trading publicly on Nasdaq under the ticker HTBX on July 24, 2013.
- 2011
Operations move to North Carolina
[1]The company relocated to North Carolina and received $225,000 in initial funding from the North Carolina Biotechnology Center.
- 2008
Heat Biologics is founded
[1]Jeff Wolf and Eckhard Podack founded Heat Biologics in collaboration with the University of Miami and Seed-One Ventures.
Products and positioning
A biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing organization formed through the restructuring of an oncology-immunotherapy biotechnology company. Its earlier positioning emphasized proprietary immune-oncology programs and T-cell activation technologies; its later positioning shifted toward contract development and manufacturing services.
Cancer immunotherapy
HS-110
HS-110, also known as viagenpumatucel-L, was an investigational cellular immunotherapy developed for non-small-cell lung cancer. It was evaluated in a Phase 2 study with cyclophosphamide and in earlier combination research involving nivolumab and other checkpoint inhibitors. The program was intended to stimulate an immune response against tumor-associated targets, but development was halted in November 2022.
Allogeneic cell therapy
HS-130
HS-130 was an investigational allogeneic, off-the-shelf cell line for patients with solid tumors. The cells were engineered to express an OX40 ligand fusion protein, OX40L-Fc. The intended function was to provide co-stimulatory signaling that could enhance antigen-specific CD8-positive T-cell responses. The product entered a Phase 1 clinical trial, but the available material does not state its later development outcome.
Vaccines · 2020
gp96-based COVID-19 vaccine
This was an investigational vaccine concept developed with the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine in 2020. It used the company's gp96 platform to express antigens associated with COVID-19 and was intended to activate immune responses that might provide durable protection. The available reference does not identify a commercial launch or regulatory approval.
T-cell co-stimulator
PTX-35
PTX-35 was an investigational immuno-oncology therapy studied in a Phase 1 trial for patients with solid tumors. It was designed as a potential first-in-class T-cell co-stimulator targeting TNFRSF25, also called death receptor 3. Preclinical testing reportedly showed a favorable safety profile in mice and non-human primates. Its development was halted in November 2022.
Biopharmaceutical services · 2024
Contract development and manufacturing services
Following the 2024 restructuring, the company shifted its emphasis toward contract development and manufacturing for biopharmaceutical customers. The service-oriented model represented a move away from primarily funding proprietary clinical programs and toward using manufacturing and development infrastructure on behalf of external partners. The subsequent ownership and availability of these capabilities after the reported 2025 asset sale are unclear.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020University of Miami COVID-19 vaccine collaboration
United States
Heat Biologics worked with the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine on a COVID-19 vaccine concept using the gp96 platform to express disease-associated antigens and stimulate immune responses.
Outcome. The available material confirms the collaboration but does not document a marketed vaccine or regulatory approval.
Brand decisions
2025
Sale of manufacturing and development assetsM&ABackground
After the shift toward contract development and manufacturing, the company's manufacturing and development assets were reportedly subject to a transaction with Tivic Health Systems.
Action taken
The referenced history states that the assets were sold to Tivic Health Systems in December 2025.
Aftermath
The available material does not establish the transaction's financial terms or whether Scorpius Holdings continued as an independent operating entity.
2024
Reorient the business toward contract development and manufacturingStrategyBackground
The company moved away from its earlier model of pursuing internally developed research and clinical programs.
Action taken
The organization restructured and shifted its focus to contract development and manufacturing services.
Aftermath
The strategic identity of the business changed from an oncology-immunotherapy developer to a services-oriented biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing organization.
2022
Halt development of HS-110 and PTX-35OtherBackground
The company was reassessing its clinical-stage oncology portfolio during a period that preceded its broader corporate repositioning.
Action taken
Development of HS-110 and PTX-35 was halted in November 2022.
Aftermath
The two investigational programs were removed from active development, while HS-130 remained the only specifically identified clinical-stage program in the supplied material.
Recent events
Heat Biologics appoints Paul Tebbey to product development role[2]
Reported:
Heat Biologics announced Paul Tebbey's appointment as Senior Vice President of Product Development and Portfolio Strategy.
Sources2 sources
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