Leyden Labs Raises €30M from EIC Fund and Invest-NL for Respiratory Virus Pipeline

• Leyden Labs raised €30 million from the European Innovation Council Fund and Invest-NL to support clinical development of its PanFlu nasal spray and broader mucosal pipeline.

• The investment strengthens the company’s global investor base, complementing previous fundraising rounds including a $70 million Series B and €20 million EIB venture debt.

Leyden Labs, a Dutch biotech company, has secured €30 million in new equity financing from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund and Invest-NL. The funding will support the clinical development of its pan-influenza nasal spray (PanFlu) and further mucosal platform activities.

The company is developing antibody-based nasal sprays designed to block airborne respiratory viruses at the point of entry. Unlike conventional vaccines, which rely on systemic immune responses, these sprays aim to provide immediate protection by delivering broadly protective antibodies directly to the respiratory mucosa. The approach is intended to remain effective against mutating viruses and protect vulnerable populations, including the elderly and immunocompromised.

“This investment strengthens Europe’s resilience and autonomy in health innovation,” said Ineke Cazander, investment principal at Invest-NL. Svetoslava Georgieva, Chair of the EIC Fund Board, highlighted the importance of preparing Europe for future health crises, noting that the pandemic underlined the critical need for innovative approaches to combat respiratory viruses.

The financing builds on Leyden Labs’ previous fundraising milestones, including a $70 million Series B earlier this year and a €20 million EIB venture debt investment through the European Commission’s InvestEU initiative and HERA. With investors from the US, Asia, and Europe, the company can leverage diverse perspectives to advance its global strategy against seasonal and pandemic respiratory viruses.

PanFlu’s antibody component, CR9114, is described as the most widely protective influenza antibody identified to date. Leyden Labs is working to demonstrate its efficacy in the respiratory tract, applying detailed insights into respiratory mucosa biology to both research and clinical development efforts.