Dutch-based Leyden Labs gets €20M EIB backing to protect against influenza outbreaks, including avian flu

Dutch-based Leyden Laboratories BV, a clinical-stage biotech company, announced that it has signed a €20M venture debt financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB).

The funding will support the development of Leyden Labs’ antibody programmes aimed at countering viral infections.

The company’s lead programme, a nasal spray known as PanFlu, is in clinical development. It targets influenza viruses, including Avian Flu (H5), and is intended for use as a defence against seasonal and pandemic viral infections.

Boosting pandemic preparedness and health security

Leyden Labs’ venture debt financing agreement is supported by the European Commission’s InvestEU programme through the “HERA Invest” initiative.

Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (HERA) Invest is a €110M effort under the European Health Union focused on biodefence, pandemic readiness, and antimicrobial resistance. The initiative is funded through the EU4Health programme as an addition to the InvestEU effort.

HERA’s responsibility is to ensure that the EU and Member States are ready to act in the face of cross-border health threats. The €20 million proceeds of this financing will support further development of Leyden Labs’ novel, non-vaccine approach to fighting respiratory viruses to contribute to European pandemic preparedness efforts.

Robert de Groot, Vice President of EIB, says, “The COVID-19 pandemic taught us multiple lessons, including that we should strengthen the EU’s preparedness and autonomy in key areas like bio sciences.”

“With the support of the European Commission, the EIB backs highly innovative EU companies like Leyden Labs with venture debt, enabling them to grow and thrive in Europe. Technological innovations from companies like Leyden Labs are key for European competitiveness and the well-being of our society.”

Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, adds, “Respiratory viruses are common and affect us all, especially the most medically vulnerable. Today’s agreement reaffirms our commitment to invest in innovation to strengthen preparedness and protection against respiratory viruses. HERA Invest is a prime example of Europe at the forefront of medical advancements in response to serious threats to health.”

Capital utilisation

The funding will support the development of Lumo Labs’ non-vaccine approach to combating respiratory viruses.

Koenraad Wiedhaup, co-founder and CEO of Leyden Labs, says, “We are thrilled with this endorsement of our approach and support from HERA and the European Investment Bank. This will accelerate our efforts to provide broad, universal protection against current and future viral outbreaks.”

“We are grateful that HERA and the EIB understand the urgency and significance of investing in initiatives to ensure Europe is prepared for pandemic viruses. This concern is greater than ever, given the increasing threat of an avian influenza outbreak.”

Leyden Labs’ intranasal antibody approach for early viral defence

Founded in 2020 by Jaap Goudsmit, Koenraad Wiedhaup, and Ronald Brus, Leyden Labs is developing nasal spray products that deliver antibodies to the respiratory mucosa. This approach targets viruses at the point of entry, before they reach systemic circulation. 

The company’s lead candidate, CR9114, is a human monoclonal antibody licensed from Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. and has shown protection against influenza in preclinical studies.

Leyden Labs’ strategy differs from traditional vaccines by focusing on respiratory entry points rather than internal immune responses. The antibodies are intended to remain effective even as viruses change. This method may also support individuals with limited immune function. 

The Dutch company plans to use this approach in both seasonal outbreaks and pandemics to support broader efforts in viral prevention.

Brief about the European Investment Bank

The European Investment Bank (EIB) serves as the European Union’s main institution for long-term lending and is collectively owned by EU Member States. The Netherlands holds a 5.2 per cent stake in the bank. 

The EIB provides long-term funding to support investments that align with EU-wide goals and national objectives. Most of the bank’s activities take place within Europe, accounting for over 90 per cent of its operations. 

In the past decade, the EIB has allocated more than €27B in funding to Dutch projects across areas such as research, transport, water supply, healthcare, and small businesses. In 2024, the EIB Group, which includes the European Investment Fund, committed over €3B to initiatives in the Netherlands.

InvestEU unifies EU financial tools

The InvestEU programme is a funding initiative by the European Union that combines various financial tools into one framework. It uses both public and private funding to support projects aligned with EU policy goals, including areas such as environmental action and digital infrastructure. 

InvestEU is structured around three main parts: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub, and the InvestEU Portal. 

The InvestEU Fund is operated by partners who use a €26.2B guarantee from the EU budget to invest in projects. This guarantee helps increase their capacity to take on risk and is expected to generate at least €372B in further investment.