LAVA Therapeutics develops a proprietary bispecific antibody platform that engages Vγ9Vδ2 gamma-delta T cells to target hematologic and solid tumors. Its first-in-class immuno-oncology approach activates these T cells upon binding to membrane-expressed tumor targets to create tumor-targeted immunotherapies. The company plans to advance its bispecific gamma-delta T cell engager portfolio into multiple proof-of-concept clinical trials expected to start in 2021 for solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. LAVA describes gamma-delta T cells as a bridge between innate and adaptive immunity and an untapped opportunity in cancer treatment. The company raised financing to fund advancement of its pipeline and platform and has established antibody R&D teams in Utrecht, the Netherlands and Philadelphia, USA. Lava Therapeutics is developing a proprietary platform of bispecific γδ T cell engaging antibodies that redirect Vγ9Vδ2 T cells to membrane-expressed tumor targets. The company has demonstrated proof of principle for the platform and aims to translate the approach into first-in-class immuno-oncology therapeutics. Lava plans to broaden its pipeline and advance a lead candidate toward clinical testing. The business recently strengthened its R&D leadership with the appointment of Paul Parren, an experienced antibody drug developer. Founded in 2016 and operating out of the Netherlands, Lava builds on research from VU University Medical Center and Cancer Center Amsterdam. The company intends to use new financing to further develop and validate its platform and expand its therapeutic programs.

Total raised

$103M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Series C

Latest activity

Sep 2020