The financing was co-led by new investors Novo Ventures, the venture arm of Novo Holdings, and Sanofi Ventures, and included additional new investors Redmile Group, LLC, Ysios Capital and BB Pureos Bioventures. In addition, current investors Versant, Gilde Healthcare and MRL Ventures Fund, LLC participated significantly in the round.
LAVA is a biotech company pioneering the development of bispecific antibodies to engage gamma-delta T cells for cancer therapies. The financing will accelerate the advancement of LAVA’s immuno-oncology pipeline and its powerful bispecific gamma-delta T cell engager programs into multiple proof-of-concept clinical trials expected to start in 2021 for the treatment of solid tumours and hematologic malignancies. LAVA was founded in 2016 based on intellectual property originating from the Amsterdam University Medical Center. The company has established a highly experienced antibody research and development team located in Utrecht, the Netherlands (headquarters) and Philadelphia, USA.
The matter was referred to Ruud Smits and the NautaDutilh team consisted of Sybren de Beurs, Jeanine Evertse, Harm van Schaijk (Corporate M&A), Jeroen Boelens (IP), Aira Scheijvens (Corporate Notarial), Arjan Koorevaar (Employment) and Boris Andriessen (Real Estate).
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