Leyden Labs Secures €40 Million to Advance Nasal Spray Platform Targeting Respiratory Viruses
Following its selection for the EIC STEP Scale Up program, Dutch startup BioTech Leiden Laboratories has raised €40 million to advance its nasal spray platform designed to protect against flu and other respiratory viruses. The funding round includes contributions from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund, Invest-NL, the Gates Foundation Strategic Investment Fund, ClavystBio, among others, with Invest-NL contributing €10 million.
A Vote of Confidence in Leyden Labs
“This financing represents much more than capital,” says Koenraad Wiedhaup, founder and CEO of Leyden Labs. “This demonstrates confidence in our scientific approach, our team, and our mission to fundamentally improve how the world protects itself from respiratory viruses. The support of globally respected investors in the areas of public health and strategic innovation gives us tremendous momentum as we advance our programs through clinical development and toward global access.”
Part of a Broader Trend in Biotech Investment
The Leyden Labs funding is part of a 2026 funding model where European biotechnology and adjacent health infrastructure startups attract capital through therapeutic platforms, biologics infrastructure, clinical trial systems, and access to medicines. The closest comparator in the same country is Utrecht-based Laigo Bio, which closed a €17 million seed round, while larger adjacent BioTech rounds include mbiomics’ €30 million Series A and Rivia’s €13 million Series A.
Based on comparable 2026 announcements, the disclosed funding amounts to approximately €87 million, or approximately €127 million when including Leyden Labs’ €40 million round. This suggests a continued movement of capital toward platform-based biotechnologies, immune-related therapies, drug development infrastructure, and access-driven healthcare models.
Innovative Approach to Virus Protection
Founded in 2020, Leyden Labs is developing a new class of broad-protection nasal sprays that deliver antibodies directly to the respiratory mucosa, the area of the nose and mouth where airborne viruses such as influenza and coronaviruses typically enter the body. The company’s mucosal protection platform aims to provide protection at this first point of contact, rather than relying solely on systemic protection generated by vaccines or injected antibodies.
The company’s approach relies on delivering broadly protective antibodies directly into the nose. These antibodies are intended to protect against entire viral families, meaning they could continue to work even as viruses mutate and evolve. Leyden Labs says the intranasal strategy could be particularly relevant for people with compromised immune systems because it does not require a fully functioning immune response.
Global Impact and Support
The funding will support the further development of Leyden Labs’ clinical program and help advance its pipeline targeting influenza, coronaviruses, and other respiratory viruses. The company’s work comes amid continued concern about seasonal and pandemic respiratory threats, particularly for vulnerable groups and in regions where access to prevention tools may be limited.
The EIC Fund funding was provided through the EIC Strategic Technologies for Europe platform, which supports companies working in areas considered important for Europe’s technological readiness and competitiveness, including biotechnology.
“To transform groundbreaking innovations into solutions that benefit society, companies need access to patient capital. As the national promotion institution of the Netherlands, we are happy to support Leyden Labs on this journey,” says Ineke Cazander, investment director at Invest-NL.
The Gates Foundation’s investment will support work to identify and implement strategies to optimize access to Leyden Labs’ products in low- and middle-income countries. This global access angle is at the heart of the round, with the investor group spanning Europe, the United States, and Asia.
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