Leyden Labs

Leyden Labs is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a portfolio of nasal sprays designed to provide protection against respiratory viruses like influenza and coronaviruses. The company was founded in 2020 by Koenraad Wiedhaup, Ronald Brus, Jaap Goudsmit, and Dinko Valerio, a team of industry veterans from companies like Crucell, which was acquired by Johnson & Johnson. The idea for the company originated during the first COVID-19 lockdown, with the mission to prevent future pandemics by developing products that protect against entire viral families.

Leyden Labs' core technology is its Mucosal Protection Platform, which focuses on delivering broadly protective antibodies directly to the nasal mucosa, the entry point for many airborne viruses. Unlike traditional vaccines that rely on a systemic immune response, these antibody-based nasal sprays are designed to provide immediate protection by creating a barrier that neutralizes viruses at the site of infection. This approach is intended to be effective for everyone, including those with compromised immune systems, and to remain effective even as viruses mutate by targeting conserved regions of the viruses.

The company's lead product candidate is PanFlu, a pan-influenza nasal spray featuring the human monoclonal antibody CR9114. Leyden Labs holds an exclusive license from Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a Johnson & Johnson company, to develop and commercialize CR9114 for mucosal administration. This antibody has shown the ability to protect against both influenza A and B strains in preclinical models. The company is also developing a similar program for coronaviruses. Recent data from clinical studies have shown that the nasal spray is safe and can maintain protective antibody levels in the nasal cavity.

Leyden Labs operates on a business model centered on the research, development, and eventual commercialization of its proprietary nasal sprays. The company has raised significant capital to fund its clinical trials and platform development, securing approximately $257 million over four rounds from a syndicate of global investors including GV (formerly Google Ventures), SoftBank Vision Fund 2, Casdin Capital, and Polaris Partners. In January 2025, Leyden Labs acquired CoV Biotechnology Pte. Ltd., a Singapore-based company, to expand its research and development efforts and pandemic preparedness initiatives in Asia.

Keywords: respiratory virus protection, nasal spray, mucosal immunity, monoclonal antibodies, pan-influenza, pan-coronavirus, pandemic preparedness, biotechnology, clinical-stage, CR9114, Janssen license, broad-spectrum antiviral, immediate protection, influenza A and B, viral entry blockade, mucosal protection platform, non-vaccine, self-administration