Dutch Biotech Firm Secures €40 Million to Advance Nasal Sprays Protecting Against Respiratory Viruses
Leiden, Saturday 25 July 2026
Leyden Labs has secured €40 million, backed by Invest-NL and the Gates Foundation, to accelerate clinical trials for nasal sprays providing broad-spectrum protection against flu and coronaviruses.
A Strategic Injection for Mucosal Immunity
In July 2026, the Dutch biotechnology sector marked a significant milestone as Leyden Labs secured a €40 million funding round to advance its preventative healthcare technologies [1]. This capital injection includes a €10 million follow-on investment from the Dutch impact investor Invest-NL, which constitutes 25% of the total round [1]. The financing round attracted a diverse international consortium of investors spanning Europe, the United States, and Asia, featuring prominent backers such as the EIC Fund, the Gates Foundation Strategic Investment Fund, and ClavystBio [1].
Targeting the Entry Point of Infection
The primary objective of this capital is to accelerate the clinical development of Leyden Labs’ mucosal protection platform [1]. Unlike traditional vaccines that rely on systemic immune responses, Leyden Labs is developing nasal sprays containing broad-spectrum protective antibodies [1]. These sprays are designed to deliver immediate, localised protection directly in the nasal mucosa and respiratory tract—the primary entry point where respiratory viruses, such as influenza and coronaviruses, typically invade the human body [1].
Scaling Up Through International Collaboration
This substantial funding round follows the strategic selection of Leyden Labs for the European Innovation Council (EIC) STEP Scale Up-programme [1]. The participation of global venture capital and philanthropic funds highlights a unified conviction among international financiers that current public health infrastructures require more advanced, proactive biosecurity tools to protect global populations from seasonal and pandemic respiratory threats [1].
Fostering Regional Resilience and Innovation
For the Dutch life sciences ecosystem, the transaction represents a continuation of strategic sovereign backing [1]. Invest-NL’s €10 million commitment is a direct follow-up to its previous investment round conducted alongside the EIC Fund [1]. By doubling down on Leyden Labs, the national impact investor aims to transition promising laboratory research into scalable market solutions, ultimately fostering a more resilient healthcare infrastructure in the Netherlands [1].