LAVA Therapeutics, a Dutch Phase 1/2a biotech developing novel bispecific antibodies for cancer, filed on Tuesday with the SEC to raise up to $100 million in an initial public offering.
The company is focused on developing a platform of novel bispecific antibodies engineered to selectively induce gamma-delta T cell-mediated immunity against tumor cells. Its lead candidate, LAVA-051, is a unique, humanized gamma-delta bsTCE targeting CD1d-expressing hematologic cancers, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), multiple myeloma (MM), and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In November 2020, the company filed a CTA to conduct a Phase 1/2a trial with LAVA-051 in relapsed and/or refractory CLL, MM and AML, which it expects to begin enrolling in the 1H21.
The Utrecht, Netherlands-based company was founded in 2016 and booked $4 million in research and license revenue for the 12 months ended December 31, 2020. It plans to list on the Nasdaq under the symbol LVRX. LAVA Therapeutics filed confidentially on January 25, 2021. J.P. Morgan, Jefferies, and SVB Leerink are the joint bookrunners on the deal. No pricing terms were disclosed.
