VALANX Biotech (VALANX), a biotech company developing a technology for site-selectable, site-specific protein conjugation, today announced it has secured €3 million to advance its lead antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) program. The round includes Foundation Fournier-Majoie and FUJIFILM Corporation as new investors, joining existing VC investors xista science ventures, tecnet equity, SOSV and angel investors Urs Spitz and SkyGene.
The financing will enable pre-clinical development of VLX-ADC-001, a LIV-1-targeting ADC for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC), with candidate selection planned for June 2026, while also supporting GMP readiness and partnering activities for the Company’s GoldenSite™ conjugation platform.
As part of the financing, Ana Maricevic joins VALANX’s Board of Directors, formally representing the Foundation Fournier-Majoie.
ADCs are a transformative class of therapies that combine the targeting precision of antibodies with highly potent payloads. VALANX’s GoldenSite platform is designed to enable rapid and reproducible, site-selectable conjugation. This allows development of ADCs and other conjugates with greatly improved therapeutic windows, addressing a key challenge in ADC development.
Michael Lukesch, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at VALANX Biotech, commented: “LIV-1 is a compelling target in mTNBC, and GoldenSite gives us a practical way to precisely tune conjugation position to optimize the drug candidates therapeutic window. This close enables us to advance VLX-ADC-001 to a solid preclinical data package by June 2026, while progressing GoldenSite toward GMP readiness and partnering with ADC innovators.”
Ana Maricevic, Foundation Fournier-Majoie, said: “As a foundation for innovation in oncology, we back teams with outstanding, scientifically differentiated programs and a clear development path. VALANX’s approach to site-selectable conjugation addresses a central challenge in the ADC field - controlling toxicity to unlock greater efficacy. We are committed to supporting the advancement of VLX-ADC-001 alongside Fujifilm and the existing investor group.”
Toshihisa Iida, Director, Corporate Vice President, General Manager of Life Sciences Strategy Headquarters, FUJIFILM Corporation, commented: “Fujifilm is dedicated to the life sciences, and we invest to stay close to the cutting-edge platform technologies shaping the next generation of biologics. Through strategic investments in advanced technologies, including those addressing key challenges in ADC development, we aim to contribute to a robust ecosystem that supports the creation and delivery of advanced therapeutics.”
Media contact
Sarah Jeffery Zyme
Communications
Tel: +44 (0) 7771 730919
Email: sarah.jeffery(at)zymecommunications.com
VALANX Biotech
Michael Lukesch
CEO
Email: lukesch(at)valanx.bio