VALANX Biotech (VALANX), a pioneering biotechnology firm focusing on site-selectable, site-specific protein conjugation technology, has announced the successful acquisition of €3 million in funding to advance its leading antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) programme. This funding round includes new investments from Foundation Fournier-Majoie and FUJIFILM Corporation, alongside existing support from venture capitalists such as xista science ventures, tecnet equity, SOSV, and angel investors Urs Spitz and SkyGene.
The financing is earmarked for the pre-clinical development of VLX-ADC-001, an ADC targeting LIV-1 for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC). Candidate selection is scheduled for June 2026, and the funding will also facilitate Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) readiness as well as partnership activities related to the Company’s innovative GoldenSite™ conjugation platform.
In conjunction with this funding, Ana Maricevic has been appointed to VALANX’s Board of Directors, representing the Foundation Fournier-Majoie.
ADCs represent a transformative class of therapies that integrate the targeting precision of antibodies with highly potent payloads. VALANX’s GoldenSite platform is engineered to enable rapid, reproducible, and site-selectable conjugation, thereby enhancing the therapeutic windows of ADCs and other conjugates. This addresses a significant challenge in ADC development.
Michael Lukesch, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of VALANX Biotech, stated, “LIV-1 is a compelling target in mTNBC, and GoldenSite provides us with a practical means to precisely optimise the conjugation position to enhance the therapeutic window of our drug candidates. This funding enables us to move VLX-ADC-001 towards a comprehensive preclinical data package by June 2026, while also advancing GoldenSite towards GMP readiness and establishing collaborations with other ADC innovators.”
Ana Maricevic from the Foundation Fournier-Majoie remarked, “As a foundation committed to fostering innovation in oncology, we support teams with scientifically differentiated programmes and clear development pathways. VALANX’s approach to site-selectable conjugation effectively addresses a core challenge in the ADC arena—managing toxicity to unlock greater efficacy. We are dedicated to advancing VLX-ADC-001 alongside Fujifilm and the existing investor group.”
Toshihisa Iida, Director and Corporate Vice President at FUJIFILM Corporation, added, “Fujifilm is focused on the life sciences sector, and our investments aim to keep us closely aligned with cutting-edge platform technologies that are shaping the future of biologics. By strategically investing in advanced technologies that tackle critical challenges in ADC development, we aspire to contribute to a robust ecosystem that facilitates the creation and delivery of innovative therapeutics.”