VALANX Biotech Raises €3M to Advance Breast Cancer Drug Program
VALANX Biotech, a MedTech startup now based in Vienna, has completed a financing round of 3 million euros. The company plans to use the capital to advance its main program for developing an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. Candidate selection for VLX-ADC-001 is planned for June 2026.
As reported, the company, formerly based in Klosterneuburg, last received a capital injection of 2.3 million euros in 2023 (more on this here).
New and existing investors
The financing round includes both new and existing investors. New funders include the Foundation Fournier-Majoie and FUJIFILM Corporation. Previously invested were the venture capital firms xista science ventures, tecnet equity and SOSV, as well as business angels Urs Spitz and SkyGene.
As part of the financing, Ana Maricevic was appointed to the supervisory board of Valanx. She formally represents the Foundation Fournier-Majoie, a foundation for innovation in oncology.
The GoldenSite technology
VALANX is developing a platform technology called GoldenSite for site-specific protein conjugation. The process enables proteins to be precisely modified at defined locations. This is of central importance in the development of protein therapeutics, as such modifications are often necessary to improve stability and efficacy.
The technological foundation is a novel amino acid that is inserted into target proteins at a predetermined location using a specially developed bacterium. This creates an artificial docking site where desired modifications can be attached. The amino acid is produced from inexpensive starting materials, which provides a cost advantage over competing technologies.
Application in antibody-drug conjugates
VALANX’s main program focuses on the development of VLX-ADC-001, an ADC against the LIV-1 receptor. ADCs combine the targeting precision of antibodies with highly potent drugs. The GoldenSite platform is intended to enable precise control of the conjugation position and thereby improve the therapeutic window.
“LIV-1 is a compelling target in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, and GoldenSite gives us a practical way to precisely adjust the conjugation position to optimize the therapeutic window of the drug candidate,” says Michael Lukesch, founder and CEO of VALANX Biotech.
The 3 million euros are intended to finance the preclinical development of VLX-ADC-001. In parallel, GMP readiness of the GoldenSite platform is being advanced. The company also plans partnership activities with other ADC developers.
Broad range of applications
VALANX’s platform technology is not limited to a single field of application. It enables the development of drugs for various indications. The company is seeking collaboration with partners from the pharmaceutical industry for this purpose. Furthermore, the technology finds application in the production of improved biosensors and biocatalysts.
