How Leyden Labs is revolutionizing flu protection with its intranasal antibody spray

Today we welcome Koenraad Wiedhaup, Co-Founder and CEO of Leyden Labs, and Clarissa Koch, the company's Chief Scientific Officer.Leyden Labs is pioneering a revolutionary non-vaccine approach to combat respiratory viruses like influenza and coronaviruses. Recently, they published groundbreaking data in Science Translational Medicine, demonstrating that their intranasal antibody spray is safe, well-tolerated, and delivers sustained protection right at the virus's entry point: the nose. This innovation addresses the shortcomings of traditional flu vaccines, which average just 13% effectiveness against infection and provide even less for vulnerable groups like the elderly and immunocompromised.We'll dive into the science, the company's journey since its 2020 founding, and their recent €50 million European funding boost amid U.S. biotech challenges.01:33: Meet Koenraad Wiedhaup03:13: Meet Clarissa Koch04:16: Leyden Labs' origin story06:21: Mucosal protection platform explained08:57: Complementing existing vaccines11:47: Science of mucosal immunity13:24: PanFlu lead candidate overview16:42: Key findings from recent publication22:02: Funding and future preparednessInterested in being a sponsor of an episode of our podcast? Discover how you can get involved here! Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletterTo dive deeper into the topic: Seven biotech companies to know in the NetherlandsThe Netherlands’ biotech scene: The country sets its sights on becoming a global leader by 2040 Influenza solution deals pile up as pandemic preparedness increases