Leyden Labs, a biotech company developing a nasal spray for flu protection, has secured €40 million in funding with support from the Gates Foundation. The technology aims to address a persistent gap: flu vaccines have been available for 80 years yet remain poorly effective for vulnerable populations like the elderly.
The round is led by the Gates Foundation, though other investors were not disclosed. The funding will advance clinical development of the spray, which is designed to provide broader and more durable protection than current annual shots.
Traditional flu vaccines struggle due to viral mutation and waning immunity, especially in older adults. Leyden’s approach targets conserved parts of the virus, potentially reducing the need for yearly reformulation. The global flu vaccine market is estimated at over $6 billion annually.
If successful, this could shift the standard of care away from injections and toward self-administered nasal sprays. It also signals growing interest from philanthropic organizations in pandemic preparedness and universal flu solutions. However, regulatory hurdles and manufacturing scale remain significant challenges.
The Gates Foundation’s involvement adds credibility but also raises questions about affordability and access. Critics note that previous universal flu vaccine candidates have failed in late-stage trials, underscoring the technical difficulty of the task.