Lifordi Immunotherapeutics Secures $112 Million Investment to Advance Autoimmune Disease Treatment

Lifordi Immunotherapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotech company developing antibody-drug conjugates for autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, announced a strategic investment from Sanofi Ventures along with additional funding from existing investors ARCH Ventures, 5AM Ventures, and Atlas Venture. The new funding brings the total capital raised to $112 million and supports an ongoing Phase 1 study in Rheumatoid Arthritis designed to evaluate LFD-200, an ADC delivering a potent glucocorticoid directly to immune cells.

The investment also provides for Chemistry Manufacturing and Controls preparations to ensure that Phase 2 clinical supply is available without unnecessary delays. As part of the investment arrangement, Christopher Gagliardi, Ph.D., Principal at Sanofi Ventures, will join as an observer on Lifordi's Board of Directors. Arthur Tzianabos, Ph.D., President & Chief Executive Officer of Lifordi, stated that enrollment and dosing in the Phase 1 study of LFD-200 in Rheumatoid Arthritis is progressing as planned, with initial data from healthy participants expected in the coming months.

Christopher Gagliardi explained that Sanofi Ventures was intrigued by Lifordi's targeted ADC approach to deliver glucocorticoids without toxicity. The investment decision followed due diligence on proof-of-concept data in multiple animal models of autoimmune disease together with extensive nonclinical studies. This enables Sanofi to share expertise and experiences to help guide LFD-200 through clinical studies and support pipeline development using this approach to deliver other drug payloads, such as ASOs or siRNAs.

Lifordi's Phase 1 clinical trial is currently enrolling and dosing healthy participants, designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of LFD-200. Initial healthy participant data will include both safety and pharmacodynamic measures. Following single and multiple ascending dosing studies, the company plans to evaluate LFD-200 in patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. The company recently presented non-clinical data at the American College of Rheumatology 2025 meeting showing that clinically relevant doses of LFD-200 given subcutaneously every 7 days for 13 weeks maintained glucocorticoid exposure in immune cells without evidence of systemic toxicity.

By harnessing the efficacy of glucocorticoids while limiting toxicity, LFD-200 has the potential to solve the problem that has limited the broad and long-term use of glucocorticoids for the past 75 years. The strategic investment from Sanofi Ventures, along with continued support from existing investors, positions Lifordi to advance its targeted ADC delivery pipeline for immune-mediated conditions and potentially transform treatment approaches for autoimmune diseases. For more information about the company's research and development programs, visit https://www.lifordi.com.