Lifordi Immunotherapeutics Announces Major Strategic Investment Led by Sanofi Ventures, Strengthening Support from Existing Investors and Advancing a Transformative ADC Platform for Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases
Lifordi Immunotherapeutics, Inc., a rapidly advancing clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering the application of antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology to autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, announced that it has secured a significant strategic investment from Sanofi Ventures—the venture capital arm of global biopharmaceutical leader Sanofi—along with renewed funding from existing investors ARCH Ventures, 5AM Ventures, and Atlas Venture. This latest financing milestone increases Lifordi’s total capital raised to $112 million and positions the company to accelerate clinical development of its lead program, LFD-200, and to advance broader pipeline and manufacturing readiness initiatives.
The investment marks an important moment not only for Lifordi but also for the broader field of immunology, where researchers and clinicians have long sought safer, more precise ways to control inflammation and treat chronic, debilitating autoimmune conditions. LFD-200 is an innovative ADC engineered to deliver a highly potent glucocorticoid (GC) payload directly to specific immune cell populations. This targeted approach is designed to unlock the well-established efficacy of glucocorticoids—among the most powerful anti-inflammatory agents in clinical practice—while avoiding the systemic, dose-limiting toxicities that have constrained their long-term use for more than seven decades.
New Capital to Support Ongoing Phase 1 Study and Prepare for Seamless Progression Into Phase 2
Proceeds from this financing will support Lifordi’s ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating LFD-200 in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). The study focuses initially on healthy participants to assess safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamic markers before moving into patient cohorts with moderate to severe disease. Enrollment and dosing in the Phase 1 trial are reported to be progressing on schedule, and the company anticipates sharing initial data from healthy participants in the coming months.
In addition, the new investment provides resources for essential Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) activities required to secure clinical-grade supply for Phase 2. Ensuring CMC readiness at this stage is a critical step in the drug development process, allowing the company to move into later-stage clinical evaluation without encountering avoidable delays linked to production, formulation, or regulatory compliance.
The funding round also expands Lifordi’s strategic expertise: as part of the investment, Christopher Gagliardi, Ph.D., Principal at Sanofi Ventures, will join Lifordi’s Board of Directors as an observer. This participation strengthens the long-term collaboration between Lifordi and Sanofi Ventures and provides Lifordi access to the experience of one of the world’s leading immunology-focused pharmaceutical organizations.
CEO Highlights Advancement of LFD-200 and Strategic Alignment with Sanofi Ventures
Arthur Tzianabos, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Lifordi Immunotherapeutics, emphasized the significance of the partnership and the alignment between Lifordi’s mission and Sanofi’s long-standing commitment to developing next-generation treatments for immune-mediated conditions.
“Sanofi has demonstrated a strong commitment to investing in new treatments for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, and we are fortunate to have this support from Chris and the Sanofi Ventures team alongside our current investors to advance LFD-200 and our targeted ADC delivery pipeline for immune-mediated conditions,” said Dr. Tzianabos. “Enrollment and dosing in our Phase 1 study of LFD-200 in RA is progressing as planned, and we look forward to sharing initial data from healthy participants in the coming months.”
Dr. Tzianabos noted that the progress of the Phase 1 study, combined with strong interest from investors, reflects growing recognition of the transformative potential of Lifordi’s ADC approach. For decades, the field of autoimmunity has seen important but incremental advances—particularly with biologics that block specific cytokines or immune pathways. Yet glucocorticoids have remained the most universally effective and rapidly acting therapy available, despite their profound long-term toxicity profile. Lifordi’s technology aims to redefine this paradigm by precisely targeting GCs to immune cells while sparing the rest of the body from harmful exposure.
Sanofi Ventures Describes the Scientific Rationale Behind the Investment
Christopher Gagliardi, Ph.D., speaking on behalf of Sanofi Ventures, expressed enthusiasm for the company’s scientific platform and the potential impact of LFD-200.
“We continue to search for new approaches to improve the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases and were intrigued by Lifordi’s targeted ADC approach to deliver glucocorticoids without toxicity,” said Dr. Gagliardi. “Once we met the team and conducted our due diligence on the proof-of-concept data in multiple animal models of autoimmune disease together with extensive nonclinical studies, we made the decision to invest in Lifordi now.”
He added that Sanofi sees significant opportunity not only for LFD-200 but also for Lifordi’s broader platform technologies.
“This investment enables Sanofi to share our 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,” Dr. Gagliardi said, reinforcing the versatility of Lifordi’s ADC platform and its capacity to accommodate multiple therapeutic payload types.
A New Clinical Approach: Progress in Phase 1 and Presentations at ACR 2025
Lifordi’s Phase 1 clinical trial is actively enrolling and dosing healthy participants. This first-in-human study includes single ascending dose (SAD) and multiple ascending dose (MAD) cohorts, enabling investigators to establish a comprehensive understanding of safety, tolerability, immune-cell targeting, and on-target pharmacologic activity. Following successful completion of healthy participant cohorts, the company anticipates advancing into patient cohorts with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis.
Earlier this year, Lifordi presented compelling non-clinical data at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 2025 Annual Meeting. These data demonstrated that subcutaneous administration of LFD-200 at clinically relevant doses—given once every seven days over a 13-week period—achieved sustained glucocorticoid delivery selectively to immune cells. Importantly, these animal studies showed no measurable systemic toxicity, supporting the foundational hypothesis of Lifordi’s platform: that targeted GC delivery can maintain therapeutic potency while minimizing harmful side effects.
The company believes that this targeted approach could fundamentally change how physicians use glucocorticoids. Despite their ubiquity and potency, traditional GCs cause a wide range of systemic toxicities, including weight gain, metabolic disturbances, bone loss, hypertension, skin thinning, emotional lability, and increased susceptibility to infection. These side effects have limited long-term GC use for more than 75 years. If LFD-200 can successfully separate efficacy from toxicity, it may represent one of the most meaningful advances in autoimmune disease treatment in decades.
The Broader Implications of Lifordi’s ADC Platform
While LFD-200 remains the lead clinical candidate, Lifordi’s platform has broader implications for the future of immune-modifying therapeutics. The company is exploring additional payloads designed to address diverse autoimmune and inflammatory conditions using the same targeted delivery infrastructure.
The potential to conjugate various payloads—including small molecules, biologics, nucleic acids (such as antisense oligonucleotides or siRNAs), or other immunomodulators—could position Lifordi as a leader in the next generation of precision immune therapies. By coupling disease-relevant targets with carefully selected therapeutic agents, the platform may eventually support a pipeline of novel treatments capable of addressing the unmet needs of patients who do not respond adequately to current standards of care.
A Strengthened Foundation for Future Growth
With this newest round of financing, Lifordi has solidified its financial and strategic foundation. The participation of Sanofi Ventures serves as a strong validation of the company’s science, leadership, and development roadmap. Meanwhile, the continued support of ARCH Ventures, 5AM Ventures, and Atlas Venture underscores the unwavering confidence of Lifordi’s longstanding investors.
As Lifordi moves forward, the company aims to maintain a rapid but disciplined approach to clinical development, regulatory engagement, and manufacturing readiness. The combination of innovative science, experienced leadership, and now expanded strategic investment positions Lifordi to continue its progress toward delivering safer, more effective therapies for patients with chronic autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
About Lifordi
Lifordi Immunotherapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company leading the way by leveraging the success of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) to develop treatments for autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. The Company’s lead ADC, LFD-200, is in a Phase 1 clinical trial. Preclinical studies demonstrated efficacy in multiple disease models by targeting myeloid and lymphoid cells using a highly internalized cell surface membrane protein (VISTA).
Lifordi has also applied its novel drug delivery platform to other diverse payloads, such as small molecules, antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and siRNA. As experienced drug developers in immunology and inflammatory diseases, together with expert clinical advisors, a strong partnering track record, and funding from ARCH Venture Partners, 5AM Ventures, and Atlas Venture, Lifordi is committed to changing how immune and inflammatory diseases are treated. For more information, please visit www.lifordi.com.
About Sanofi Ventures
Sanofi Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of Sanofi, investing globally in early-stage biotech and digital health companies aligned with Sanofi’s mission to chase the miracles of science. Areas of focus include immunology, oncology, rare diseases, vaccines, and digital innovation.
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