TVM Capital Life Science (TVM), a leading international venture capital firm focused on investments in life sciences innovation, announced an investment of up to $25 million in the newly formed U.S.-based biotechnology company, LAmAb Biologics (LAmAb), with its fund TVM Life Science Innovation II SCSp (TVM LSI II).

TVM will provide strategic advice to the company, with Sascha Berger, general partner joining the board of directors and Marc Rivière, serving as a board observer.

LAmAb is the 9th early-stage or project-focused company (PFC) investment for TVM LS II.

LAmAb plans to develop a first-in-class monoclonal antibody (mAb) to clinical proof-of-concept in allergic rhinitis (hay fever), an indication that should enable LAmAb to efficiently show the program may be effective in humans. The antibody targets IgE, which is implicated in a broad set of allergy indications. The goal is to later expand development to other forms of IgE-mediated diseases such as asthma and food allergies, which annually affect over 30 million people in the U.S. alone.

“TVM Capital Life Science is proud to have enabled the creation of LAmAb Biologics and to have secured the rights to a novel first-in-class asset with the potential to positively impact challenging-to-treat allergic diseases. This investment is a testament to our strong international network and builds on our successful single asset focus for innovative preclinical therapeutic agents,” said Sascha Berger, general partner of TVM Capital Life Science and member of the board of LAmAb Biologics. “We are pleased to collaborate with the well-proven management team of Caroline Fortier and Mark Cipriano, who will act as CEO and CFO, respectively, for LAmAb.”

Caroline Fortier, CEO of LAmAb Biologics said: “The management team of LAmAb Biologics is excited to have the opportunity to bring to clinical proof-of-concept this promising asset as a preventative treatment for many forms of IgE-mediated allergies. These diseases incur a high burden not only on the health and social, economic, and emotional well-being of patients but also on society as a whole and remain a significant unmet medical need. We are taking a new and potentially disruptive view to addressing this challenge with the goal of enabling patients to live a full life without worrying about severe allergic reactions.”

TVM has a arrangement with Eli Lilly and Company, which is a limited partner in TVM LSI II and the earlier fund, TVM LSI I, under which TVM and its PFCs have the option to engage Chorus, a full-service autonomous research and development unit within Lilly, to assist the PFC by implementing a lean and focused drug development plan, resulting in high-quality data packages to help determine proof of concept.