Belgian startup Armed Cell Therapeutics acquires Galapagos-derived CAR-T assets for €8 million upfront

Armed Cell Therapeutics, a new Belgian biotech chaired by former Galapagos CEO Paul Stoffels, has taken ownership of several cell therapy programs previously held by Lakefront Biotherapeutics. The transaction includes two "armed" CAR‑T candidates that are close to entering first‑in‑human trials for non‑Hodgkin lymphoma and small cell lung cancer, as well as three confidential early‑stage projects.

The deal provides Armed Cell with an upfront payment of 8 million euros, with the possibility of up to $230 million in additional funding based on future milestones. The assets were part of a research shift initiated by Stoffels while he led Galapagos before the company rebranded as Lakefront.

The acquired CAR‑T therapies are designed to overcome resistance mechanisms that limit the durability of engineered cells, using multiple payloads and diverse molecular binders to improve efficacy in solid tumors such as lung cancer. The acquisition positions Armed Cell to advance these innovative approaches toward clinical testing.