Lakefront sells preclinical CAR-T programs to Armed Cell

Lakefront Biotherapeutics, formerly Galapagos, completed the sale of its preclinical cell therapy pipeline to Armed Cell Therapeutics, a Belgium-based biotech developing armed CAR-T therapies for cancer.

The terms of the agreement include an upfront payment of approximately $9 million to Lakefront and the potential for up to $230 million in milestone payments and a low-single-digit royalty. The transferred preclinical assets comprise multi-targeting and armed CAR-T constructs designed to improve the potency and persistence of CAR-Ts and prevent cancer treatment resistance in hematological and solid tumors of high unmet need. Armed Cell will independently advance these programs.

Galapagos announced that it would change its name to Lakefront Biotherapeutics in April of this year. Back in early 2025, Galapagos had revealed a planned separation into two entities: one focused on building a pipeline of innovative medicines through strategic transactions and one which will continue to advance its cell therapy candidates in oncology. Then, in October 2025, the company decided to discontinue its cell therapy activities in order to focus on in T-cell engagers and select small molecules in immunology and inflammation, and began exploring potential divestment options.

Now, with Armed Cell as the buyer, Lakefront says its cell therapy wind-down is “substantially complete.”