Armed Cell Therapeutics acquires Galapagos CAR-T therapies from Lakefront Biotherapeutics

On October 14, 2026, Lakefront Biotherapeutics agreed to sell its preclinical CAR-T cell therapy assets to Belgian startup Armed Cell Therapeutics for $9 million upfront and up to $230 million in milestones. Founded by former Galapagos CEO Paul Stoffels, Armed Cell Therapeutics will advance programs targeting non-Hodgkin lymphoma and small cell lung cancer. The deal completes a strategic pivot by Lakefront, formerly Galapagos, which abandoned cell therapy in 2025 to focus on autoimmune treatments.

Details of the CAR-T therapy acquisition

• ▪On October 14, 2026, Lakefront Biotherapeutics agreed to sell its preclinical CAR-T cell therapy programs to Belgian startup Armed Cell Therapeutics for approximately $9 million up front and up to $230 million in potential milestone payments plus royalties.
• ▪The lead CAR-T programs acquired by Armed Cell Therapeutics originated from AboundBio, which Galapagos acquired during Paul Stoffels' tenure as CEO.
• ▪Armed Cell Therapeutics acquired two preclinical CAR-T programs targeting non-Hodgkin lymphoma and small cell lung cancer, alongside three confidential early-stage preclinical projects.

Armed Cell Therapeutics founding and leadership

• ▪Armed Cell Therapeutics was founded in Belgium by former Galapagos CEO Paul Stoffels, former Galapagos cell therapy discovery lead John Mellors, and VVGB Advocaten managing partner Peter Verhaeghe.
• ▪Former Galapagos executive Willemijn Kremer was appointed CEO of Armed Cell Therapeutics, succeeding interim CEO Paul Stoffels, who transitioned to board chairman.

Galapagos' cell therapy pivot and exit

• ▪In spring 2025, Galapagos ousted CEO Paul Stoffels for Henry Gosebruch, who abandoned CAR-T cell therapy research in October 2025, cut 365 jobs, and rebranded as Lakefront Biotherapeutics in May 2026 for autoimmune disease treatments.
• ▪Following clinical trial setbacks and co-founder Onno van de Stolpe's retirement, Galapagos hired former Johnson & Johnson executive Paul Stoffels as CEO in 2022 for a five-year turnaround plan acquiring cell therapy assets.