201 Therapeutics receives CHF 40,000 from Venture Kick to advance liver cancer therapy commercialization
26.05.2026
201 Therapeutics receives CHF 40,000 from Venture Kick to advance its oral small-molecule therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma. By directly targeting and eliminating liver cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue, the company aims to address major limitations of current treatments and improve outcomes for patients with liver cancer.
 CEO Sandro Nuciforo, CTO Fredrik Trulsson, CMO Markus Heim, Head Of Chemistry Emmanuel Meyer
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What was the first real signal that your solution worked outside the lab or pitch deck, and what did that moment change for you?
201 Therapeutics was built on more than two decades of liver cancer research. As we started sharing our work externally, the response from clinicians, pharma companies, and investors was very encouraging.
Clinicians immediately recognized the unmet need we address, while pharma partners saw the value of a mechanism that complements existing therapies. That alignment across different audiences reinforced our conviction that we were solving the right problem at the right time.
Can you briefly describe your project and where it stood when you entered Venture Kick?
201 Therapeutics is developing oral small-molecule drugs for hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common form of liver cancer. Unlike current therapies that mainly target the tumor microenvironment, our compounds directly eliminate cancer cells while sparing healthy liver tissue.
When we entered Venture Kick, we already had two active compound series, a distinct therapeutic mechanism, and validated in vivo models. The science was strong, but the commercial strategy was still at an early stage.
How has the direction of your product/service/product strategy changed since working with the Venture Kick Team?
Venture Kick helped us move from a purely scientific mindset to a more structured commercial approach.
The program strengthened how we communicate our value proposition and helped us translate strong science into a clearer go-to-market strategy. It also changed how we prioritize and plan our next milestones.
How will the Stage 2 funding help you advance your project concretely?
Stage 2 funding will support one of our most important milestones: generating the first in vivo efficacy data in patient-derived liver cancer models.
This is a key de-risking step that strengthens our position with investors and future pharma partners. It also supports our participation in partnering and investor events as we prepare for our seed financing round.
201 Therapeutics was built on more than two decades of liver cancer research. As we started sharing our work externally, the response from clinicians, pharma companies, and investors was very encouraging.
Clinicians immediately recognized the unmet need we address, while pharma partners saw the value of a mechanism that complements existing therapies. That alignment across different audiences reinforced our conviction that we were solving the right problem at the right time.
Can you briefly describe your project and where it stood when you entered Venture Kick?
201 Therapeutics is developing oral small-molecule drugs for hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common form of liver cancer. Unlike current therapies that mainly target the tumor microenvironment, our compounds directly eliminate cancer cells while sparing healthy liver tissue.
When we entered Venture Kick, we already had two active compound series, a distinct therapeutic mechanism, and validated in vivo models. The science was strong, but the commercial strategy was still at an early stage.
How has the direction of your product/service/product strategy changed since working with the Venture Kick Team?
Venture Kick helped us move from a purely scientific mindset to a more structured commercial approach.
The program strengthened how we communicate our value proposition and helped us translate strong science into a clearer go-to-market strategy. It also changed how we prioritize and plan our next milestones.
How will the Stage 2 funding help you advance your project concretely?
Stage 2 funding will support one of our most important milestones: generating the first in vivo efficacy data in patient-derived liver cancer models.
This is a key de-risking step that strengthens our position with investors and future pharma partners. It also supports our participation in partnering and investor events as we prepare for our seed financing round.