Biodelphis Therapeutics receives CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick to advance targeted therapies for difficult-to-treat cancers
22.05.2026
The EPFL spin-off Biodelphis Therapeutics has obtained CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick to develop a new generation of targeted therapies for cancers that do not respond well to existing treatments. The biotech startup aims to improve treatment efficacy while reducing damage to healthy tissues.
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Current therapies often show limited effectiveness against solid tumors such as pancreatic and lung cancer, particularly in advanced or treatment-resistant cases. New therapeutic strategies are urgently needed, but many biological targets involved in cancer progression have proven difficult to treat safely because they also play important roles in healthy tissues.
Biodelphis Therapeutics addresses this challenge by developing highly targeted antibody-peptide conjugates designed to inhibit disease-driving proteases. Its peptide-based therapies combine strong target specificity with targeted delivery, helping reduce toxicity in healthy cells while improving treatment precision. The approach is designed to offer new treatment options for patients who do not respond to currently available therapies.
The biotech startup is pioneering a new drug modality that could enable improved therapies across multiple disease areas. Biodelphis’ pipeline and platform have the potential to support the development of several new products for the pharmaceutical market. The CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick will support the final stage of preclinical development of Biodelphis’ lead assets and further expand its drug development platform.
Biodelphis Therapeutics was founded by Dr. Aaron Petruzzella, Dr. Giorgio Calderari, Alberto Petruzzella, Prof. Elisa Oricchio, and Prof. Bruno Correia. Combining expertise in oncology, peptide engineering, and drug discovery, the team is advancing both an early-stage therapeutic pipeline and a broader platform for targeted drug development.
“The support from Venture Kick came at the perfect time, allowing us to incorporate Biodelphis Therapeutics and start growing our team. The selection process through the three stages prepared me well for my first investor pitches,” highlighted CEO Aaron Petruzzella.
Gabriele Gambardella, Elisa Oricchio, Alberto Petruzzella, Giorgio Calderari, and Aaron Petruzzella
Biodelphis Therapeutics addresses this challenge by developing highly targeted antibody-peptide conjugates designed to inhibit disease-driving proteases. Its peptide-based therapies combine strong target specificity with targeted delivery, helping reduce toxicity in healthy cells while improving treatment precision. The approach is designed to offer new treatment options for patients who do not respond to currently available therapies.
The biotech startup is pioneering a new drug modality that could enable improved therapies across multiple disease areas. Biodelphis’ pipeline and platform have the potential to support the development of several new products for the pharmaceutical market. The CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick will support the final stage of preclinical development of Biodelphis’ lead assets and further expand its drug development platform.
Biodelphis Therapeutics was founded by Dr. Aaron Petruzzella, Dr. Giorgio Calderari, Alberto Petruzzella, Prof. Elisa Oricchio, and Prof. Bruno Correia. Combining expertise in oncology, peptide engineering, and drug discovery, the team is advancing both an early-stage therapeutic pipeline and a broader platform for targeted drug development.
“The support from Venture Kick came at the perfect time, allowing us to incorporate Biodelphis Therapeutics and start growing our team. The selection process through the three stages prepared me well for my first investor pitches,” highlighted CEO Aaron Petruzzella.
Gabriele Gambardella, Elisa Oricchio, Alberto Petruzzella, Giorgio Calderari, and Aaron Petruzzella