Key Investor Signals
CHF 1.1M in funding raised by May 2026
Venture Leaders reported CHF 1.1M raised as of May 2026, following an oversubscribed seed round closed in March and earlier Venture Kick backing.
GMP manufacturing agreement signed with HAS Group
HAS Healthcare Advanced Synthesis signed a May 2026 agreement to support APIC development and GMP manufacturing, strengthening the path toward clinical evaluation.
APICs produced antitumor activity in animal models
The 2024 Nature Chemical Biology study showed targeted APICs selectively inhibited cathepsins and produced antitumor activity in lymphoma animal models.
Other Positive Signals
- Received CHF 150,000 in non-dilutive Venture Kick funding in May 2026.
- Selected for Venture Leaders Biotech 2026 and its Boston investor roadshow.
- Signed an EPFL licensing agreement shortly after incorporation in January 2026.
- Two EPFL patent families cover cathepsin inhibitors invented by the founding team.
Team
Aaron Petruzzella
CEO and Co-founder
- First author of the 2024 Nature Chemical Biology study that introduced the antibody-peptide inhibitor conjugate platform.
- Completed a 2024 EPFL PhD on cathepsin inhibitors and targeted delivery in Elisa Oricchio's cancer research group.
- Received a BRIDGE Proof of Concept fellowship to translate his cathepsin-inhibitor research toward a startup.
- Named inventor on two EPFL patent families covering selective cathepsin inhibitors and targeted therapeutic applications.
Elisa Oricchio
Scientific Co-founder
- EPFL Full Professor and Director of the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC) since 2022.
- Senior author of the 2024 APIC study and earlier research validating cathepsin S as a lymphoma therapeutic target.
- Spent five years at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center studying lymphoma genetics and therapeutic targets.
- Received the 2024 Pezcoller Foundation-EACR Translational Cancer Researcher Award for clinically relevant cancer research.
Bruno Correia
Scientific Co-founder
- EPFL Full Professor and founder of its Laboratory of Protein Design and Immunoengineering, which he has led since 2015.
- Senior author of multiple Nature-family protein-design papers, including a 2025 computational protein-design method.
- Trained at the University of Washington and Scripps Research in computational protein design and chemical biology.
- Received the Protein Society's 2021 Protein Science Young Investigator Award for contributions to protein science.
Product
Biodelphis is developing antibody-peptide inhibitor conjugates that pair selective cathepsin inhibitors with antibodies that deliver them into chosen cells. The platform aims to preserve potent local inhibition while limiting activity in healthy tissue.
Selective cathepsin inhibitors
APICore designs peptide inhibitors for selected cathepsins, then screens optimized variants for stronger potency and selectivity against closely related proteases.
Targeted antibody delivery
Each inhibitor is linked to an antibody that recognizes a marker on target cells, directing the conjugate into those cells so cathepsins are inhibited locally rather than throughout the body.
Four cathepsin programs
The pipeline targets cathepsins B, S, K and L, with animal-model proof of concept in lymphoma and solid tumors and lead programs in lung adenocarcinoma and osteoporosis.
Market Overview
Biodelphis is targeting two established prescription markets. Lung adenocarcinoma is treated with targeted therapies, immunotherapy and chemotherapy, while osteoporosis has antiresorptive and bone-building drug classes. Its lead programs would therefore enter markets with defined treatment pathways and existing drug demand.
The platform also extends beyond the first two indications. By pairing different cathepsin inhibitors with cell-targeting antibodies, Biodelphis can generate multiple APIC candidates across oncology, bone and immune disease. This creates several potential assets for internal development or partnering from one discovery platform.
Estimated new cases worldwide in 2022; adenocarcinoma was the most common lung cancer subtype globally.
2025 global market for lung cancer therapeutics, Biodelphis' lead oncology indication.
2025 global market for osteoporosis drugs, Biodelphis' lead bone-disease indication.
2025 global market for antibody-drug conjugates, a commercially established targeted-delivery format.
Comparable Outcomes
Avidity Biosciences
Avidity developed Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates, pairing antibodies with RNA payloads for targeted delivery into muscle. Its platform advanced multiple clinical programs across rare muscle diseases. Avidity listed on Nasdaq in 2020 at $18 a share, raising $298.1 million gross. Novartis acquired it in 2026 for $72 a share in cash, valuing the company at about $12 billion.
Araris Biotech
Araris Biotech developed a platform for attaching drug payloads to antibodies, designed to produce more uniform and stable antibody-drug conjugates. Taiho acquired Araris in 2025 for $400 million upfront plus up to $740 million tied to future milestones, for a total potential value of $1.14 billion.
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Sources
This profile was built from public company materials, ecosystem sources, market references, and professional profiles.