ALP Bio obtains CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick to make biologic drugs safer for patients
03.07.2026
The biotech startup ALP Bio has obtained CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick to help drug developers identify immune-related risks earlier in the development process. By combining human immune tissue models with artificial intelligence, the company aims to improve the safety and success rate of next-generation biologic medicines.
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Biologic drugs, including many therapeutic antibodies, can trigger unwanted immune responses in patients. These reactions can reduce treatment effectiveness, lead to side effects, and contribute to costly failures during clinical development. Existing prediction tools often provide only a partial picture, making it difficult for drug developers to identify risks early enough.
ALP Bio addresses this challenge by combining human tonsil-derived immune models with advanced protein AI. The platform analyzes how the immune system is likely to respond to therapeutic antibodies and helps researchers identify and reduce potential risks before clinical trials begin. By generating insights grounded in human biology, the approach aims to improve drug design and increase the likelihood of successful patient outcomes.
The market for biologic drugs is large and growing fast on track to exceed USD 650 billion by 2030. Immunogenicity sits at the center of its biggest risk. Around 3,000 antibody candidates enter preclinical development each year, and immune-related problems are a leading cause of late-stage failure, where a single setback can cost hundreds of millions. The market for immunogenicity testing alone is projected to reach roughly USD 6.5 billion by 2030.
The CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick will fund ALP Bio's first pilot projects with pharmaceutical partners. By co-financing these early collaborations, the company lowers the barrier to entry, builds trust through real-world evidence, and turns scientific validation into commercial traction across the sector.
Combining expertise in immunology, artificial intelligence, protein engineering, and business development, the team includes CEO Dr. Christian Vahlensiek, CSO Dr. Lucas Schaus, CTO Anatol Ehrlich, and CBO Punit Mehra.
“Venture Kick challenged us like real investors at every stage, sharpened our story, and opened doors we could not have reached alone. Winning all three stages is a vote of confidence in what we are building, and it gives us the means to prove it with real partners,” highlighted co-founder Punit Mehra.
Co-founders Dr. Lucas Schaus CSO, Punit Mehra CBO, Anatol Ehrlich CTO, and Dr. Christian Vahlensiek CEO
ALP Bio addresses this challenge by combining human tonsil-derived immune models with advanced protein AI. The platform analyzes how the immune system is likely to respond to therapeutic antibodies and helps researchers identify and reduce potential risks before clinical trials begin. By generating insights grounded in human biology, the approach aims to improve drug design and increase the likelihood of successful patient outcomes.
The market for biologic drugs is large and growing fast on track to exceed USD 650 billion by 2030. Immunogenicity sits at the center of its biggest risk. Around 3,000 antibody candidates enter preclinical development each year, and immune-related problems are a leading cause of late-stage failure, where a single setback can cost hundreds of millions. The market for immunogenicity testing alone is projected to reach roughly USD 6.5 billion by 2030.
The CHF 150,000 from Venture Kick will fund ALP Bio's first pilot projects with pharmaceutical partners. By co-financing these early collaborations, the company lowers the barrier to entry, builds trust through real-world evidence, and turns scientific validation into commercial traction across the sector.
Combining expertise in immunology, artificial intelligence, protein engineering, and business development, the team includes CEO Dr. Christian Vahlensiek, CSO Dr. Lucas Schaus, CTO Anatol Ehrlich, and CBO Punit Mehra.
“Venture Kick challenged us like real investors at every stage, sharpened our story, and opened doors we could not have reached alone. Winning all three stages is a vote of confidence in what we are building, and it gives us the means to prove it with real partners,” highlighted co-founder Punit Mehra.
Co-founders Dr. Lucas Schaus CSO, Punit Mehra CBO, Anatol Ehrlich CTO, and Dr. Christian Vahlensiek CEO