LeoMab receives CHF 40,000 from Venture Kick to advance safer stem cell transplantation.

What was the first real signal that your solution worked outside the lab or pitch deck, and what did that moment change for you? 

The first real signal came from conversations with transplant physicians, gene therapy experts, investors, and patients. They all highlighted the same issue: conditioning remains one of the biggest barriers to making blood stem cell transplantation and gene therapy safer and more accessible. 

That gave us confidence we were tackling a major unmet medical need. It also accelerated our work, from strengthening our IP strategy and advancing lead optimization to engaging investors and building LeoMab as a platform for the future of stem cell transplantation and gene therapy. 

Can you briefly describe your project and where it stood when you entered Venture Kick? 

LeoMab is developing a first-in-class biologic designed to replace the toxic chemotherapy and radiation used before bone marrow transplantation. Our goal is to enable safer and more effective engraftment of gene-edited stem cells while improving patient safety. 

When we entered Venture Kick, we had identified a promising lead candidate with encouraging proof-of-concept data and a clear development strategy. We now needed to optimize the molecule, strengthen our IP position, and build the company around the science. 

How has the direction of your product/service/product strategy changed since working with the Venture Kick Team? 

Venture Kick pushed us to think beyond the laboratory and build a company, not just a technology. 

While we continued advancing the science, we placed much greater emphasis on fundraising, strategic partnerships, and positioning LeoMab as an enabling platform for bone marrow transplantation and gene therapy. That shift gave us a much clearer clinical, commercial, and financial strategy. 

How will the Stage 2 funding help you advance your project concretely? 

Stage 2 funding will accelerate both the scientific and business sides of LeoMab. It will support lead optimization, in vitro validation, and further strengthen our patent portfolio. 

At the same time, it will help us expand investor outreach and build strategic partnerships, positioning us strongly for our next financing round and bringing the technology closer to patients.