Wynveris receives CHF 40,000 from Venture Kick to advance first-in-class breast cancer therapy.
04.06.2026
Wynveris receives CHF 40,000 from Venture Kick to advance the development of the first receptor-selective FZD5 inhibitor for triple-negative breast cancer. Designed to overcome drug resistance and enhance the effectiveness of existing therapies, the technology also lays the foundation for a broader receptor-selective WNT platform targeting cancers driven by WNT signaling.
 Vladimir Katanaev Professor, Marc Denier CEO, Mathurin Baquié Co-Founder, Alexey Koval Senior Scientist
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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?
The turning point came when our compounds reached sub-nanomolar potency and we realized the scale of the surrounding IP space. It became clear that we hadn’t just discovered a promising compound, but an entire high-quality chemical space with the potential to deliver a clinical candidate.
That shifted our mindset from proving a scientific concept to building a company capable of exploring and developing that opportunity at scale.
Can you briefly describe your project and where it stood when you entered Venture Kick?
Wynveris is developing the first receptor-selective FZD5 inhibitor for triple-negative breast cancer, designed to overcome drug resistance and improve the effectiveness of existing therapies. More broadly, our goal is to build a receptor-selective WNT platform.
When we entered Venture Kick, we had strong in vivo efficacy data and a clean safety profile. The science had advanced beyond what academic funding could support, and it was time to build a company around it. Venture Kick helped us refine our messaging, complete incorporation, and advance key validation studies.
How has the direction of your product/service/product strategy changed since working with the Venture Kick Team?
Venture Kick helped us sharpen our fundraising narrative, which is critical at this stage.
In particular, we refined how we position our lead indication and placed greater emphasis on combination efficacy, a key proof point for both investors and future partners.
How will the Stage 2 funding help you advance your project concretely?
Stage 2 funding will support extensive in vitro and in vivo validation studies, helping us confirm efficacy in combination with other cancer treatments and further define the patient populations we can serve.
At the same time, it will allow us to complete lead optimization and select a development candidate, key milestones that significantly de-risk the asset ahead of our next financing round.
The turning point came when our compounds reached sub-nanomolar potency and we realized the scale of the surrounding IP space. It became clear that we hadn’t just discovered a promising compound, but an entire high-quality chemical space with the potential to deliver a clinical candidate.
That shifted our mindset from proving a scientific concept to building a company capable of exploring and developing that opportunity at scale.
Can you briefly describe your project and where it stood when you entered Venture Kick?
Wynveris is developing the first receptor-selective FZD5 inhibitor for triple-negative breast cancer, designed to overcome drug resistance and improve the effectiveness of existing therapies. More broadly, our goal is to build a receptor-selective WNT platform.
When we entered Venture Kick, we had strong in vivo efficacy data and a clean safety profile. The science had advanced beyond what academic funding could support, and it was time to build a company around it. Venture Kick helped us refine our messaging, complete incorporation, and advance key validation studies.
How has the direction of your product/service/product strategy changed since working with the Venture Kick Team?
Venture Kick helped us sharpen our fundraising narrative, which is critical at this stage.
In particular, we refined how we position our lead indication and placed greater emphasis on combination efficacy, a key proof point for both investors and future partners.
How will the Stage 2 funding help you advance your project concretely?
Stage 2 funding will support extensive in vitro and in vivo validation studies, helping us confirm efficacy in combination with other cancer treatments and further define the patient populations we can serve.
At the same time, it will allow us to complete lead optimization and select a development candidate, key milestones that significantly de-risk the asset ahead of our next financing round.