OSLO, NORWAY – [4th Sep 2025] – Thelper, a biotechnology company developing a first-in-class antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapy targeting US28, a virus-derived marker broadly expressed across aggressive solid tumors, today announced the first close of its €1 million seed financing round.
The financing was led by Aleap Ventures, StartupLab, and Antler, three leading Nordic venture platforms with a strong track record of supporting early-stage innovation in deep tech.
"The successful first close of our seed round represents an important milestone for Thelper,” said Katja Vetvik, founder and CEO at Thelper. “The commitment from Aleap Ventures, StartupLab, and Antler underscores confidence in our strategy to unlock a novel viral target in oncology and advance new treatment options for patients with aggressive cancers.”
Proceeds from the financing will support advancement of Thelper’s pre-IND development package, including expansion into additional solid tumor indications with in vivo validation, as well as pharmacokinetics and toxicology studies.
US28 is a virus-encoded G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that is highly expressed in multiple tumor types—including breast, glioblastoma, ovarian, pancreatic, colorectal cancers, and sarcomas—while demonstrating no to minimal expression in healthy tissues. Thelper’s approach seeks to exploit this unique biology to deliver potent and selective ADC therapy, with the potential to improve outcomes and reduce treatment-related toxicities.
About Thelper
Thelper is a Norwegian biotechnology company developing novel antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) targeting US28, a virus-encoded GPCR expressed across a wide range of solid tumors. The company’s mission is to improve patient outcomes and quality of life by delivering precision oncology therapies with reduced side effects.
Media Contact: Katja Vetvik
Founder, CEO
katja@thelper.com +47 95796638
4th September, 2025