Bio4Dreams joins Clhep as a founding partner and investor
22.01.2026
Bio4Dreams has joined Clhep as a founding partner and investor from the company’s inception, alongside researchers from the University of Padua and Italy’s National Research Council (CNR). It has also launched a tailored incubation programme for the start-up to accelerate preclinical development and set the foundations for the next growth phase.
Clhep originated from the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Padua and is developing a new generation of therapeutic peptides for more selective cancer treatments, with reduced impact on healthy tissue. The approach targets Hexokinase 2 (HK2), a protein involved in the growth of several tumour types: Clhep’s peptides are designed to disrupt this process, reducing the survival of cancer cells. The scientific rationale is supported by preclinical evidence (in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo studies) and by a patent portfolio covering an entire family of therapeutic molecules.
The project has already received awards including the Young Investigator Award 2020 (Children’s Tumor Foundation), the Elena Cappannini Prize 2021, and the Intellectual Property Award 2023 (MedTech category). On the development side, Clhep will focus on two high-unmet-need priorities: malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours (MPNST), including the start of the pathway towards orphan drug designation, and B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL). In parallel, the pipeline will be expanded to other cancer indications, while exploring industrial partnerships and licensing opportunities.
Bio4Dreams supported the launch with an initial investment and is continuing to back the company through an ongoing funding round and the entry of co-investors (closing expected by the end of 2026), strengthening both governance and positioning. The establishment of Clhep is also presented as a concrete model of technology transfer between research, business and the local ecosystem, and as the first spin-off jointly developed by the University of Padua and Bio4Dreams.
