Velorum Therapeutics: Cutting Cancer’s Lifeline

Cancer is a relentless opponent, but the methods we’ve used to fight it haven’t evolved much in decades. Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy—they save lives but often leave patients with harsh side effects and limited hope for long-term remission. Velorum Therapeutics is changing that by targeting cancer where it’s most vulnerable: its need for energy. This revolutionary approach is why we’ve invested in Velorum.

Velorum’s breakthrough centers on a discovery that’s both simple and powerful. Cancer cells are addicted to heme—the molecule that makes your blood red and fuels cellular growth. While normal cells regulate their heme usage, cancer cells hoard it from the bloodstream, using it to power their rapid and uncontrolled growth. Velorum has found a way to cut off this supply, starving cancer cells while leaving healthy cells untouched.

Their patented drugs don’t rely on toxic chemicals to destroy cancer. Instead, they amplify the body’s natural heme removal process, essentially supercharging an elegant biological system that’s already built into us. It’s an approach rooted in millions of years of evolution, not brute force. By depriving cancer of the fuel it depends on, Velorum’s treatment is not just effective—it’s smarter and potentially less harmful than traditional therapies.

The results so far are compelling. Preclinical studies show Velorum’s drugs significantly slow tumor growth and make existing treatments—like radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy—even more effective. This dual benefit of directly weakening cancer cells while enhancing other treatments is a game-changer.

Behind this breakthrough is an exceptional founding team. Twin brothers Parsa and Pouya Modareszadeh have spent years unraveling the secrets of cancer metabolism, driven by their deep commitment to improving patient outcomes. Their discovery is the culmination of years of rigorous research, and they’ve surrounded themselves with a team of world-class scientists and clinicians who are as focused as they are on making this treatment a reality.

Velorum is starting with lung cancer—the leading cause of cancer-related deaths—and plans to begin human clinical trials next year. But their vision doesn’t stop there. Because heme addiction is a common characteristic across many cancers, their approach has the potential to become a cornerstone of cancer treatment for a broad range of tumor types.

This investment isn’t just about backing great science—it’s about supporting a smarter way to fight cancer. Velorum’s approach is a reminder that sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come not from brute force but from understanding and exploiting the smallest details.

At Ritual Capital, we’re proud to support Velorum Therapeutics as they pioneer a future where cancer treatment is targeted, effective, and humane. This isn’t just about fighting cancer—it’s about outsmarting it.

Visit Velorum Therapeutics at https://www.velorumtx.com.