Press Release

ONA Therapeutics Wins Biosuccess Award for its Growth as a Spin-Off

CataloniaBio & HealthTech has recognised ONA Therapeutics with the Biosuccess award 2021 for its consolidation, investment attraction and growth as a spin-off. The event took place during the UnConference, the annual day of debate on the future of healthcare solutions promoted by CataloniaBio & HealthTech.

ONA Therapeutics S.L. is a biotechnology company specializing in the discovery and development of new biological therapies aimed at metastasis initiating cells and lipid metabolism. Founded in 2019 by Valerie Vanhooren and Salvador Aznar-Benitah, it is a spin-off of the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA) and the Barcelona Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona). A year later, in 2020, ONA closed a series A funding round of 30 million euros, the largest round ever achieved by a company in preclinical stage in Spain, and one of the largest in Europe during 2020. This funding will allow ONA to complete preclinical development and initiate the first clinical studies in advanced cancer patients with its leading candidate. The Biosuccess award adds to other recent recognitions such as being named by Fierce Biotech one of the most promising biotechnology companies of 2020 and being among the eight finalists for the Nature Spinoff 2021 award.

Valerie Vanhooren, co-founder and CEO of ONA Therapeutics, about the CataloniaBio & HealthTech Bio-Success Award said, “You don’t know the energy it gives us to receive this recognition.” She highlighted the internationalization of the Catalan biotechnology sector and claimed that “in the sector we must stop being humble. Five years ago, when I arrived in Barcelona, in Catalonia, I found excellent science, capital and specialist investors, exceptional professionals and a strong biotechnology community.”

About Ona Therapeutics
Ona Therapeutics, with headquarters in the Barcelona Science Park (PCB), Barcelona, Spain, is a biotech company that specializes in the discovery and development of therapeutic biologics targeting tumor metastatic-initiating cells and lipid metabolism. Founded in 2019 by Salvador Aznar-Benitah and
Valerie Vanhooren, it was a spin-off from ICREA and Advanced Studies, and the IRB Institute for Research in Biomedicine. www.ona-therapeutics.com