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In a recent feature, the journal Nature spotlights the growing strength of Barcelona's biotech sector and names two IRB Barcelona spin-offs —Ona Therapeutics and Nuage Therapeutics — as exemplary cases of scientific excellence translating into biomedical innovation.
The article underscores how these companies, born from the research ecosystem at IRB Barcelona, are pushing the boundaries of oncology and drug discovery, positioning the city as a rising biotech powerhouse in Europe. Their success stories reflect the city’s commitment to turning cutting-edge science into transformative therapies.
SpliceBio, a spin-off located in the Barcelona Science Park, like those mentioned above, is another of the biotechnology companies that are also highlighted in the article.
Ona Therapeutics: Targeting Metastasis with Precision
Founded in 2019 by Dr. Salvador Aznar-Benitah from IRB Barcelona and the Institution ICREA, Ona Therapeutics is at the forefront of developing therapeutic biologics aimed at metastatic cancer.
The company specializes in creating antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) that combine potent cancer-killing agents with antibodies targeting tumor cells. This approach allows for the selective elimination of cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue.
Ona's research focuses on identifying novel drug targets that emerge as cancer adapts to standard therapies, particularly in advanced stages where resistance is common. By analyzing rare patient samples, the team has uncovered unique molecular changes that serve as new therapeutic targets. This innovative strategy has positioned Ona Therapeutics as a leader in addressing treatment-resistant cancers.
Nuage Therapeutics: Unlocking the Potential of Disordered Proteins
Established in 2021, by Dr. Xavier Salvatella, Nuage Therapeutics is another notable spin-off from IRB Barcelona and ICREA. The company focuses on discovering drugs that target intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), which constitute approximately 40% of the human proteome.
These proteins lack a fixed structure, making them challenging targets for traditional drug discovery methods. Nuage has developed a proprietary technology that captures these proteins in a more ordered conformation, enabling the identification of small molecules that can effectively bind to them.
This approach opens new avenues for treating diseases where IDPs play a critical role, such as certain cancers, neurodegenerative disorders, and autoimmune diseases. The company's lead program targets castration-resistant prostate cancer, a condition with limited treatment options.
IRB Barcelona: A Catalyst for Biotech Innovation
The success of Ona Therapeutics and Nuage Therapeutics underscores IRB Barcelona's pivotal role in fostering biotech innovation. By promoting an entrepreneurial spirit among its researchers and facilitating technology transfer, IRB Barcelona has established itself as a breeding ground for groundbreaking startups.
The Institute's spin-offs have collectively raised over €91.5 million, reflecting the strong investor confidence in its translational research initiatives. This dynamic environment not only accelerates the development of novel therapies but also contributes significantly to Barcelona's growing reputation as a biotech powerhouse.
As Barcelona continues to solidify its position in the global biotech landscape, the achievements of IRB Barcelona's spin-offs like Ona Therapeutics and Nuage Therapeutics exemplify the city's commitment to advancing biomedical science and improving patient outcomes.
Read the full article here: https://www.nature.com/articles/d42473-025-00025-w
About IRB Barcelona
The Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) pursues a society free of disease. To this end, it conducts multidisciplinary research of excellence to cure cancer and other diseases linked to ageing. It establishes technology transfer agreements with the pharmaceutical industry and major hospitals to bring research results closer to society, and organises a range of science outreach activities to engage the public in an open dialogue. IRB Barcelona is an international centre that hosts 400 researchers and more than 30 nationalities. Recognised as a Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence since 2011, IRB Barcelona is a CERCA centre and member of the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST).
