Ona Therapeutics
Ona Therapeutics is a Barcelona-based clinical-stage biotech developing first-in-class antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that target treatment-resistant advanced cancers, with lead program ONA-255 entering clinical trials for breast cancer in early 2026 and additional programs in colorectal and other solid tumors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersBarcelona, Spain
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Ona Therapeutics does
Ona Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company founded in 2019 as a spin-off from ICREA and IRB Barcelona, headquartered at Barcelona Science Park in Spain. The company develops first-in-class antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and antibody therapies targeting treatment-resistant advanced cancers. Its core platform relies on analyzing real-world patient biopsies from treatment-refractory cancer patients to identify novel tumor-specific antigens that are not addressed by existing therapies, then engineering precision ADCs with optimized pharmacokinetics and tolerability. The pipeline comprises ONA-255 in IND-enabling studies for breast cancer and other solid tumors (clinical trials planned for early 2026), ONA-389 advancing toward first-in-human studies in microsatellite stable colorectal cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma, ONA-418, a dual-payload ADC in discovery, and a complementary CD36 monoclonal antibody program targeting lipid metabolism in cancer progression. The company was founded on pioneering work by scientific co-founder Salvador Aznar Benitah on metastasis-initiating cells, and maintains research partnerships with IRB Barcelona, ICREA, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, and REVEAL GENOMICS.\n\nOna Therapeutics operates a licensing-and-partnership-driven business model while retaining full worldwide commercial rights to all of its programs. It has not yet commercialized any product and therefore generates no product revenue; capital sources to date comprise equity rounds (more than $116 million cumulative across seed, Series A, CDTI investment, and Series B) supplemented by non-dilutive public grants from Spanish and European programs (CDTI, Eurostars, MCIN/AEI, EU NextGenerationEU/PRTR). The company's go-to-market motion is enterprise-focused: it targets co-development and out-licensing partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies for late-stage development and commercialization of its ADC assets. The patient population it ultimately serves is an unmet medical need the company estimates at roughly 90% of advanced cancer patients who become refractory to standard-of-care treatment.\n\nThe company is led by a management team with deep oncology drug-development experience: CEO and co-founder Valerie Vanhooren (ex-Ablynx/SpliceBio), CSO Haijun Sun (former Head of Antibody Pharmacology at GSK), COO Mercè de Frias (ex-Almirall/Advancell), CMO Jutta Amersdorffer (ex-Sandoz/MorphoSys), and CFO Julià Mesquida (ex-Mineralys/SpliceBio/Mediktor). The Board is chaired by Antoine Yver, former Head of Global Oncology R&D at Daiichi Sankyo who led the development and approval of ENHERTU and TAGRISSO, alongside Pamela Klein (former VP Development at Genentech, Herceptin/Rituxan/Perjeta/Tarceva) and representatives of the institutional investor syndicate. This combination of scientific founders from IRB Barcelona with senior commercial drug-development leadership is central to the company's positioning as it transitions into clinical development.
Ona Therapeutics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ona Therapeutics
- Legal name
- ONA THERAPEUTICS, SL
- Website
- https://ona-therapeutics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Ona Therapeutics is a Barcelona-based clinical-stage biotech developing first-in-class antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that target treatment-resistant advanced cancers, with lead program ONA-255 entering clinical trials for breast cancer in early 2026 and additional programs in colorectal and other solid tumors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ona Therapeutics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Oncology Biopharmaceuticals
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) & Antibody Conjugates (HLAAAAAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Oncology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAA), Oncology & Hematology Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAC)
Keywords
Where Ona Therapeutics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Barcelona
- HQ country
- Spain
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ona Therapeutics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Pharmaceutical Licensing and Partnership Revenue: As a clinical-stage biopharma company, Ona Therapeutics generates revenue through licensing agreements and strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical companies. The company retains full worldwide commercial rights to all programs, suggesting a model of co-development followed by out-licensing or independent commercialization. Revenue streams include upfront payments, milestone payments (development, regulatory, and commercial), and potential royalty payments from partnered programs.
- Government Grants and Non-Dilutive Funding: Ona Therapeutics receives public funding from multiple Spanish and European government programs including CDTI, Eurostars, MCIN/AEI, and EU NextGenerationEU/PRTR programs. These grants support specific R&D projects and clinical development activities.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Ona Therapeutics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ona Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that exploit the molecular underpinnings of advanced, treatment-resistant cancers. The company uses a proprietary patient-driven target discovery platform analyzing real-world patient biopsies to identify novel tumor antigens, then engineers precision ADCs with optimized pharmacokinetics and tolerability profiles for indications such as breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and other solid tumors.
Product overview
Ona Therapeutics is developing a pipeline of first-in-class antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) tailored to exploit the molecular underpinnings of advanced, treatment-resistant cancers. The core portfolio includes ONA-255 (lead ADC for breast cancer), ONA-389 (for colorectal cancer), and ONA-418 (dual payload ADC for solid tumors). The company also maintains a monoclonal antibody program targeting CD36. All programs are wholly owned by Ona Therapeutics with full worldwide commercial rights retained.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ONA-255
Quantifiable outcome
- ONA-255 advancing toward clinical trials in early 2026 for HR-positive HER2-negative breast cancer
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Ona Therapeutics
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ona Therapeutics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Ona Therapeutics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.
- REVEAL GENOMICS USAmajorCollaboration partner in DICAMAR project (CDTI Multipais) focused on advancing personalized medicine for HR+ HER2-negative breast cancer treatment. REVEAL GENOMICS contributes biomarker identification and genetic algorithm development for patient response prediction.
- Absolute AntibodyminorPart of LIPOLOGIC consortium awarded Eurostars grant for development of first-in-class treatment of metastatic cancer. Absolute Antibody contributes expertise in antibody formatting and manufacturing.
- RICminorPart of LIPOLOGIC consortium awarded Eurostars grant. RIC contributes to the two-year project developing a proprietary biological drug with unique mode of action for metastatic cancers.
- IRB BarcelonacoreOna Therapeutics was spun out from IRB Barcelona in 2019. Company maintains research partnerships with IRB Barcelona scientists including scientific co-founder Salvador Aznar Benitah and advisor Roger Gomis. Target of ONA-255 was exclusively licensed from FCRB-IDIBAPS, IRB Barcelona, UB and ICREA.
- ICREAcoreOna Therapeutics was spun out from ICREA (Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats). Scientific co-founder Salvador Aznar Benitah is an ICREA researcher.
- Vall d'Hebron Institute of OncologymajorResearch collaboration with Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology. Dr. Aleix Prat, Director of Clínic Barcelona Comprehensive Cancer Center and Professor of Medicine at University of Barcelona, serves as Chair of Ona's Advisory Board and collaborated on identifying and validating the target of ONA-255.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ona Therapeutics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mersana Therapeutics: Clinical-stage ADC company developing first-in-class and best-in-class ADCs against novel targets in oncology. Directly comparable to Ona as a similarly sized clinical-stage ADC developer with proprietary platform technology targeting refractory cancers.
- Pyxis Oncology: Clinical-stage oncology company developing antibody-drug conjugates and immunotherapies. Comparable to Ona as a clinical-stage ADC developer with a focus on novel targets and difficult-to-treat cancers.
- ImmunoGen (acquired by AbbVie): Pioneer in ADC technology with approved ELAHERE for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Comparable to Ona as an ADC-focused company pursuing treatment-resistant cancers, though now part of AbbVie.
- Bolt Biotherapeutics: Clinical-stage oncology company developing immune-stimulating antibody-drug conjugates (ISACs). Comparable to Ona as a clinical-stage ADC company targeting novel immuno-oncology mechanisms in solid tumors.
- Heidelberg Pharma: German clinical-stage ADC company developing ADCs using proprietary amanitin payload technology. Comparable to Ona as a European clinical-stage ADC developer with proprietary payload/targeting technology.
Emerging players
- Duality Biologics: Clinical-stage ADC company with proprietary linker-payload platform developing multiple ADC candidates. Antoine Yver serves on its board alongside Ona. Comparable as a clinical-stage ADC platform company.
- Tubulis: European clinical-stage biotech developing differentiated ADCs with proprietary conjugation chemistry. Comparable to Ona as an emerging European ADC platform company targeting solid tumors.
Broad incumbents
- Daiichi Sankyo: Global pharmaceutical company and ADC leader, developer of ENHERTU and DATROWAY. Antoine Yver previously led global oncology R&D at Daiichi Sankyo. A potential licensing partner and broad comparator for ADC market dynamics.
- AstraZeneca: Global oncology leader with major ADC franchise through partnership with Daiichi Sankyo (ENHERTU, DATROWAY). Yver also held senior roles here. Comparable as a potential large-pharma licensing partner for Ona's pipeline.
Others
- REVEAL GENOMICS: Precision oncology company co-founded by Dr. Aleix Prat, Ona's Advisory Board Chair. Active collaboration partner in the DICAMAR project for biomarker development in HR+/HER2- breast cancer. Strategically connected through Ona's clinical development for ONA-255.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ona Therapeutics social profiles
Digital presenceOna Therapeutics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ona Therapeutics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Ona Therapeutics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors12 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ona Therapeutics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ona Therapeutics
What does Ona Therapeutics do?
Ona Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that exploit the molecular underpinnings of advanced, treatment-resistant cancers. The company uses a proprietary patient-driven target discovery platform analyzing real-world patient biopsies to identify novel tumor antigens, then engineers precision ADCs with optimized pharmacokinetics and tolerability profiles for indications such as breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and other solid tumors.
Is Ona Therapeutics a public or private company?
Ona Therapeutics is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Ona Therapeutics founded?
Ona Therapeutics was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Ona Therapeutics based?
Ona Therapeutics is headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, in the Europe region.
How does Ona Therapeutics make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Pharmaceutical Licensing and Partnership Revenue is the primary driver. The others are government Grants and Non-Dilutive Funding.
Who are Ona Therapeutics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mersana Therapeutics, Pyxis Oncology, ImmunoGen (acquired by AbbVie), Bolt Biotherapeutics and Heidelberg Pharma. Emerging players are Duality Biologics and Tubulis. Broad incumbents are Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca. REVEAL GENOMICS is listed as an others.
Does Ona Therapeutics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ona Therapeutics.
What industry is Ona Therapeutics in?
Ona Therapeutics's product category is Oncology Biopharmaceuticals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAAAE, Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) & Antibody Conjugates, with a secondary code of HLAIACAA, Oncology Specialty Pharmaceuticals. Its NAICS code is 3254 and its SIC code is 2834.