Cima Universidad de Navarra

What Cima Universidad de Navarra does

Cima Universidad de Navarra is a non-profit translational biomedical research center founded in 2004 and headquartered in Pamplona, Navarra, Spain. It operates as the research arm of Clínica Universidad de Navarra under the Fundación para la Investigación Médica Aplicada (FIMA), and employs approximately 300 staff organized into five disease programs: cancer, rare diseases, cardiovascular, liver, and neurological disorders. Its functional role is to translate laboratory discoveries into clinically testable therapeutic candidates, with the parent hospital providing patient samples, clinical trial infrastructure, and a direct path to first-in-human studies.

The center's technology platform spans gene therapy vector design, flow cytometry, multi-omics profiling, CAR-T cell engineering, and oncolytic virus development. Its pipeline includes CM-272 (a dual kinase inhibitor for hematological cancers), CM-352 (a fibrinolytic compound), and the oncolytic adenoviruses DNX-2401 and DNX-2440 for glioblastoma. Cima has generated intellectual property that has been commercialized through spin-off companies including MIMO Biosciences, Vivet Therapeutics, and Hemostatics, providing a structured pathway from bench to commercial entity.

As a foundation-governed non-profit, Cima's revenue model is grant-driven rather than commercial. Funding flows from Spanish national agencies (Ministerio de Ciencia, Instituto de Salud Carlos III), regional government (Gobierno de Navarra), European structural funds (FEDER, FSE), and private foundations. The center has been accredited as a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence, the highest recognition tier for Spanish research institutions, which both validates its standing and secures multi-year programmatic funding. Commercial returns flow indirectly through spin-off equity, licensing royalties, and milestone payments rather than direct product sales.

Name

Cima Universidad de Navarra

Legal name

Fundación para la Investigación Médica Aplicada

Website

https://cima.cun.es

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Cima Universidad de Navarra is a non-profit translational biomedical research center in Pamplona, Spain, operating under FIMA as the research arm of Clínica Universidad de Navarra. It advances gene and cell therapies, oncolytic viruses, and small molecules across cancer, rare diseases, and cardiovascular and neurological indications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Translational Biomedical Research Services

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54), Medical Laboratories (621511)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro primary industry

Oncology Gene Therapies (incl. oncolytic vectors & gene-modified approaches) (HLAAACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

AAV Vector Gene Therapy Developers (HLAAACAA), Neurology/CNS Gene Therapies (HLAAACAH), Gene Therapy Regulatory, Pharmacovigilance & Clinical Operations Services (HLAAACAM)

Keywords

• Biomedical research services
• Translational medicine
• Gene therapy development
• Oncology clinical research
• Rare disease therapeutics

Headquarters

HQ city

Pamplona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Research Funding and Grants: Cima operates as a research center primarily funded through competitive grants from government bodies including Ministerio de Ciencia, ISCIII, Gobierno de Navarra, and European funds (FEDER, Fondo Social Europeo). The Foundation for Applied Medical Research manages funding and collaborations.
2. Strategic Alliances and Industry Partnerships: Revenue generated through strategic alliances with pharmaceutical and biotech companies for drug development, including partnerships with MIMO Biosciences, Vivet Therapeutics, and Hemostatics. Collaborations involve co-development agreements and potential milestone payments.
3. Technology Transfer and Spin-offs: Cima develops biotech companies and spin-offs from its research, including Hemostatics for CM-352 development, and licenses technologies to pharmaceutical partners.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cima Universidad de Navarra is a translational biomedical research center that develops novel therapies, gene therapy vectors, oncolytic viruses, cellular therapies (CAR-T), and diagnostic services for cancer, rare genetic diseases, cardiovascular, hepatic, and neurological conditions. It operates integrated research divisions, a flow cytometry platform, a clinical diagnostics laboratory (Cima Lab Diagnostics), training programs (Cima Impulse), and a pharmaceutical development pipeline, translating discoveries into clinical applications through Clínica Universidad de Navarra and partner companies.

Product overview

Cima Universidad de Navarra is a biomedical research center structured around three main research divisions (Cancer, DNA and RNA Therapies, and Technological Innovation) with 10 research programs. The center operates as part of the Universidad de Navarra Biomedical Campus and provides a comprehensive ecosystem of research services including Cima Lab Diagnostics for clinical diagnostics, Cima Impulse for training, advanced cytometry and technological platforms for research, and an active drug development pipeline. The center also fosters entrepreneurship through spin-off companies including MIMO Biosciences (immunotherapy), Vivet Therapeutics (gene therapy for rare diseases), and Hemostatics (hemorrhage treatment), all aimed at translating research discoveries into clinical applications for cancer and rare disease patients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cima Lab Diagnostics: Diagnostic laboratory services operated by Cima Universidad de Navarra
• Cima Impulse

Products and services

• Cima Impulse Training and educational programs offered by Cima Universidad de Navarra for researchers and professionals in the biomedical field, including PhD training contracts and grants.
• Cima Lab Diagnostics Diagnostic laboratory services providing clinical analysis for patients and referring clinicians, integrating with the research capabilities of Cima Universidad de Navarra.
• Cytometry Platform services Flow cytometry services for differential diagnosis, prognostic classification, and minimal residual disease monitoring of hematologic malignancies, with advanced cell separation and analysis capabilities using cutting-edge equipment.
• Translational research collaboration and licensing programs Strategic alliances and co-development partnerships with pharmaceutical/biotech companies covering gene therapy, oncolytic virus, cellular therapy (CAR-T), and small-molecule programs in oncology and rare diseases, including technology licensing and sponsored research arrangements.

Quantifiable outcome

• DNX-2401 virus combined with radiotherapy demonstrated safety and partial efficacy with increased survival in pediatric DIPG patients
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MIMO BiosciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIMO (Modelling Immunotherapy In Oncology) Biosciences focuses on the development of immunotherapy in cancer as a strategic alliance with Cima Universidad de Navarra.
• Vivet TherapeuticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGene therapy collaboration for the treatment of alterations in the ATP7B gene, whose mutation causes Wilson's disease and its accumulation in the liver and other tissues.
• HemostaticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiotech company promoted by Cima for the development of CM-352, an antifibrinolytic strategy for the treatment of hemorrhage.
• CIBERONCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiomedical Research Networking Centre in Oncology - Cima participates in this national research network for collaborative cancer research.
• IdisNAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNavarre Health Research Institute - collaborative research network in Navarra integrating Cima with other research institutions.
• AC Hotels by MarriottminorOthersStrategic hospitality partner supporting Cima's institutional development.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Large US-based translational oncology research enterprise spanning discovery through clinical care. Comparable in oncologic research depth, translational pipeline, and drug development partnerships, but operates at materially larger scale with broader portfolio and US-centric industry tie-ins.
• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center: US-based translational research center with strong gene therapy, immunotherapy, and CAR-T programs. Comparable in gene therapy and immuno-oncology focus and academic-industry partnership model, but with significantly larger US funding base and industry footprint.
• Karolinska Institutet Research Division: Sweden's leading medical university with deep translational research infrastructure, particularly in cell and gene therapy. Comparable in translational mission, gene therapy research investment, and European academic-industry collaboration patterns versus Cima.

Direct peers

• Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC): Spanish national cardiovascular research center run as a Severo Ochoa-recognized foundation. Closely comparable governance, funding, and translational research structure, and overlaps Cima in cardiovascular disease research programs.
• Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG): Barcelona-based institute focused on genomics, gene regulation, and bioinformatics. Comparable in genomics and gene therapy-adjacent research, multi-omics platform investment, and biomedical excellence positioning within the Spanish research ecosystem.
• IRB Barcelona (Institute for Research in Biomedicine): Barcelona-based research center covering cancer, metabolic diseases, and computational biology. Comparable in disease-area overlap (particularly oncology), translational mission, and competitive Spanish/EU funding positioning versus Cima.
• Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR): Multidisciplinary biomedical research institute embedded in Vall d'Hebron University Hospital. Comparable in disease-area breadth, hospital-integrated translational model, and grant-funded structure to Cima's relationship with Clínica Universidad de Navarra.
• Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO): Spain's national cancer research center covering solid tumors, hematological malignancies, and translational oncology. Comparable in oncology research scope, government funding dependency, and translational orientation, making it Cima's most direct national counterpart.
• Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO): Spanish translational oncology research institute embedded within Vall d'Hebron University Hospital. Closely comparable to Cima in translational model, oncology pipeline focus, and academic-hospital co-location; competes with Cima for Spanish and EU oncology grants and industry partnerships.
• Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) London: UK-based translational cancer research institute affiliated with The Royal Marsden. Comparable in combining basic research, clinical trials, and biotech spin-out activity; serves as the European benchmark for academic oncology research commercialization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cima_unav
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/cimacomunica
• Facebookfacebook.com/CIMAunav
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cimaunav
• Instagraminstagram.com/cimauniversidadnavarra

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Cima Universidad de Navarra