Catalonia’s Ona Therapeutics raises €74.2 million to advance new cancer treatments into clinical development

Barcelona-based Ona Therapeutics has raised €74.2 million in a Series B funding round, one of the largest life sciences investments in Catalonia in 2026.

The funding round was co-led by Columbus Venture Partners and Mérieux Equity Partners, with participation from COFIDES and Korys, alongside existing investors Alta Life Sciences, Asabys Partners, Bpifrance, CDTI through SICC Innvierte, FundPlus NV and Ysios Capital.

The new investment will enable Ona Therapeutics to advance its lead program, ONA-255, a first-in-class ADC initially focused on breast cancer, toward clinical proof of concept. The company will also accelerate the development of ONA-389, a second ADC candidate targeting colorectal cancer, which is expected to move into first-in-human studies.

“This financing strengthens our commitment to addressing hard-to-treat cancers through meaningful innovation”

Valerie Vanhooren, co-founder and CEO of Ona Therapeutics

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Barcelona biotech enters a new phase of growth

The financing marks a major milestone for Ona Therapeutics as it transitions from a research-stage biotech company to a clinical-stage organization.

Founded in Barcelona, Ona Therapeutics is developing a new generation of antibody-drug conjugates aimed at overcoming one of the biggest challenges in oncology: drug resistance. The company’s proprietary patient-driven target discovery platform identifies novel tumor-specific antigens that enable more precise delivery of cancer therapies while reducing unwanted side effects.

According to Valerie Vanhooren, co-founder and CEO of Ona Therapeutics, the funding will help the company generate clinical evidence for its lead programs while expanding its pipeline of innovative cancer treatments.

“The oversubscribed Series B marks an important step in advancing ONA-255 toward clinical proof of concept in breast cancer while progressing ONA-389 in colorectal cancer,” said Vanhooren. “This financing strengthens our commitment to addressing hard-to-treat cancers through meaningful innovation.”

International investors back Catalan oncology innovation

The investment reflects growing international confidence in Catalonia’s biotechnology sector and in Ona Therapeutics’ scientific approach.

Jose Mesa, partner at Columbus Venture Partners and incoming board member, highlighted the company’s potential to build a differentiated oncology platform focused on cancer resistance and metastasis. “At Columbus, we look for companies that combine world-class science with a clear path to clinical impact. Ona is a strong example of that,” he said.

Meanwhile, Valérie Calenda, managing partner and head of innovation at Mérieux Equity Partners, pointed to the strength of the company’s preclinical data, its differentiated pipeline and its experienced leadership team as key factors behind the investment.

Building a global oncology platform from Catalonia

Ona Therapeutics currently retains worldwide commercial rights to all its programs. The company is preparing to generate its first human safety and efficacy data for ONA-255, a key step toward validating its technology platform and advancing new treatment options for cancer patients.

The company is supported by an internationally recognized leadership team that includes oncology drug development experts, renowned breast cancer specialist Aleix Prat, and chief medical officer Jutta Amersdorffer, who is overseeing clinical strategy and execution.

Catalonia: a leading life sciences hub in Europe

Ona Therapeutics’ successful fundraising further strengthens Catalonia’s position as one of Europe’s most dynamic life sciences and healthcare innovation ecosystems. The sector comprises more than 1,500 companies and organizations, generating over 9% of Catalonia’s GDP and employing more than 280,000 professionals.

Home to world-class research centers, leading hospitals, multinational pharmaceutical companies and a thriving biotech startup community, Catalonia has become a major destination for international investment in health innovation. The region continues to attract global talent, venture capital and cutting-edge projects in areas such as oncology, advanced therapies, digital health and precision medicine, reinforcing Barcelona’s role as a leading European life sciences hub.

Source: Ona Therapeutics