Oniria Therapeutics SL

Oniria Therapeutics is a Barcelona-based biopharmaceutical spin-off founded in 2021 by the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), the University of Barcelona (UB), and ICREA. The company specializes in precision oncology with a core focus on eliminating persistent, dormant tumor cells that frequently cause disease recurrence and drug resistance. Their lead therapeutic candidate, ONR-001, is a first-in-class small molecule designed to allosterically activate TET2, an epigenetic enzyme. By over-activating this enzyme, the drug induces cycle arrest and apoptosis in cancer cells, targeting a vulnerability in tumors that survive conventional therapies.

This approach addresses a critical need in cancer treatment, as persistent or latent cells are estimated to be responsible for the majority of cancer-related deaths. By developing therapies that modulate cell dormancy to prevent metastasis and relapse, Oniria Therapeutics aims to significantly improve long-term outcomes for patients with aggressive solid and hematologic tumors. The company has secured support from various institutions, including the “la Caixa” Foundation, the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC), and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, to advance its pipeline toward clinical trials. Their work has been recognized for its potential to overcome significant hurdles in current oncology treatment.