One of VHIO’s strategic lines is to transform the research carried out in the laboratory into knowledge that can be developed by different companies as new drugs or treatments for patients. It is about accelerating the availability of these products so that patients can access them quickly and easily. Therefore, the development of patents and spin-offs that allow us to channel all that knowledge into new possibilities for patients is key.
Since VHIO’s creation in 2006, its researchers have participated in the generation of 28 patents:
- 15 patents are exploited via 4 spin-offs at VHIO.
- 3 patents have been licensed to a company leader in the pharma industry.
- 5 patents are directly exploited by international biotech companies.
- 4 patents are at different stages of negotiation for tech transfer.
- 1 patent has been abandoned.
Generation of 4 spin-offs with the aim of developing two new anti-cancer treatments and novel precision diagnostic tools
Northern Mosaic
MOSAIC Biomedicals is a spin-off company created by VHIO, ICREA and VHIR aimed to the development of a first-in-class anti-LIF antibody. The spin-off has been backed by internationally leading Venture Capital firm Versant Ventures. The company has already successfully completed a phase 1a trial that evaluates the safety of MSC-1 in patients with advanced tumours. MSC-1 has been out-licensed to MedImmune LLC (AstraZeneca).
Peptomyc
Peptomyc is a VHIO’s and ICREA spin-off company focused on the development of a new generation of cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) targeting the Myc oncoprotein for cancer treatment. The company was founded in December 2014 and it is based on Dr. Soucek’s scientific research in Omomyc (the best direct Myc inhibitor known to date) over the last twenty years. Since its founding, the company has raised more than 24 million euros and has been awarded by the European Commission under the EU Horizon 2020 programme SME Instrument Phase 1 and Phase 2.
This company is conducting a phase I clinical trial of its first OMO103 candidate for the treatment of various solid tumours.
Reveal Genomics
Reveal Genomics is a spin-off company from VHIO, IDIBAPS, UB that was born on September 17th, 2020 to improve the health and well-being of patients with breast cancer and other types of cancer developing innovative tests of high analytical complexity, but easy-to-interpret results, using different biopsy-based approaches. The company has launched in February 2022 its first genomic test, HER2DX® test.
The HER2DX® test predicts the risk of HER2+ breast cancer recurrence in newly diagnosed patients and the likelihood that they will respond to pharmacological treatment. This innovative tool, which combines a patient’s clinical data and the tumor’s genomic profile, is the world’s first specialized genomic test for HER2+ breast cancer.
ONIRIA Therapeutics
Created in late 2021, Oniria Therapeutics is a pre-clinical stage biopharmaceutical spin-off company of the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology focused on the development of innovative drugs in the field of precision oncology. The company is focused on the development of therapies to eliminate dormant tumour cells in response to conventional treatments and to dormant tumour cells that are responsible for the progression of patients to fatal stages of cancer. Its most advanced drug (first in class) modulates an epigenetic factor that has shown efficacy in haematological cancer models and in melanoma.
