Recent Funding
Founders
Valerie Vanhooren

Valerie Vanhooren

Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Ona Therapeutics ·

OOna Therapeutics

Catalonië, Spanje

@valerievh001 · LinkedIn

Largest round$87MOna Therapeutics · 2026

About Valerie

Valerie Vanhooren is the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ona Therapeutics, a biotechnology company based in Barcelona, Spain. She co-founded the company in 2019, which focuses on developing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and antibody-based therapies for advanced cancers. Vanhooren brings her experience in developing monoclonal antibodies and managing early-stage research projects to Ona Therapeutics. She is actively involved in building the company's team and promoting women in science and leadership.

Strengths: founder archetype

Domain operatorResearcherCommunity builder

Domain operator 3

Researcher 2

Community builder 2

Young outlier –

Capital allocator –

Quant / trader –

Technical builder –

Repeat founder –

one sourced signal · hover a cell for it, click for the source

Why domain operator

Valerie Vanhooren operates within a specific domain (biotechnology, oncology) and leverages her research background to lead a company developing novel therapies. She actively builds and promotes her team and engages with broader community issues like women in science.

The signals behind it 5

The company has been created by four partners: IRB Barcelona, ICREA, and researchers Salvador Aznar-Benitah and Valerie Vanhooren.Researcher · Domain operator
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The project is supported by Vanhooren’s experience in the development of monoclonal antibodies, as well as in the management of early-stage research projects.Researcher · Domain operator
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I provide Ona Therapeutics with my previous experience in biotech companies, where I have led the development of biologicals for oncological purposesDomain operator
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Hoping this day becomes redundant one day but believe me it is still essential. May we lift each other up, and may we see and encourage the potential in each other, maybe even before we see it in ourselves. #IWD2022 #WCommunity builder
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Grateful to work in the most exciting field in the world, thankful for all the amazing women in science and looking forward welcoming and supporting more women and girls in science #InternationalDayOfWomenInScienceCommunity builder
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PATH · 5 MILESTONES

Valerie Vanhooren | Biotech Founder, Oncology Research, Leadership

2019 → 2026·0phases·now

Every tag links its source.

Network

Backed by 4

CColumbus Venture PartnersLed Ona Therapeutics's Series B+, 2026

MMérieux Equity PartnersLed Ona Therapeutics's Series B+, 2026

AAlta Life SciencesIn Ona Therapeutics's Series A, 2020

AAsabys PartnersIn Ona Therapeutics's Series A, 2020

VVValerie Vanhooren

Built and backed 1

OOna TherapeuticsCo-founder and Chief Executive Officer

Background

Company Ona Therapeutics
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Location Catalonië, Spanje
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Followers on X 317
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Board Member Board Member
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Timeline, line by line 5

Ona Therapeutics raised $87M (Series B+).Oct 5, 2026
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Ona Therapeutics raised $87M (Series B+), led by Columbus Venture Partners and Mérieux Equity Partners.Jun 4, 2026
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Welcomed Dr Michel Detheux as Independent Chair of ONA’s board of directors.Dec 2, 2021
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Ona Therapeutics raised $34M (Series A).Jun 16, 2020
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Co-founded Ona Therapeutics, a spin-off from IRB Barcelona and ICREA, with Salvador Aznar-Benitah.May 21, 2019
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In their words

“Hoping this day becomes redundant one day but believe me it is still essential. May we lift each other up, and may we see and encourage the potential in each other, maybe even before we see it in ourselves. #IWD2022 #WomenSupportingWomen”On International Women's Day 2022 · Mar 8, 2022
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“Love is amazing in all shapes and forms.”A personal reflection · Apr 19, 2022
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“Inspiring TED talk: us women should start practicing bravery too”Reflecting on a TED talk · Oct 29, 2021
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“Delighted and honored to welcome world-class talent to our scientific leadership team as we accelerate the development of novel therapies against advanced cancer #lifesciences #oncologyresearch #biotech”On strengthening the scientific leadership team at Ona Therapeutics · Oct 21, 2021
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“I am thrilled to welcome Dr Michel Detheux as Independent Chair of ONA’s board of directors.”Announcing a new board member for Ona Therapeutics · Dec 2, 2021
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“Grateful to work in the most exciting field in the world, thankful for all the amazing women in science and looking forward welcoming and supporting more women and girls in science #InternationalDayOfWomenInScience”On International Day of Women in Science · Feb 11, 2021
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“2020 was a crazy year with ups and downs.@OnaTherapeutics kept me sane 😀. Merry Christmas to all!”Reflecting on the year 2020 and Ona Therapeutics · Dec 25, 2020
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“I provide Ona Therapeutics with my previous experience in biotech companies, where I have led the development of biologicals for oncological purposes”Describing her contribution to Ona Therapeutics · May 21, 2019
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Team at Ona Therapeutics

Salvador Aznar Benitahscientific co-founder@SalvadorAznar3
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Interviews and coverage

ADC biotech Ona Therapeutics secures $86.6M in Series B raiseEndpoints News · Jun 4, 2026
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Ona Therapeutics bags $86.6m to push cancer-fighting ADCs into human trialsBioXconomy · Jun 4, 2026
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Ona Therapeutics captures 74.2 million euros to accelerate its cancer drugsDiari ARA · Jun 4, 2026
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The IRB Barcelona spin-off Ona Therapeutics hits the road thanks to Sabadell AsabysInstitute for Research in Biomedicine | IRB Barcelona · May 21, 2019
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Ona Therapeutics is launchedInstitute for Research in Biomedicine | IRB Barcelona · May 23, 2019
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How this is researched

Researched from public pages: press, interviews, the company's site and the founder's own posts. Each source logo links the page that states the row; anything we couldn't source is left out. The archetype is our reading of that record, from a fixed set so founders can be compared. Updated Oct 12, 2026.