Manel Cascalló (Barcelona, 1972) is one of the current protagonists of the biotechnological ecosystem of Catalonia. After years developing oncolytic viruses to fight cancer, this researcher has managed to get a listed company in the United States to buy his treatment and finance the expensive tests he needs to reach the market. A whole case of success that demonstrates the quality of local research, this time from the Institut Català d’Oncologia (ICO).
The operation came to light in mid-December. Synthetic Biologics, which is listed in New York, paid 66 million euros to acquire VCN Biosciences, the company that develops the treatment and which, for a few years, was controlled 86% by Grifols, a Catalan multinational of blood products. “We are satisfied with the operation. Two years ago we were looking for a change of hands because Grifols was no longer aligned with our interests and we needed capital to move forward. For me, this operation also represents an injection of confidence after so many years dedicating my life to the project ”.
Synthetic to invest 30 million in patient tests for a virus that fights cancer
The story of Cascalló is that of a passionate about science who has managed to overcome the frustration that often accompanies the world of research. Since he was little he had an interest in science. Not that it ran in the family. In fact, his grandparents and parents ran the emblematic Cascalló tailor shop, which dressed people from Barcelona’s high society in the Eixample Dret. With the advent of ready-to-wear fashion, the business lost steam and it was always clear to him that he was not going to dedicate himself to fashion. The youngest after four sisters, as a young man he hesitated between science and the violin, but finally enrolled in Chemistry at the UB. Over the years, he specialized in molecular biology focused on fighting cancer. He trained in the US, at the prestigious MD Anderson center, and back in Barcelona he got a place as a researcher at the ICO after a brief stint at the Merck pharmaceutical company in the city.
© Gusi Bejer
CASCALLO
“I have always thought that science should be an economic engine and not something folkloric. When I entered the ICO, I was immediately interested in a project that could have an impact on the market. The researchers Gabriel Capellà and Ramon Alemany proposed me to lead the development of an oncolytic virus to fight several tumors locally ”. However, going to market is an especially long road in the biotech sector. Cascalló remembers the first years with frustration: trial and error –19 versions of the virus have been developed–, the slowness of authorizations, the lack of interest from the companies to which the technology was licensed … In 2009, Cascalló decided to accelerate the process with a strong personal commitment. He resigned from his position to found VCN Biosciences and carry out patient trials. The company was established with the support of Capellà and Alemany and a group of investors. After three years, Grifols took 40% of the capital (which it increased over time) and financed the phase I tests. In recent years, the therapy has been applied successfully in tumors of the pancreas, head, neck and eyes of child patients, and now you need to move on to phase II. Under the umbrella of Synthetic (a company that tried to develop a drug against the side effects of antibiotics), Cascalló is confident of obtaining the necessary support. “The group will invest more than 30 million and will keep the team in Barcelona. Now we employ a dozen people, with the anticipation of doubling in size. ” The researcher calculates that if everything goes according to plan – in “the United States there are more facilities” – the treatment could reach the market in 2028.
Without a doubt, VCN has become the vital project of Cascalló, who finds peace in family life (he is the father of two daughters), cross-country skiing and choral singing. As a child he played Turandot at the Liceu in Barcelona and now he has fun singing in musicals.