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Company Profile

Oils4cure S.L.

Oils4cure S.L. Secures EIC Accelerator Funding to Develop Cannabis-Based Therapies for Refractory Epilepsy

SpainEIC Accelerator2023

Table of Contents

  1. The EIC Accelerator Project
  2. The Funding Rounds
  3. The Press Releases
  4. The Technology Advancements
  5. The Partnerships and Customers
  6. The Hiring and Company Growth
  7. The Media Features and Publications

1 The EIC Accelerator Project

EIC Accelerator Program Overview

The EIC Accelerator program, part of the European Innovation Council (EIC), is designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups in developing and scaling groundbreaking innovations. This initiative specifically targets DeepTech and high-impact innovations that have the potential to significantly influence the European market and global landscape. The program offers a combination of grant funding and equity investment, enabling companies to advance their projects from the prototype stage to market introduction.

Funding Structure

The EIC Accelerator provides substantial financial support, split into two segments: grants and equity investments. The grant component allows companies to receive funding of up to €2.5 million, which can cover various project-related expenses, including research and development, prototyping, and initial market entry costs. This grant is particularly valuable as it does not require repayment, allowing companies to allocate resources towards innovation and growth without the burden of debt.

In addition to grants, the EIC Accelerator also offers equity funding. Until 2024, this portion can reach up to €15 million, transitioning to a maximum of €10 million in subsequent years. This equity investment is critical for companies looking to scale operations, expand into new markets, or enhance their technological capabilities. By assisting in securing private investments, the EIC Accelerator enhances a company's credibility and attractiveness to potential investors, facilitating further funding opportunities.

Purpose within the European DeepTech Ecosystem

The EIC Accelerator plays a crucial role in nurturing the European DeepTech and startup ecosystem by providing financial support that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship. It aims to bridge the gap between early-stage funding and later-stage investments, helping companies navigate the challenging landscape of scaling up. By focusing on high-risk, high-reward projects, the EIC Accelerator fosters a culture of innovation that is vital for economic growth and technological advancement within Europe.

Support for Scaling and Private Sector Funding

One of the primary functions of the EIC Accelerator is to assist companies in scaling their innovations. By providing both grant funding and equity investment, the program enables businesses to leverage additional private funding. This dual approach enhances the financial viability of projects, encouraging private investors to participate, thus multiplying the impact of EIC support. The EIC Accelerator not only provides financial resources but also connects companies with a network of partners, mentors, and resources to guide them through their scaling journey.

Case Study: Oils4cure S.L. and the oils4cure Project

Company Overview: Oils4cure S.L., a Spanish startup, has emerged as a notable winner of the EIC Accelerator program with its project, oils4cure. The company's primary focus is to develop an innovative therapeutic solution aimed at alleviating Refractory Epilepsy, a severe condition associated with Tuberous Sclerosis. This condition is characterized by the presence of tumors in various organs, leading to significant neurological complications, including difficult-to-treat seizures.

Project Description: The oils4cure project seeks to find an effective drug for patients suffering from Refractory Epilepsy, aiming to improve their quality of life and provide a therapeutic alternative where current treatments have failed. The significance of this project lies in its potential to transform the treatment landscape for patients with Tuberous Sclerosis, a condition that currently lacks effective treatment options.

Technology Background: The technology underpinning Oils4cure’s initiative revolves around the development of a novel drug formulation utilizing natural oils with therapeutic properties. This innovative approach leverages the potential of plant-based compounds known for their anticonvulsant effects. The company is exploring the pharmacological benefits of these natural oils, aiming to craft a solution that is both effective and safe for patients.

Natural oils have been recognized for their medicinal properties across various cultures and medical practices. Oils4cure is conducting rigorous research to understand the biochemical mechanisms through which these compounds exert their effects, ultimately aiming to create a formulation that is not only effective in reducing seizure frequency but also minimizes side effects commonly associated with traditional epilepsy medications.

Funding Journey: Oils4cure submitted its Step 2 proposal on March 22, 2023, successfully advancing to the Step 3 interview phase of the EIC Accelerator. The company's innovative approach, combined with the pressing need for effective treatments for Refractory Epilepsy, positioned Oils4cure favorably within the competitive selection process, ultimately leading to their recognition and funding through the EIC Accelerator program.

In summary, the EIC Accelerator program serves as a pivotal mechanism for fostering innovation and supporting groundbreaking projects like oils4cure, enhancing the European ecosystem for DeepTech and startups while addressing critical health challenges.

2 The Funding Rounds

Oils4cure S.L. — Funding and Investment Overview Since EIC Accelerator Win

Financing Raised

Oils4cure S.L., a Spanish company focused on developing therapeutic cannabis-based medicines for rare diseases, notably refractory epilepsy and symptoms associated with Tuberous Sclerosis and Leukodystrophies, has raised funding primarily through the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator program.

  • Total known financing raised since the EIC Accelerator award: €1.6 million.
  • Funding Rounds

    • As of May 2025, Oils4cure has one publicly disclosed major funding round:
    • Date: March 2023
    • Type: Grant (not equity)
    • Amount: €1.6 million
    • Investor: European Innovation Council (EIC)

    There are no records in the available sources of other private or venture-backed equity rounds before or after this EIC grant.

    Timing and Amount of Funding Rounds

    DateRound TypeInvestorAmount
    Mar 2023GrantEuropean Innovation Council€1.6 million

    This round corresponds directly to their successful application to the EIC Accelerator in March 2023.

    Investor Information

    • The sole publicly listed investor is the European Innovation Council via its highly competitive Accelerator program.
    • No additional venture capital firms or angel investors have been disclosed in connection with Oils4cure's funding history from public databases as of May 2025.

    Company Valuation

    • There is no publicly available data regarding formal company valuations for Oils4cure at any stage up to May 2025.
    • As their only known external funding is an EU grant rather than an equity investment, there would be no standard market-driven valuation event associated with that round.

    Exit Events: IPOs, Buyouts, or Acquisitions

    • There are currently no reports of exit events involving Oils4cure.
    • No information about IPOs (initial public offerings), buyouts, mergers, or acquisitions appears in relevant business directories or news sources covering startup exits as of this date.

    Summary Table

    ItemDetails
    Total Financing Raised€1.6 million
    Number of Known RoundsOne
    Latest RoundGrant by EIC in March 2023
    Main InvestorEuropean Innovation Council
    Disclosed Company Valuation│ Not available
    Exit EventsNone reported as of May 2025

    No further fundraising activity beyond the initial grant nor any disclosures about new investors have been identified from major startup databases or through press coverage since winning the EIC Accelerator award.


    Sources: - Oils4Cure company information, funding & investors

    3 The Press Releases

    Oils4Cure S.L.: EIC Accelerator Funding and Company Overview Oils4Cure S.L., a Spanish biotech company, secured EIC Accelerator funding in March 2023 as part of the Horizon Europe program's €261 million allocation to 51 deep-tech startups. The company focuses on developing cannabis-derived treatments for rare diseases, particularly targeting refractory epilepsy in conditions like Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC).

    Key Details

    • Mission: Address unmet medical needs through cannabis-based therapies, emphasizing safety and efficacy for rare diseases.
    • Historical Context: Founded in 2017 to legalize cannabis cultivation for clinical trials after families of children with severe epilepsy sought alternative treatments.
    • Regulatory Milestones: Collaborated with Spain’s Agency for Medicines (AEMPS) to obtain permits for cultivating medical-grade cannabis and producing full-spectrum extracts.

    Post-Funding Insights

    While specific post-award press releases from Oils4Cure’s website (oils4cure.com/home/) are not publicly visible in the indexed results, their pre-funding activity highlights:
    • Clinical Trials: Development of two trials using cannabinoid formulations aimed at reducing seizures and improving quality of life.
    • Technical Expertise: Proprietary cultivation and extraction processes ensuring standardized active compounds for therapeutic use.

    No recent partnerships or patent filings are explicitly mentioned in available materials post-March 2023. For updates directly from the company, monitoring their official channels is recommended.


    Sources

    4 The Technology Advancements

    Oils4Cure S.L.: Post-EIC Accelerator Funding Progress and Capabilities

    Current Capabilities
    Oils4Cure S.L., established in 2017, specializes in developing full-spectrum cannabis-based investigational drugs for rare diseases such as Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) and Leukodystrophies. The company holds authorization from Spain’s Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) to cultivate cannabis strains and produce extracts. Their pipeline includes two primary investigational products:

    • YCJ-01: Targeting refractory epilepsy in TSC, with a clinical trial authorized by AEMPS.
    • YCJ-02: Designed to address spasticity and neuropathic pain in leukodystrophies, currently under development.

    The company manages the entire production chain—from cultivation to drug formulation—ensuring stability, safety, and compliance with pharmaceutical standards.

    Advancements Since EIC Accelerator Funding (March 2023)
    Publicly available information does not explicitly mention the EIC Accelerator funding, but Oils4Cure’s website highlights ongoing progress:

    • Clinical Trial Preparation: YCJ-01 remains poised for efficacy testing pending trial commencement. No explicit updates on YCJ-02’s clinical development timeline post-March 2023.
    • R&D Focus: Emphasis on refining extraction processes to preserve cannabinoid profiles while adhering to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).

    Technology Improvements & New Features
    While no specific technical upgrades are detailed post-March 2023, Oils4Cure emphasizes its proprietary approach to maintaining the plant’s “full-spectrum” essence during extraction. The absence of disclosed partnerships or equipment advancements suggests a continuation of existing R&D frameworks.

    Market Demonstrations & Clinical Trials
    No new trials or customer pilots are explicitly reported since March 2023. The YCJ-01 trial remains pending activation per earlier announcements, suggesting possible delays or undisclosed preparatory phases. The company does not yet market commercialized products but focuses on clinical-stage development under AEMPS oversight.

    Intellectual Property & Publications
    Available data shows no newly filed patents or peer-reviewed studies directly attributed to Oils4Cure post-March 2023. However, their website underscores adherence to pharmaceutical-grade R&D processes, implying ongoing internal documentation rather than public-facing scientific outputs. External sources do not reference recent whitepapers or publications by the company within this timeframe.


    Sources

    -History - Oils4cure -Therapeutic oils of Cannabis Sativa-L - Oils4cure -OILS4CURE SL Company Profile | Competitors, Financials & Contacts

    5 The Partnerships and Customers

    Oils4cure S.L. Partnerships and Market Positioning Post-EIC Accelerator Funding Oils4cure S.L., a Spain-based pharmaceutical company focused on developing cannabis-derived medicines for rare diseases, has not publicly disclosed specific partnerships, customers, or new relationships in the available data since its inclusion in the 2023 European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator cohort. However, the following insights can be derived from its operational trajectory:

    Key Relationships and Strategic Direction

    • Regulatory Collaboration: The company works closely with Spain’s AEMPS (Agency of Medicines and Health Products) to advance clinical trials for its investigational drugs YCJ-01 (refractory epilepsy in Tuberous Sclerosis) and YCJ-02 (spasticity/neuropathic pain in leukodystrophies). This relationship ensures compliance and accelerates regulatory approvals.
    • Academic Alliances: While not explicitly named here, Oils4cure’s engagement with institutions like CEU Universities suggests potential academic collaborations for research or talent pipelines.

    Market Positioning Through EIC Accelerator Funding

    Winning EIC Accelerator funding likely enhances Oils4cure’s credibility to attract future partners specializing in rare disease therapeutics, biopharmaceutical manufacturing, or clinical trial logistics. The funding could accelerate:
    1. Technology Advancements: Scaling production of full-spectrum cannabis extracts while maintaining stability and safety profiles.
    2. Clinical Trial Execution: Expediting Phase II/III trials for YCJ-01 under AEMPS oversight, positioning it as a leader in cannabinoid-based epilepsy treatments.

    Growth Implications

    The EIC support may enable partnerships focused on:
    • Global Distribution Networks to commercialize approved drugs internationally.
    • Research Consortia leveraging EU-wide rare disease patient databases for trial recruitment.

    Sources

    No customer-specific disclosures found; regulatory/academic ties inferred from public documents.

    6 The Hiring and Company Growth

    Oils4cure S.L. Team and Growth Overview As a Spain-based biopharmaceutical company focused on developing cannabis-derived therapeutics for rare diseases, Oils4cure S.L. has not publicly disclosed specific details about its current headcount, team size, or recent hiring activities. The company’s website emphasizes its mission to create stable, plant-based medicines for conditions such as refractory epilepsy in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) and neuropathic pain in leukodystrophies but provides no explicit information regarding workforce expansion.

    Key positions likely critical to its operations include roles in clinical research, regulatory affairs (given ongoing interactions with the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products/AEMPS), and pharmaceutical development teams managing investigational drugs like YCJ-01 (antiepileptic) and YCJ-02 (antispastic/analgesic). While Oils4cure mentions plans for clinical trials, there is no indication of recent leadership changes or management restructuring.

    The EIC Accelerator funding received in March 2023 could support scaling efforts through enhanced R&D capabilities or trial acceleration, though direct evidence of growth metrics remains unspecified. Expansion would likely focus on securing specialized talent to advance pipeline candidates toward commercialization.


    Sources

    7 The Media Features and Publications

    Oils4cure S.L.: Pioneering Cannabis-Based Therapies for Rare Diseases Post-EIC Accelerator Funding

    Oils4cure S.L., a Madrid-based biotech company, has emerged as a key player in developing full-spectrum cannabis extracts for rare diseases, particularly refractory epilepsy in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC). Since its founding in 2017, the company has focused on clinical trials and regulatory compliance under Spain’s Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS), with its YCJ-01 drug advancing to Phase 3 trials by March 2023. While explicit mentions of EIC Accelerator funding are absent from available records, the company’s activities align closely with EU research priorities, including participation in Horizon Europe-linked projects.

    Media Features and Publications

    Limited direct media coverage is documented, but Oils4cure’s work is highlighted in EU project summaries and regulatory publications:
    • CORDIS EU Research Results: Details their Phase 3 trial for YCJ-01, emphasizing reduced seizures and cognitive improvements observed during compassionate use programs.
    • Clinical Trial Registries: The European Union Clinical Trials Register lists Oils4cure as the sponsor of an ongoing trial testing cannabis extract efficacy against TSC-related epilepsy.

    Conferences and Events

    While specific conference participations are not detailed publicly:
    • Regulatory Engagement: Collaboration with AEMPS on clinical trial protocols suggests presentations at pharmaceutical or rare disease forums.
    • Research Networks: Their partnership with entities like Medalchemy (GMP-certified manufacturer) implies involvement in biotechnology or neurology-focused events.

    Public Outreach and Dissemination

    The company emphasizes transparency through:
    • Direct Patient Advocacy: Founded due to requests from families seeking legal cannabis therapies for refractory epilepsy.
    • Compassionate Use Programs: Enabled by AEMPS approvals post-trial observations.

    Sources
    CORDIS EU Project Summary · Company Website · Orphanet Profile · Clinical Trial Registry Entry

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