A major controversy has shaken the Spanish scientific community after the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) withdrew a study by renowned chemist Mariano Barbacid that had promised a cure for pancreatic cancer in mice.
Although the findings made headlines around the world in December 2025, everything unraveled when a “significant conflict of interest” was uncovered. It turned out that Barbacid and his colleagues failed to disclose that they own Vega Oncotargets, the company that stood to benefit financially from the discovery through the development and commercialization of the drug or treatment.
Even more striking, while the journal had already notified them of the issue back in March, a foundation continued raising millions of euros through donations via Bizum.
His team claims they simply “made a mistake” and that it was an administrative oversight. However, critics argue they withheld key information, effectively acting as both researchers and beneficiaries of a business that is now reportedly on the brink of collapse. A real breakthrough or a commercial strategy? The controversy is just beginning.
