Company Description
Galera Therapeutics, Inc. (GRTX) is a biopharmaceutical company in the pharmaceutical preparation manufacturing industry. According to multiple company disclosures, Galera has been a clinical-stage organization focused on developing novel, proprietary therapeutic candidates related to radiotherapy and cancer. Over time, its focus has evolved from toxicity reduction in chemoradiotherapy to anti-cancer therapeutics in difficult-to-treat breast cancer.
Galera is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania and its common stock trades under the symbol GRTX on the OTCQB Market, as noted in its SEC filings. The company has described itself as a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company and, in some releases, as a biopharmaceutical company with a portfolio of small molecule superoxide dismutase mimetics. These agents, such as avasopasem manganese (avasopasem) and rucosopasem manganese (rucosopasem), were historically developed in combination with radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy in oncology indications.
Historical focus on dismutase mimetics
In several press releases, Galera states that it was historically focused on developing avasopasem, a selective dismutase mimetic, for radiation-induced and cisplatin-related toxicities, including severe oral mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing standard-of-care radiotherapy. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Fast Track and Breakthrough Therapy designations to avasopasem for the reduction of severe oral mucositis induced by radiotherapy. The company also reports that rucosopasem was developed to augment the anti-cancer efficacy of stereotactic body radiation therapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and locally advanced pancreatic cancer, and that rucosopasem received orphan drug designation and orphan medicinal product designation for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Galera’s disclosures describe a series of clinical programs and regulatory interactions. For avasopasem, the company submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) for radiotherapy-induced severe oral mucositis in head and neck cancer. The FDA accepted the NDA for filing and granted priority review, but later issued a Complete Response Letter stating that data from the Phase 2b GT-201 and Phase 3 ROMAN trials were not sufficient for approval and that an additional Phase 3 trial would be required for resubmission. Galera held a Type A meeting with the FDA to understand this decision, and meeting minutes reiterated the need for a new Phase 3 trial.
For rucosopasem, Galera initiated the GRECO-2 trial in locally advanced pancreatic cancer and the GRECO-1 trial in non-small cell lung cancer. Following a futility analysis of GRECO-2, the company decided to halt both GRECO trials, citing the low likelihood of success as designed and the need to conserve cash while evaluating strategic alternatives.
Strategic review, liquidation plan, and later portfolio shift
Beginning in 2023, Galera’s public updates emphasize financial pressures and strategic reviews. The company reports workforce reductions and the engagement of Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc. as financial advisor to review potential strategic alternatives, including mergers, asset sales, divestitures, licensing arrangements, or other strategic transactions. In an August 2024 release, Galera announces that its Board of Directors approved a Plan of Liquidation and Dissolution under Delaware law, subject to stockholder approval, describing a potential dissolution of the company and distribution of remaining cash and any asset sale proceeds to stockholders after satisfying liabilities.
At the same time, Galera’s descriptions use the phrase "historically focused" to refer to its radiotherapy-related dismutase mimetic pipeline, indicating a shift in emphasis. A December 2024 announcement states that Galera completed the acquisition of Nova Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held biotechnology company advancing a pan-nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor for highly resistant forms of breast cancer, including metaplastic breast cancer and refractory subsets of triple-negative breast cancer. Galera reports that its new lead program is an investigator-sponsored Phase 1/2 trial of a pan-NOS inhibitor on top of nab-paclitaxel and alpelisib in metaplastic breast cancer, and that additional trials are planned or supported in triple-negative and hormone receptor–positive advanced breast cancer.
In an October 2025 news release, Galera describes itself as a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel, proprietary therapeutics targeting cancer, with a lead program focused on a pan-inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in metaplastic breast cancer. The same announcement notes that Galera entered into an asset purchase agreement with Biossil Inc., under which Biossil acquired Galera’s dismutase mimetics portfolio, including avasopasem and rucosopasem, and assumed related obligations under a royalty agreement. This transaction is also described in an October 2025 Form 8-K, which states that Biossil agreed to acquire all of the company’s right, title, and interest in assets related to avasopasem, rucosopasem, and other dismutase mimetic assets, in exchange for an upfront payment and potential future milestone and contingent value right payments.
Regulatory designations and clinical data
Across its communications, Galera highlights several regulatory designations and clinical findings. The company notes that avasopasem received FDA Fast Track and Breakthrough Therapy designations for the reduction of severe oral mucositis induced by radiotherapy. It also reports that rucosopasem was granted orphan drug designation by the FDA and orphan medicinal product designation by the European Medicines Agency for pancreatic cancer.
In its October 2025 news release, Galera summarizes results from a 407-patient randomized double-blind Phase 3 trial of avasopasem in head and neck cancer patients receiving standard-of-care chemoradiotherapy. The company states that avasopasem produced a statistically significant relative reduction in the incidence and duration of severe oral mucositis, and notes that these results are being published in a peer-reviewed journal. Earlier disclosures describe additional analyses of avasopasem in cisplatin-related chronic kidney disease and pilot work combining avasopasem with stereotactic body radiotherapy in locally advanced pancreatic cancer.
Corporate and trading status context
Galera’s SEC filings indicate that its common stock is registered under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act and trades under the symbol GRTX on the OTCQB Market. Earlier press releases refer to listing on The Nasdaq Global Market, and later filings specify OTCQB Market as the trading venue. The company has characterized itself as an emerging growth company in SEC filings.
Company communications from 2023 and 2024 repeatedly discuss the possibility that, if strategic alternatives cannot be executed or adequate funding cannot be obtained, Galera may need to cease operations or proceed with dissolution. The August 2024 announcement of Board approval of a Plan of Liquidation and Dissolution explicitly describes a proposed dissolution process, subject to stockholder approval and completion of wind-down activities. Subsequent news in late 2024 and 2025, including the Nova Pharmaceuticals acquisition and the dismutase mimetics asset sale to Biossil, reflects significant corporate changes and portfolio reconfiguration.
Business model and risk considerations
Based on the company’s own descriptions, Galera’s business model has centered on discovering, developing, and clinically testing small molecule therapeutics in oncology settings, particularly in combination with radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. Revenue-generating commercial products are not described in the provided materials; instead, the company discusses research and development expenses, general and administrative costs, net losses, and cash runway expectations in its financial results releases.
Galera’s forward-looking statements sections outline risks typical for clinical-stage biopharmaceutical companies, including limited operating history, continued losses, the need for substantial funding, dependence on key product candidates such as avasopasem, uncertainties in clinical trial conduct and regulatory approval, potential side effects, competition, intellectual property risks, reliance on third parties, and the possibility of needing to cease operations if funding or strategic alternatives are not secured. These risk disclosures provide context for investors evaluating GRTX as a speculative, development-stage security.
Summary
In summary, Galera Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company whose historical efforts focused on superoxide dismutase mimetics for radiotherapy-related toxicities and anti-cancer applications, and whose more recent communications emphasize a pan-NOS inhibitor program in advanced breast cancer and the sale of its dismutase mimetics portfolio to Biossil. Its stock, GRTX, is traded on the OTCQB Market, and the company has undergone significant strategic reviews, workforce reductions, a proposed plan of liquidation and dissolution, an acquisition of Nova Pharmaceuticals, and a subsequent asset sale, all documented in its press releases and SEC filings.