RCD has agreed to integrate within the legal business DWF. Currently, DWF operates globally and employs more than 3,200 professionals with recorded revenue of £272 million year. RCD becomes the Spanish office of the global firm DW

This move marks the next step in the growth of both firms. The new entity will be branded as DWF RCD and both Adolf Rousaud and Ignasi Costas, founders of RCD and Co-Managing Partners, have been appointed as members in the Executive Committee for Continental Europe. Furthermore, as a well-known expert in innovation and life sciences, Ignasi Costas has been invited to ...

Grifols, a CataloniaBio & HealthTech member, concluded more than a year of encouraging results of its AMBAR (Alzheimer Management by Albumin Replacement) clinical trial with the presentation of new neuroimaging data that show the reduction in the progression of the disease in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

These findings, released at the Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease Conference 2019 on 6 December in San Diego (USA), strengthen Grifols’ investigative approach using plasma protein replacement therapies.

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Anaconda Biomed, a medical technology company developing next-generation thrombectomy systems for the treatment of ischemic stroke, has closed €20 million in new investment. The funding will be used for clinical studies, regulatory submissions in international markets, further product development and manufacturing scale-up.

Asabys Partners led the round from its fund, Sabadell Asabys, with participation from existing investors Ysios Capital, Omega Funds and Innogest, as well as Sabadell Venture Capital.

Anaconda Biomed is a CataloniaBio & HealthTech member. In 2018, the company founded by Ofir Arad and Marc Ribó, won the Biosuccess Award.

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Innovation, nutrition, private healthcare, supercomputing, 5G and rare diseases were the focus of the debates at the 2019 UnConference hosted by CataloniaBio & HealthTech on 28 November at Masia de Sant Pere de Clarà in Argentona (Barcelona). The second annual event brought together over 50 executives and entrepreneurs to reflect on the future of solutions for healthcare.

"There are small companies and large companies that have to start working together to add more value to the medical solution they offer. We have to work together to transform the sector, with shared leadership, and looking 10 years out,” ...

Laboratorios Rubió, a CataloniaBio & HealthTech member, will market a non-invasive test to detect non-alcoholic fatty liver and related diseases. The new test is called OWLiver® and has been developed by the biotech firm OWL.

OWLiver® is precise, non-invasive and cheaper than other techniques such as ultrasound or magnetic resonance. OWLiver® is based on the lipidomic analysis of the patients’ blood serum.

With this agreement for Spain and Latin America, Laboratorios Rubió has strengthened its position in the field of in vitro diagnostics (IVD) and metabolomics.

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Do you want to know more Laboratorios Rubió? We recommend this video ...

MJN Neuroserveis, a CataloniaBio & HealthTech member that has developed the first non-invasive medical device to detect the risk of epileptic seizures, won second prize at the 11th IoT / WT Innovation World Cup.

The competition took place at the Medica 2019 fair, held 19 to 21 November in Düsseldorf (Germany). MJN was competing against 16 international finalists. The winning company was Medicsens from Madrid, with its personalised device that simulates the functions of the pancreas.

In addition to the prizes, it is worth noting that MJN has added social return on investment (SROI) to its mission.

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Pharmaceutical company Hartmann and the Eurecat technology centre, both CataloniaBio & HealthTech members, have come up with the idea for a smart dressing that can detect bacterial infections in the wound underneath.

The most disruptive element of the project is that it features a sensor in the dressing to monitor, in real time, the progress of the wound, just by looking at the colour.

The project has been funded by the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI).

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Aurora Cannabis Inc and Aurora Europe GmbH, authorised producer and distributor of medical cannabis, have chosen Barcelona as the location for their subsidiary Aurora Medicine España.

Aurora was established in 2006 on the foothills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains and is currently traded on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges and operates in 25 countries. In Europe, the group does business in 13 countries, with its headquarters in Germany.

The medicinal products it offers are based on cannabis with different concentrations of THC and CBD, and made according to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to ensure quality and safety.  ...

Minoryx Therapeutics, a CataloniaBio & HealthTech member, has received the orphan drug designation in the treatment of Friedreich’s Ataxia from its leading drug candidate, leriglitazone (MIN-102), by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). In 2016, the biotech company obtained orphan drug designation granted in addition to X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD).

Minoryx will be able to receive scientific advice in the clinical development and market exclusivity of 7 to 10 years.

Friedreich’s Ataxia (FRDA) is a severe, rare, genetic neurodegenerative disease that affects one in 40,000 people globally and has an onset between 5and ...

Anaconda Biomed, a medical technology company developing a next-generation thrombectomy system for the treatment of ischemic stroke, has announced the completion of initial patient cases in a first-in-human study at the Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital. 

This 125-patient, prospective, multi-center study will assess system safety and reperfusion measured using the modified treatment in cerebral infarction (mTICI) score. Study data will be used to support a regulatory submission to the US Food and Drug Administration.

“Our goal is to minimize the risk of death and disability following a stroke, and we look forward to using the study results to move us ...

Neos Surgery, an innovative medical device company and CataloniaBio & HealthTech member, is part of a European consortium that has received €3.9 million from the European Commission to develop new treatments and medical devices to help improve quality of life for patients with multiple sclerosis. The funding is part of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Initial Training Network under the Horizon 2020 programme.

The PMSMatTrain consortium will be hiring 15 early stage researchers with international experience. Two of these researchers will join the Neos Surgery team at Parc Tecnològic del Vallès (Barcelona). Candidates interested in this position can submit their application ...

Kiversal, a start-up that designs and manufactures medical devices with internet connectivity and a CataloniaBio & HealthTech member, has moved to its new offices at Carrer Àvila 50, in the 22@ Barcelona district.

After three years at the Barcelona Activa incubator, Kiversal is tackling new business challenges, such as marketing its first product: the Audixi 10.

Presentation at Medica 2019

Audixi 10 is a line of digital audiometers that uses IoT technology to accelerate medical procedures, reduce maintenance costs and guarantee metrological calibration. From 18 to 21 November, the company will be presenting this line at the premier medical-technology fair ...

Telstar, a CataloniaBio & HealthTech member, presents their latest smart developments in the analytical technology field for pharmaceutical freeze drying systems and aseptic manufacturing processes, together with laboratory integrated management systems, at the CPhI Worldwide 2019 from 5 to 7 November in Frankfurt (Germany). 

The company, part of the Azbil Group, has designed new solutions to respond to Industry 4.0 challenges in the life science sector: Lyogistics Zero, the only automatic vial loading and unloading system for freeze-drying processes which can be cleaned (CIP) and sterilized (SIP) in place; Lyonuc®, a nucleation induction method; Lyogistics Smart R3 ...

Palex Medical, medical technology group of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, announces the acquisition of Bemascé Técnica.

Bemascé Técnica is a company founded in 2000 in Madrid, focused on the implementation, sale and distribution of high-tech equipment for neonatal care and the critical patient.

Xavier Carbonell, CEO of Palex, highlights: “With this acquisition and our extensive knowledge of the Spanish market, in which we have been present for more than 60 years, we will access new specialties that will strengthen our leadership in the sector and expand our ability to satistfy the challenges demanded by the Spanish health services”.

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Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau in Barcelona, a CataloniaBio & HealthTech member, has launched a new 3D-printing platform for research, teaching and clinical applications involving highly complex cardiovascular diseases.

Analysis of biomedical imaging and 3D printing are revolutionising the way doctors approach and plan operations. So far, 14 patients have already benefited from this advance.

The platform is supported by the Cardiology Unit, the Centro de Investigaciónen Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV) and the Research Institute of the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau.

More information is available on the hospital website and in this ...

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Doing more with less. What company wouldn’t sign up? Well, the key is applying the Lean methodology created by Toyota in the 1950s but adapting it to each company’s culture and sector.

Lean is based on an organisational system that improves long-term efficiency and sustainability using a series of tools recommended by experts. In Catalonia, companies like Kern Pharma, Leanbio Pro and Qiagen are pioneers in making this philosophy part of their day-to-day business.

All three of them shared their experience at the Lessons Learned session hosted by CataloniaBio & HealthTech on 24 October at the Barcelona Science ...

The CataloniaBio & HealthTech board met with Director General for Industry Matilde Vilarroya this week, after learning of her interest in the needs and concerns of companies in the healthcare and biomedicine sector in Catalonia in order to continue improving international competitiveness.

The board was represented by CataloniaBioHT President and CEO of Specipig Jaume Amat, First Vice-president of CataloniaBioHT and CEO of Neos Surgery Lluís Chico, and Secretary General Melqui Calzado.

Also at the meeting were Director of Competitive Strategy for the Directorate General for Industry Alberto Pezzi and Head of Strategic Analysis Miquel Hernández.

Catalonia is one of the ...

Zymvol Biomodeling, a CataloniaBio & HealthTech member, wins Phase II of the SME Instrument funded by the European Commission. The start-up will receive €1.3 million for the project Unlock-Edd: Unlock next generation computer guided Enzyme Discovery & Design. 

The project goals are to keep improving the proprietary technology by implementing artificial intelligence approaches, the development of a computational pipeline for enzyme kits, and the development of proprietary enzymes.

Enzymes (biocatalysts) are increasingly used in a number of different industrial sectors with the aim to operate in a more sustainable way. Zymvol, based in Barcelona, is specialised in in ...

Dr Jesus Acebillo, former CEO of Novartis Spain and president of Farmaindustria, has joined the investment committee for the Inveready Biotech III fund. This is Inveready’s third vehicle specialising in the life sciences. The fund was set up this year with the aim of investing in 20 biotechnology companies.

“Inveready has been making a decisive contribution to the development of the biotechnology sector in our country for years now. It is an honour to be part of the expansion and consolidation of this activity,” said Jesus Acebillo.

“Jesus Acebillo’s experience and network of contacts is a very valuable asset ...

Ferrer has launched an open innovation program, called Ferrer 4 Future, with the aim to select start-ups to develop disruptive health solutions through the use of digital technologies.

The program has three challenges: enhance care for chronic patients, improve patient engagement and adherence, and reduce chronic pain.

The advisory board is formed by several managers of the company: Ricardo Castrillo, Managing Director Spain; Olga Fidalgo, Chief Officer R&D, Business Development & Medical Affairs; Óscar Pérez, Chief Marketing Officer, and Gemma Estrada, Director of Digital Health.

Ferrer, with a turnover of €634 million in 2018 and presence in 90 countries ...