Ferrer, member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, reaches an agreement with the North American firm Verge Genomics to acquire the drug VRG50635, a potentially inhibitory molecule of the enzyme PIKfyve that could improve survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. 

Croda International Plc (Croda), member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, and The Access to Advanced Health Institute (AAHI) announce the signing of a partnership agreement around innovation and development of adjuvant formulations, under which Croda and AAHI will leverage their combined expertise to make novel vaccine adjuvant formulations globally accessible, thereby advancing next generation, robust and durable vaccines. 

More than forty CEOs and managers of CataloniaBio & HealthTech met on Tuesday 20 March at the first edition of the CEO Council of 2024. The meeting was held at the HUB Cambra Digital, at the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce and the special guest was Oriol Pinya, president of SpainCap, co-founder of Abac Capital and vice-president of Barcelona Global and FemCat. The welcome was given by Mariona Serra, CEO of GoodGut (a company of the HIPRA group) and President of CataloniaBio & HealthTech.

The initiative, which recognises the best business award of the previous year in the life and health sciences sector in Catalonia, has reached its ten anniversary.  The Bioèxit Award, like the CataloniaBio & HealthTech Gala, celebrates its ten anniversary this 2024. In all these years, 13 CataloniaBio & HealthTech member companies have received the award, in addition to an individual award for business trajectory.

Ysios Capital, member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, has announced its participation in the funding round of the North American company Engrail Therapeutics, for a total amount of $157 million. They have joined a prominent syndicate of investors led by F-Prime Capital, Forbion, and Norwest Venture Partners, with additional participation from RiverVest Venture Partners, Red Tree Venture Capital, funds managed by abrdn Inc., Longwood Fund, Eight Roads Ventures, and the existing founding investor, Pivotal Life Sciences.  

Mahana Therapeutics, a leading provider of digital chronic condition management programs, announced that it has acquired Berlin-based HiDoc Technologies GmbH, operating as Cara Care, a leader in digital digestive healthcare and Asabys portfolio company, member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech.  

A public-private consortium, made up of the biotech company Hemostatics, a member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, the Clínica Universidad de Navarra (CUN) and the Institut Català d'Investigació Química (ICIQ), has obtained €2, 5 M€ from the Agència Estatal d'Investigació (AEI), in the framework of the call for grants for public-private collaboration projects, to accelerate the development of an innovative treatment aimed at controlling disabling and lethal haemorrhages.

AbilityPharma, member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, announces a €7 million investment from a European-Canadian syndicate of life sciences investors led by Inveready, also members, CTI Life Sciences Fund and EIC Fund with the participation of CDTI Innvierte and FiTalent. 

Invivo Partners, member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, is preparing the launch of its latest fund, Invivo Ventures III, with a target volume of €100 million. This new fund underscores Invivo Partners commitment to revolutionizing the life sciences sector, particularly at the intersection of advanced therapies, synthetic biology, and artificial intelligence. 

The HEU-EFS Consortium has announced its creation. This four-year project, funded by the Innovative Health Initiative of the Horizon Europe Framework Programme and involving 22 public and private organizations from across Europe (including the EEA and Switzerland), aims to improve the pathway for generating early evidence for medical device innovators. This will help promote access to innovative technologies for patients with unmet needs, strengthen excellence in clinical development, increase the attractiveness of the EU, and support healthcare system efficiency. One of the participating entities is the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech. 

AstraZeneca and WIVI Vision have been awarded with the Bioèxit Award during the celebration of La Nit, the annual reference meeting of the biomedicine and health sector in Catalonia, organised by CataloniaBio & HealthTech. With this event, the association wanted to recognise the importance for the sector and the city of AstraZeneca's decision to locate its global hub in Barcelona, as well as to highlight the business milestones achieved by WIVI Vision, also in a special year for CataloniaBio & HealthTech, which is reaching its majority.

Many companies have benefited and can continue to benefit from the Next Generation Funds. In order to update information on the calls currently active and those planned for the immediate future, CataloniaBio & HealthTech has organised a webinar to explain it in detail and answer questions.

Inteplast and Eurecat, members of CatalonioaBio & HealthTech, together with VEnvirotech Biotecnology, Synthetic Polymers and Structure and Property (PSEP) from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia have joined forces to develop biodegradable bioplastics from agri-food waste, which will be used in health applications. The aim is to address the environmental challenges of the healthcare sector, where more than 50% of the plastic used is single-use due to hygiene and sterilization requirements.  

A consortium led by OneChain Immunotherapeutics (OCI), a spin-off of the Josep Carreras Institute (IJC) and member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, has received support from the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities to bring to clinical phase an innovative therapy that could treat up to 80% of patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), a rare condition that affects children (60%) and adults, and has few therapeutic options. The project, which will last for three years, will involve the participation of the IJC and the Blood and Tissue Bank. 

Ahead Therapeutics, member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, has closed a funding round of 1,3 million euros through the microfinancing platform Capital Cell, also members.  

Esteve Healthcare (ESTEVE), member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, started 2024 with a renewed Board of Directors, aiming to continue driving sustainability and future growth. These changes follow Lubea's entry into the shareholding in September 2023. In adherence to good governance practices, the revised Board composition not only enhances diversity but also assembles a seasoned and diverse group.

Vytrus Biotech, member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, published its Strategic Plan for the period 2024-2027. As a result of the strategy that will guide the company's direction over the next 4 years, the biotechnology company expects to triple its sales to reach 12 million euros and quadruple its EBITDA to 5 million euros by 2027. 

The Banc de Sang i Teixits (BST) and the Sant Pau Research Institute (IR Sant Pau), both members of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, signed a collaboration agreement aimed at promoting the development and production of innovative drugs. The agreement, which represents a pioneering alliance between two leading institutions in the health field, establishes the foundations for the creation of a joint hub that will have facilities prepared to produce advanced therapies, including CAR-T cells. 

As part of the celebration of the Mobile World Congress 2024, Forbes Women has published a list of 35 women who stand out in the technology sector and who they consider worth keeping an eye on this year. Among the 35, three women who lead companies that are members of CataloniaBio & HealthTech: Anna Maiques from Neuroelectrics; Eva García Ramos from WIVI Vision; and Nuria Pastor from HumanITcare. 

CataloniaBio & HealthTech has once again been present at the international exhibition dedicated to connectivity and in this edition, moreover, has been able to facilitate access to more than a hundred members, in addition to offering a specific and exclusive tour for member companies.