CONNECTA Therapeutics and the Parc Taulí Research and Innovation Institute (I3PT), members of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, together with the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) and the Hospital del Mar Research Institute have secured 2.7 million euros in funding from the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities of Spain and the European Union, through the Next Generation EU program, to initiate Phase IIa clinical trials of the drug CTH120 for the treatment of fragile X syndrome (FXS). 

The results of the first clinical trial in humans of Omomyc (OMO-103), a specific inhibitor of the oncogene MYC developed by Peptomyc, member company of CataloniaBio & HealthTech and a spin-off of the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), demonstrate that the new drug is safe and shows promising antitumor activity. The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, includes the results of this phase I trial as well as a deep molecular study of Omomyc, and the identification of potential biomarkers for the drug's activity.  

Grifols, member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, announced that Raimon Grifols and Víctor Grifols Deu decided to conclude their executive roles and will step down from their positions as Chief Corporate Officer (CCO) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) respectively. Both will remain on the board of directors as non-executive directors. Thomas Glanzmann will continue as Executive Chairman, and Nacho Abia will be appointed as the company's new CEO. 

Ysios Capital, member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, has announced today its participation in the funding round of Neurona Therapeutics, for a total amount of $120 million. Ysios Capital has joined a prominent investor syndicate led by Viking Global Investors and Cormorant Asset Management with the participation of new and existing investors. 

LAINCO, member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, is preparing to celebrate its 90th anniversary this year. Since its foundation in 1934, the company has been synonymous with innovation, quality, and a commitment to excellence. 

The Ship2B Foundation, member of CataloniaBio & Healthtech, announces that its CEO and co-founder Clara Navarro will step aside for a new stage in her career, handing over the reins of the executive leadership to Guillermo Ricarte, who brings extensive experience in leading organizations. 

Inbiomotion, an Ysios Capital portfolio company, both members of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, and Source BioScience, have signed an exclusive agreement to start offering the MAF Test® as a service in United Kingdom and Ireland. The MAF Test® predicts the prognosis of breast cancer patients and helps oncologists to identify those patients who may be able to prevent recurrence and benefit from adjuvant treatment with bisphosphonates, which are commonly used to treat osteoporosis. The test also identifies those patients whose prognosis would worsen if treated with bisphosphonates.  

The Association of Science and Technology Parks of Spain (APTE) has compiled a list of the 100 best startups of 2023 located in its 51 science and technology parks in 15 Spanish autonomous communities. 

Almirall, member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, announced a strategic partnership with Microsoft to drive innovation and digital transformation, advance the research of medical solutions for dermatological diseases, and accelerate the digital transformation of the company. During this three-year collaboration, Almirall and Microsoft Industry Solutions, in collaboration with some Microsoft partners, will create a joint Digital Office to build on Almirall's unified data platform, and drive digital innovation in drug discovery and development by harnessing generative artificial intelligence and advanced analytics technologies. 

CataloniaBio & HealthTech brought together representatives of all these actors in a Lessons Learned session on 1 February to address aspects, guidelines, and recommendations, based on the experience of real cases, aimed at making it easier for contracting bodies to incorporate innovation into tendering processes.

OneChain Immunotherapeutics (OCI), member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, announced Stefanos Theoharis, Ph.D., as the company's new Chief Executive Officer. He succeeds Jorge Alemany, Ph.D., who has served as CEO since the creation of the company in June 2020 and will now retire. 

Genesis Tech Transfer Boost (GTTB), an investment vehicle created in 2022 and managed by the consulting firm GENESIS Biomed has made its third investment for a ticket of €50,000 in the biotech company Affirma Biotech, both members of CataloniaBio & HealthTech.  

Recent research conducted by various universities and research centers in collaboration with the Dentaid Research Center (DRC), member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, highlights cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) as an effective antiviral. The coexistence of infections by the flu virus, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is straining primary care consultations and hospital emergencies in Spain. In response to this situation, preventive measures such as the mandatory use of masks in healthcare centers are being reinforced to curb contagion. 

GENESIS Tech Transfer Boost, the investment vehicle managed by GENESIS Biomed, member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, is adding a new partner. The vehicle was created in April 2022 with the aim of detecting and investing in early-stage projects in the biomedical sector, whether from hospitals or academic centres, following in the footsteps of its predecessor GENESIS Ventures. To the €1M commitment from founding partners GENESIS Biomed, FI Group and Crowd4Ventures, PINONO S.L. is now added with a €200,000 commitment. 

AstraZeneca has confirmed the final location of its European innovation hub in Barcelona, where it plans to invest 800 million euros and have up to 1,000 employees. The hub will be in the Estel building, the former headquarters of Telefónica in the Catalan capital, when its re-opens in 2025 after a comprehensive renovation. 

This Monday, at the Palau de la Generalitat, the binding agreement was signed between the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Hospital Clínic Barcelona, the University of Barcelona, the City Councils of Barcelona, Hospitalet de Llobregat and Esplugues de Llobregat, and the Diputació de Barcelona, for the construction of the new health campus of the Hospital Clínic. The Hospital Clínic Barcelona and the University of Barcelona are members of CataloniaBio & HealthTech. 

What are the factors that require the most attention when searching for talent for startups in the healthcare sector? The first webinar of the year promoted by CataloniaBio & HealthTech has focused on understanding all details of this common challenge, with experts in talent acquisition in the sector. 

A study by the Eurecat, technological center, member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech,, with the Biomedical Research Institute of Girona (IDIBGI), reveals the relationship between low levels of histidine in the blood and fatty liver disease. Published in the scientific journal "Cell Reports Medicine," the research suggests new therapeutic opportunities to improve liver health in patients with obesity. 

Capital Cell, an investment company specialising in biotechnology and healthcare, and a member of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, has closed a €650K financing round with the aim of strengthening its international positioning. In 2023, the CNMV granted Capital Cell the authorisation to operate under European legislation in France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark.

CataloniaBio& HealthTech renews the positions of the Board of Directors coinciding withthe halfway point of the current team's commitment. The most remarkable is theexchange of positions between Mariona Serra, Director of GoodGut (Grup HIPRA),and Joan Puig, CEO of Kymos.