Picks of January: Investment, infrastructure and clinical advances drive the start of the year
Infrastructure, strategic investments, clinical breakthroughs and the emergence of new startups marked an intense January in the BioRegion of Catalonia. The first month of 2026 confirms the maturity of Catalonia's life sciences and healthcare ecosystem, with large companies expanding capabilities, hospitals incorporating cutting-edge technology, startups making the clinical leap, and a steady flow of public and private funding.
- We begin this overview with the investment raised by health startups and scaleups in Catalonia in the first month of the year. Roka Furadada raised €2.3 million to develop new cosmetic ingredients, while Vytrus Biotech secured a €2 million loan from the ICF to launch a new plant in Terrassa. These operations confirm the strong momentum of the sector, which ended last year with very promising figures. The total investment volume will be announced on 19 January, during the presentation of the BioRegion of Catalonia Report 2025, a key event to assess the ecosystem’s growth.
- Other noteworthy milestones from the entrepreneurial community include SpliceBio reaching a key step with the administration of the first dose in the expansion phase of the phase 1/2 ASTRA clinical trial, which is evaluating the SB-007 gene therapy for the treatment of Stargardt disease. Additionally, Rob Surgical inaugurated its new production plant for the Bitrack surgical robot in El Prat de Llobregat (Barcelona).
- Specialized capital support remains one of the ecosystem's main drivers. Montana, the Ship2B Ventures fund focused on child health, received a €30 million injection from CDTI. In parallel, the Sabadell Asabys fund supported the creation of Orivia, a new company focused on women’s health, guiding it from incorporation to the development of its first clinical programs. This favorable context is further reinforced by Ysios Capital, a Catalan health-focused fund, which advises Telescope Biotech Fund, recognized as Spain’s most profitable hedge fund in 2025.
- Key infrastructure for ecosystem development continues to progress, with the new Campus Clínic beginning to take shape on Diagonal Avenue, following the creation of the Consorci Porta Diagonal – Campus Clínic, the body responsible for governance and coordination of the project.
- Structural momentum is strengthened by direct support for local research: the Barcelona City Council has awarded €754,000 to four research entities, helping strengthen scientific projects with an impact on health and innovation and fueling the pipeline that will support these major infrastructures. In addition, the City Council, together with Fundació ”la Caixa”, selected 13 research projects in health, sustainability and innovation, with a total investment of €2 million.
- January also brought strategic moves from major Catalan pharmaceutical companies: Zoetis announced a €100 million investment to expand its plant in Garrotxa, boosting its production capacity. In terms of internationalization, Hipra is entering the United States through an alliance with Elanco for the commercialization of its vaccines. Meanwhile, Almirall advanced new clinical trials reinforcing its commitment to medical dermatology, while Esteve expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of TerSera Therapeutics’ infusion therapy unit. Lastly, Galenicum will manufacture the generic version of Ozempic for 23 countries, consolidating Catalonia’s role as a pharmaceutical hub for global markets.
- Clínica Corachan performed the first robotic heart surgery in Spain’s private healthcare sector, setting a new standard for high-complexity procedures. At the same time, Hospital Germans Trias in Badalona inaugurated six high-tech operating rooms, strengthening the public system’s ability to incorporate advanced technology and improve quality of care.
- Catalonia has taken a decisive step in promoting advanced therapies with the launch of ATMP Catalonia’s visual identity and the debut of a new strategic website. The initiative, coordinated by Biocat, aims to position the region as a key player in health research and innovation at the European and international level. Within the scope of advanced therapies, this month also saw the decision regarding the headquarters of the CERTERA consortium, a key initiative to coordinate capabilities in cell and gene therapies and accelerate research transfer to the healthcare system. Although the administrative headquarters will be located in Majadahonda (Madrid), it will be complemented by a scientific hub in Barcelona.
- In research, Catalan researchers from CNAG, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, and Banc de Sang i Teixits have, for the first time, identified a case of spontaneous correction of a genetic mutation in a patient with CD137 deficiency, a rare immunodeficiency that increases vulnerability to Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection.
- Regarding new appointments, at AstraZeneca, Rick Suárez, until now president of AZ España, has been appointed president of AstraZeneca in the United States. He is succeeded by Laura Colón, who becomes the new president of AZ España and will also lead the Global Hub in Barcelona. In the research sphere, Josep Samitier joins Fraunhofer Spain Research as director, after thirteen years leading IBEC.