At a time of global transition for life sciences, with China stepping up the pace of innovation and the U.S. adopting protectionist policies, the health innovation region in Catalonia, Spain, is emerging as one of the most dynamic hubs in Europe. Last year, the region, centered on Barcelona, saw growth of 8.3% over 2024, and there are now 1,650 companies, including 423 biotechs, 259 digital health specialists and 238 med techs.
In a deal worth up to $1.8 billion for oral macrocyclic peptide developer Unnatural Products Inc., Novartis AG has signed a research collaboration and licensing agreement for an undisclosed program.
After 118 years as a private company, dermatology specialist Leo Pharma A/S is poised to complete an IPO after reporting a full-year net profit for the first time since 2018.
Med-tech companies with an AI component in their solutions will certainly find investors willing to back them. AI after all, is being used to develop more effective, smarter technologies. However, investors will only deploy capital into innovations that address genuine clinical needs. The aging population is driving interest in devices targeting cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disorders, and other solutions geared toward neurological conditions, women’s health and diagnostics are also attracting investor attention.
With CE-marked products accounting for about 90% of medical devices currently used in Great Britain, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is considering proposals for a path forward that would help the U.K. achieve its goal of becoming a leading country for med-tech access by 2030.
Newco Vesalic Ltd. has formed to take forward research indicating extracellular vesicles secreted by skeletal muscle cells carry toxic payloads that are key drivers of motor neuron diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The discovery of this process, which is largely external to the brain and the central nervous system, has opened up new targeting possibilities, and Vesalic is now working on in vivo studies to demonstrate preclinical proof of concept.
Positive results from the second of two phase III trials set Compass Pathways plc’s synthetic psilocybin treatment, COMP-360, on track for a potential U.S. FDA approval within a year as the first classic psychedelic cleared for treatment-resistant depression.
Venture capital firms and research institutions have launched the European Life Science Coalition in a bid to strengthen Europe’s VC ecosystem by mobilizing more private and public investment.
Calla Lily Clinical Care Ltd.’s strategic collaboration with Merck KGaA to support the development of Callavid, its intravaginal drug delivery platform, is a “huge validation” of the work the company is doing, Lara Zibners, co-founder and chairman of Calla Lily, told BioWorld.
Med-tech companies looking for capital will have to work harder this year to attract investor attention. Even though investment firms have money to deploy, the capital will go toward more targeted opportunities and later-stage companies. For early stage med tech, 2026 is expected to be a tough year, which is raising concerns about the pipeline of innovative technologies in the long term.
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