Spanish BIO-CAT cluster starts new ATMP accelerator
The Spanish BIO-CAT cluster has launched a new accelerator called ATMP Catalyst, which will support six preclinical gene and cell therapy projects per year in each of three annual calls to support translation into clinical development.
The new accelerator is part of the ATMP Catalonia initiative, the center for advanced therapies in Catalonia, which has been promoted by Biocat for just over a year and consists of around 70 companies and research institutions that develop, test, or manufacture ATMPs and research tools for them.
The ultimate goal of ATMP Catalyst is to promote technology transfer, the development and commercialization of advanced therapies, support talent acquisition and specialized training, and promote the internationalization of the health innovation ecosystem. With this goal in mind, six projects currently in the early stages have been selected to receive support and be guided through phases closer to clinical development:
THOR: Develops a modular CAR-T that can be adapted to different tumors and has achieved initial success in glioblastomas. Its system allows targets to be changed without redesigning the therapy.
Phagocytic Synthetic Cells: Creates synthetic cells that eliminate multidrug-resistant bacteria in patients with cystic fibrosis, thus avoiding the use of antibiotics and resistance.
CARcoma: Has developed innovative CAR-T cells for the treatment of metastatic sarcomas, addressing an unmet clinical need.
NoctuRNA: Designs therapies based on circular RNA for the treatment of currently incurable genetic and infectious diseases.
Spes Immunotherapies: Develops personalized vaccines against acute leukemia that are tailored to each patient’s mutations to improve the immune response.
FORCE: Creates a platform to transfer healthy mitochondria to patients’ T cells, restoring cell function and opening up new therapeutic options.
With the launch of the program, Barcelona and Catalonia are positioning themselves at the forefront of research and development in the field of advanced therapies in Europe, and the city is strengthening its existing role as a global benchmark in the biomedical field. ATMP Catalyst is a pioneering project at the European level, as it combines training for participants, specialized mentors, international connections, and incubation spaces for technology development in reference centers such as Leitat and the Barcelona Science Park.
The acceleration will be carried out in phases. In the first phase, the teams will formulate the concept and conduct preclinical in vitro studies. In the second year, the start-ups will develop the first prototypes and conduct safety assessments, while in the third year, the first interactions with regulatory authorities will take place and the final design of the clinical trial will be prepared.
This year, BIOSPAIN 2025, organised by the Spanish biotech association Asebio, will take place from 7th to 9th October in Barcelona
