Catalan startup Gate2Brain raises €7 million from India's Shilpa Biocare to accelerate brain cancer drug development

Catalonia continues to strengthen its position as a leading European hub for life sciences and biotechnology innovation. Barcelona-based biotech company Gate2Brain has signed a strategic partnership with Indian pharmaceutical company Shilpa Medicare through its subsidiary Shilpa Biocare, securing a €7 million investment to accelerate the development of innovative treatments for brain cancer.

The investment gives Shilpa Biocare a 30.4% equity stake in Gate2Brain and represents the largest funding round raised by the Catalan company since its creation in 2020. The deal highlights growing collaboration between Catalonia’s vibrant life sciences ecosystem and India’s expanding pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry.

“Gate2Brain acknowledges the continued support of its partners and investors, whose commitment has played a key role in advancing the company’s technology platform”

Meritxell Teixidó, CEO and CSO of Gate2Brain

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Accelerating innovation in brain cancer therapies

Founded as a spin-off of IRB Barcelona, University of Barcelona and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona, Gate2Brain is developing a proprietary peptide-based technology platform designed to overcome one of the biggest challenges in treating diseases of the central nervous system: crossing the blood-brain barrier.

The new partnership will focus on advancing G2B-002, Gate2Brain’s lead therapeutic candidate for aggressive pediatric and adult brain tumors. The treatment has already received Orphan Drug Designation from both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency, recognizing its potential to address significant unmet medical needs.

Using the company’s proprietary MiniAp4 peptide shuttle technology, G2B-002 has demonstrated promising preclinical results, improving drug delivery to the brain while reducing side effects in pediatric brain tumor models.

Catalonia-India collaboration in life sciences

The agreement combines Gate2Brain’s cutting-edge research and drug-delivery platform with Shilpa Biocare’s expertise in manufacturing, regulatory development and commercialization. Together, the companies aim to accelerate the path of G2B-002 towards clinical development while exploring new applications for Gate2Brain’s technology in other central nervous system diseases.

The investment also reflects increasing interest from international companies in Catalonia’s world-class life sciences ecosystem, which brings together research centers, hospitals, startups, pharmaceutical companies and investors in one of Europe’s most dynamic innovation hubs.

"Gate2Brain acknowledges the continued support of its institutional partners, external advisors, investors and business angels, whose confidence and commitment have played a key role in advancing the company’s mission and technology platform," said Dr. Meritxell Teixidó, CEO and CSO of Gate2Brain.

Building bridges between Catalonia and India

This investment is another example of the growing business and innovation ties between Catalonia and India. Through Catalonia Trade & Investment's office in India, the public agency actively promotes collaboration between Catalan and Indian companies, helping identify investment opportunities, foster strategic partnerships and facilitate market access in both directions.

The office works closely with businesses, investors and innovation stakeholders to create synergies in key sectors such as life sciences, technology, advanced manufacturing and sustainability, strengthening Catalonia’s role as a gateway for Indian companies looking to expand into Europe while supporting Catalan firms seeking opportunities in one of the world's fastest-growing economies.

Source: Gate2Brain