Valencia’s Highlight Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of next-generation immunotherapies, has raised €15 million aimed at strengthening their position in the treatment of skin tumours and accelerating its clinical development plan.
The funds were raised in part by Buenavista Equity Partners, through its specialised fund BV Healthcare Growth Innvierte I (BHG I), created in collaboration with Columbus Venture Partners.
Marisol Quintero, CEO of Highlight Therapeutics, said: “Buenavista’s investment enables us to strengthen our team and consolidate our position as a leading company in the development of treatments for skin tumours.”
Founded in 2013, Highlight Therapeutics is a BioTech company specialising in immuno-oncology, focused on developing innovative cancer therapies. Its investigational compound, BO-112, is a double-stranded RNA immunotherapy allegedly capable of powerfully activating the immune system and enhancing the response to tumours.
In collaboration with the Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), the company is conducting clinical trials in various hospitals.
Buenavista’s investment will enable Highlight to advance its lead compound, BO-112, which is currently in a Phase 2b clinical trial for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma – the most common cancer, with over six million cases across the EU and the US. The treatment has reportedly already demonstrated efficacy against aggressive melanoma tumours, and the current study will allow its use to be extended to other tumour types.
BO-112, a derivative of BO-110, is a compound discovered in 2009 by Marisol Soengas’s group at the CNIO and represents the institution’s first oncology candidate to reach clinical studies in patients. The compound works by mimicking a viral infection, activating the immune system to target tumour cells across various types of cancer, including those resistant to immunotherapy.
The company is also announcing the appointment of Abel Riera, who has extensive experience in Business Development and M&A, as Chief Business Officer as part of its strategy to reinforce its executive team, with plans of further additions in the near future.
Nuria Osés, Managing Partner of Healthcare Growth at Buenavista, commented: “Highlight’s strategy is fully aligned with BHG I’s vision of supporting therapies with high transformative potential, a strong scientific foundation, and a clear focus on specific medical needs. Its collaboration with leading institutions such as the CNIO and its commitment to developing accessible treatments further strengthen the project’s credentials. We are very excited to support them in this new phase.”
The transaction announced today marks the third investment by the BV Healthcare Growth Innvierte I fund, following its participation in Syngoi, a CDMO specialised in synthetic DNA manufacturing, and Quibim, a pioneer in transforming precision medicine through imaging biomarkers powered by artificial intelligence