At Highlight Therapeutics, we continue working with a clear purpose: transforming research into real therapeutic options for patients.
That is why we have just taken an important step with the closing of a €15 million financing round, led by Buenavista Equity Partners through its specialized fund BV Healthcare Growth Innvierte I (BHG I), created in collaboration with Columbus Venture Partners.
This transaction aims to strengthen our position as a leading company in the treatment of skin tumors and accelerate our clinical development plan, reinforcing our commitment to a new generation of immunotherapy that combines science, collaboration, and results.
Advancing immunotherapy with BO-112
Buenavista’s investment will allow us to advance the development of BO-112, our lead compound, which is currently in a phase IIb clinical study for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma, the most common cancer, with more than six million cases each year across Europe and the United States.
BO-112 has already demonstrated efficacy in advanced melanoma resistant to immunotherapy, and the current study will help extend its potential use to other types of skin tumors.
The compound, derived from BO-110, was discovered in 2009 by the research group led by Marisol Soengas at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) and represents a historic milestone: it is the first oncology candidate from CNIO to reach clinical studies in patients.
Its mechanism of action is based on a simple but powerful idea: to mimic a viral infection in order to activate the immune system and direct it against tumor cells. In this way, the body itself “recognizes” the tumor and attacks it more effectively, even in cases resistant to current immunotherapies.
An investment that drives team and growth
Beyond the financial resources, this round represents a strong vote of confidence in our project, our team, and our vision for immunotherapy.
As our CEO Marisol Quintero stated: “The investment from Buenavista helps us strengthen our team and consolidate our position as a leading company in the development of treatments for skin tumors.”
In this context, we have also appointed Abel Riera as Chief Business Officer, bringing extensive experience in Business Development and M&A, and we expect additional key hires that will further strengthen our leadership team.
An alliance built on a shared vision
From Buenavista Equity Partners, Nuria Osés, Managing Partner of Healthcare Growth, highlighted that:
“Highlight’s strategy fully aligns with the vision of BHG I to support therapies with high transformative potential, built on a strong scientific foundation and clearly focused on addressing specific medical needs.”
This transaction represents the third investment made by the BV Healthcare Growth Innvierte I fund, which focuses on innovative companies in the healthcare sector with the goal of supporting their growth and scalability.
Launched in 2024 together with Columbus Venture Partners, the fund is supported by CDTI and has reached a first close of €100 million. Its strategy focuses on acquiring minority stakes in healthcare companies—primarily Spanish—that are already operating in the market or approaching commercial expansion.
Each investment can reach up to €15 million per company, and the fund expects to invest in 10 to 12 companies in total.
Another step forward
Ultimately, this transaction strengthens the growth of Highlight Therapeutics and reinforces confidence in the potential of our science. But above all, it allows us to continue doing what drives us most: bringing immunotherapy to more patients who currently have no effective treatment options.
With each new partnership and every clinical milestone, we continue building the future we envisioned from the beginning—one in which research, collaboration, and commitment to health translate into real solutions for cancer patients.