Columbus Venture Partners

Columbus Venture Partners is an independent venture capital firm based in Madrid, Spain, founded in 2015. The firm specializes in early-stage investments within the life sciences sector, particularly focusing on biotech and healthcare opportunities. Its team comprises investment professionals with backgrounds in science, medicine, and business development, bringing a wealth of experience in both building and investing in companies. Columbus Venture Partners aims to accelerate the commercialization of innovative solutions in the life sciences, contributing to advancements in healthcare and biotechnology.

Javier García

General Partner

Marc Marco

Partner

Julen Oyarzabal

Partner

Eva Rodrigo

CFO

Damià Tormo

Co-Founder, General Partner & Managing Partner

11 past transactions

ARTHEx Biotech

Series B in 2023
ARTHEx Biotech S.L., founded in 2019 and based in Paterna, Spain, is a spin-off from the University of Valencia focused on the development of antisense RNA treatments for genetic diseases. The company leverages a team with extensive expertise in drug discovery and the role of microRNAs in neuromuscular disorders. Supported by a network of esteemed scientific and clinical advisors, ARTHEx Biotech aims to advance its innovative product pipeline to address unmet medical needs in the treatment of genetic conditions.

Minoryx

Series C in 2022
Minoryx Therapeutics is a biotechnology company based in Mataro, Spain, founded in 2011. The company specializes in discovering and developing innovative treatments for life-threatening rare diseases, with a particular focus on pediatric neurometabolic conditions of genetic origin. Minoryx is known for its development of pharmacological chaperones, a new generation of small molecule drugs designed to restore protein functionality, thereby addressing unmet medical needs in genetic diseases that severely affect the central nervous system. Additionally, Minoryx engages in repositioning-based projects to explore alternative therapeutic options for these challenging conditions.

Artax Biopharma

Venture Round in 2022
Artax Biopharma is a biotechnology company focused on developing therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The company is engaged in creating innovative treatments, including AX-024, an oral small molecule that selectively binds to Nck, disrupting the interaction between T-cell receptor and Nck, which is crucial for T-cell activation. This mechanism allows the compounds to inhibit T lymphocytes from responding to harmful antigens while maintaining their ability to protect against infections. Artax Biopharma's research targets various conditions, including asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, graft vs. host disease, and multiple sclerosis. Founded in 2013 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company aims to develop first-in-class immunomodulators that could significantly impact the management of these diseases.

Integra Therapeutics

Seed Round in 2022
Integra Therapeutics is a developer of next-generation of gene editing tools to cure diseases.

NeRRe Therapeutics

Series B in 2021
NeRRe Therapeutics Ltd. is a biotechnology company based in Stevenage, United Kingdom, established in 2012. The company specializes in the development of neurokinin (NK) receptor antagonists, focusing on treatments for conditions related to intense pruritus, particularly in patients undergoing targeted anti-cancer therapies. Its lead asset, orvepitant, is an oral NK-1 antagonist designed to alleviate this specific symptom. Additionally, NeRRe is advancing other candidates, including NT-814, a dual NK-1 and NK-3 antagonist, and NT-949, which is ready for Phase I trials. The company also has NT-432, a clinical candidate targeting NK-1 receptors. NeRRe Therapeutics aims to address unmet medical needs through its innovative therapeutic approaches.

Aura Biosciences

Venture Round in 2021
Aura Biosciences, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, focused on developing therapies to target and destroy cancer cells using viral nanoparticle conjugates. The company’s lead product, AU-011, utilizes viral nanoparticles modeled on the human papillomavirus, conjugated with infrared-activated small molecules, specifically for the treatment of ocular melanoma, a primary eye cancer. By employing nanotechnology, Aura aims to safely eliminate cancer locally, particularly in early-stage cases, to prevent progression to more severe forms of the disease, such as metastasis to the liver. Additionally, the company is advancing its bel-sar candidate for treating primary choroidal melanoma and exploring applications in bladder cancer. Founded in 2007, Aura Biosciences is committed to developing precision immunotherapies that preserve the function of organs affected by cancer.

Highlight Therapeutics

Venture Round in 2021
Bioncotech is a development stage bio-pharma company focused on the development of a new concept of anticancer therapy for the treatment of tumors such as metastatic melanoma, glioblastoma, bladder, or pancreatic cancer. The company is a spin-off of the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, one of the leading international centers in cancer research. It Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of new oncologic treatments. The company develops and manages projects throughout the value-creation chain: from formulation, manufacturing, and preclinical development to clinical trials with the support of other institutions and pharmaceutical companies. Founded in 2012 by [Maria Gonzalez](https://www.crunchbase.com/person/maria-gonzalez-2), Bioncotech is headquartered in Paterna with other designations in Madrid, Spain and Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Artax Biopharma

Series B in 2020
Artax Biopharma is a biotechnology company focused on developing therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The company is engaged in creating innovative treatments, including AX-024, an oral small molecule that selectively binds to Nck, disrupting the interaction between T-cell receptor and Nck, which is crucial for T-cell activation. This mechanism allows the compounds to inhibit T lymphocytes from responding to harmful antigens while maintaining their ability to protect against infections. Artax Biopharma's research targets various conditions, including asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, graft vs. host disease, and multiple sclerosis. Founded in 2013 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company aims to develop first-in-class immunomodulators that could significantly impact the management of these diseases.

SANIFIT

Series D in 2019
SANIFIT is a biotechnology company focused on treatments for calcification disorders. SANIFIT started activities in 2007 and has now operations in Spain and Switzerland.

Aura Biosciences

Series C in 2017
Aura Biosciences, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, focused on developing therapies to target and destroy cancer cells using viral nanoparticle conjugates. The company’s lead product, AU-011, utilizes viral nanoparticles modeled on the human papillomavirus, conjugated with infrared-activated small molecules, specifically for the treatment of ocular melanoma, a primary eye cancer. By employing nanotechnology, Aura aims to safely eliminate cancer locally, particularly in early-stage cases, to prevent progression to more severe forms of the disease, such as metastasis to the liver. Additionally, the company is advancing its bel-sar candidate for treating primary choroidal melanoma and exploring applications in bladder cancer. Founded in 2007, Aura Biosciences is committed to developing precision immunotherapies that preserve the function of organs affected by cancer.

Vivet Therapeutics

Series A in 2017
Vivet Therapeutics is dedicated to developing innovative gene therapy treatments for orphan diseases. Vivet Therapeutics is focused on optimizing gene therapy through a partnership with the Fundacion para la Investigacion Medica Aplicada (FIMA) at the Centro de Investigación Medica Aplicada (CIMA, Universidad de Navarra) to develop new AAV vectors specifically targeting the liver and generating new technologies to optimize gene delivery and long term expression.