Gate2Brain arrives at Alhambra Venture with technology that crosses the brain barrier
Ninety-eight percent of drugs designed to treat neurological diseases never reach the brain. The blood-brain barrier (BBB), a natural protective shield, is also the greatest obstacle to curing diseases such as childhood brain tumors. In this context, Gate2Brain is emerging with a pioneering proposal: a shuttle peptide platform that allows crossing this barrier in a noninvasive, selective, and effective manner.
The biotech startup, based in Barcelona with a presence in Granada, will participate in Alhambra Venture to present its technology and its first product, G2B-002, a formulation against DIPG (diffuse intrinsic brainstem glioma), one of the most aggressive pediatric brain tumors with no cure to date. The combination of its MiniAp4 shuttle and the drug SN-38 has demonstrated 100 times greater transport in animal models compared to conventional treatment.
Gate2Brain operates under a B2B model that combines the development of its own assets with co-development with pharmaceutical companies using its platform. These companies are interested in improving the delivery of their compounds to the brain. The versatility of its technology allows for the transport of everything from small molecules to antibodies or nanoparticles, with potential applications in many diseases where there is a drug candidate that requires improved delivery (childhood and adult brain tumors, neurodegenerative diseases, and others such as epilepsy).
With six active patent families, validated preclinical results, and orphan drug designation in Europe and the USA for G2B-002, the company is already preparing its Phase I/IIa clinical trial in pediatric patients, scheduled for 2028 at the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital. In parallel, it is actively negotiating with European funding to complement the EIC Accelerator grant it obtained in 2023 and is seeking industrial partners for co-development agreements.
Gate2Brain is currently pursuing a €1.5 million bridge round to complete the necessary regulatory studies before its Series A, expected in 2026. The ultimate goal is clear: to license G2B-002 after validating its safety and efficacy in humans, and to position its platform as the new standard in targeted neurological therapies.
