Biorce, a Barcelona-based health AI company, has closed a $52 million Series A funding round led by DST Global Partners. The company is pioneering a new approach to clinical trial design with its AI platform, Aika, aiming to accelerate new therapy development. This record-breaking investment for Iberian healthtech AI underscores strong investor confidence in Biorce's mission to streamline drug development.
Addressing Critical Inefficiencies in Drug Development
The pharmaceutical industry faces immense challenges in drug development, with clinical trials representing a major bottleneck costing over $120 billion annually. Traditional trial design processes are notoriously slow, complex, and prone to costly errors that impede progress. These inefficiencies not only drain resources but also significantly delay the availability of potentially life-saving treatments for patients in need.
A primary source of these delays is the protocol amendment, a single change that can halt patient recruitment and add up to €1 million in costs. Furthermore, difficulties in substantiating trial designs with regulatory bodies like the FDA and EMA often lead to extended reviews and setbacks. This outdated methodology highlights a critical need for innovation to make the process faster, more reliable, and more accessible.
Aika: An AI-Powered Solution for Trial Design
At the core of Biorce's strategy is Aika, a proprietary AI platform engineered to reshape how clinical trials are conceived and executed. Trained on a vast dataset of approximately one million past studies, Aika automates and enhances trial design from its earliest stages. The platform empowers research teams to simulate trial models, identify potential risks, and reduce design time by up to 50 percent.
Aika leverages advanced machine learning and natural language processing to analyze clinical data and anticipate design flaws before they occur. Its therapy-agnostic architecture allows for versatile application across diverse areas, including oncology, neurology, and rare diseases. By embedding regulatory intelligence for FDA and EMA guidelines, the platform ensures designs are both efficient and compliant from the outset.
Strategic Investment to Fuel Global Expansion
The $52 million financing was led by DST Global Partners, with returning investors Norrsken VC and YZR Capital doubling their commitments. The round also attracted Mustard Seed Maze and prominent angel investors, including the CEOs of Mistral AI and Revolut. This investment marks a major milestone, setting a new record for a Series A round in the Iberian healthtech AI sector.
Biorce will allocate the new capital toward significant international expansion, starting with a new development and R&D hub in Austin, Texas. The funding will also support the growth of its engineering and commercial teams to scale operations and meet demand. This strategic move is designed to accelerate the continued development and global adoption of the Aika platform.
The Vision for a Streamlined Future
Looking ahead, Biorce is focused on expanding Aika’s capabilities to create a comprehensive solution for clinical trial management. By early 2026, the company plans to introduce modules for contract management, budget planning, and operational execution. This roadmap is part of a long-term ambition to enable a "one-click clinical trial," setting a new industry standard.
Biorce's successful Series A funding positions the company to significantly impact the future of pharmaceutical research and development. By tackling foundational inefficiencies in clinical trial design with its sophisticated Aika platform, the company is poised to reduce costs and timelines. Ultimately, this innovation promises to accelerate the delivery of new treatments, offering hope to patients waiting for medical breakthroughs worldwide.