Barcelona's Biorce Raises $52.5 Million to Fuel Global Expansion of AI-Powered Clinical Trial Platform
Barcelona-based health technology firm Biorce has announced a $52.5 million Series A funding round to accelerate the global deployment of its artificial intelligence platform designed to streamline clinical trials. The investment signals strong confidence in AI's potential to tackle persistent inefficiencies in drug development.
The round was led by TZR Capital, with participation from Endeavour Catalyst, Norrsken VC, and Mustard Seed Maze. Notable angel investors include Revolut CEO Nik Storonsky and Mistral AI co-founder Paulo Rosado. The capital will primarily fuel Biorce's expansion into the U.S. market and the further development of its flagship product, Aika.
Aika is a disease-agnostic platform that leverages a database of over one million historical trials to generate clinical trial protocols. According to CEO Pedro Coelho, the system can produce "regulator-ready" draft protocols in approximately 90 seconds with 86% accuracy, potentially saving study operators up to €1 million and six weeks per trial by reducing costly amendments.
"The technology operates on a multi-modality framework," Coelho explained. "It mimics a human expert's workflow by first creating an optimal base protocol, which can then be customized for specific trial sponsors before regulatory submission."
The funding news follows a period of robust growth for Biorce, which reportedly exceeded its 2025 revenue target by 200%. Prior to this Series A, the company had also secured an additional €8.5 million through earlier raises.
Regulatory Crossroads
The expansion push comes as global regulators grapple with establishing guardrails for AI in healthcare. Recent initiatives like the collaborative framework from the EMA and FDA aim to guide responsible use, and the sweeping EU AI Act sets comprehensive rules. However, Coelho voices a concern shared by some European innovators: that over-regulation may hinder competitiveness.
"The compliance cost for the AI Act can rival an early-stage startup's entire pre-seed round," Coelho noted. "The risk is that it either forces companies to market non-compliant products or stifles innovation from the outset. If Europe doesn't adapt, it risks falling further behind the U.S. and China in this critical field."
Industry Voices
Dr. Anya Sharma, Clinical Research Director at a major hospital network: "Tools like Aika, if validated thoroughly, could be a game-changer for academic medical centers running smaller trials. The efficiency gain is not just about speed; it's about freeing up clinician-scientists to focus on patient care and scientific questions."
Marcus Thorne, Veteran Biotech Consultant: "The investor lineup is impressive and speaks to the sector's heat. However, the real test is adoption. Can an AI platform truly navigate the nuanced, site-specific complexities of a global Phase III trial? The promise is enormous, but the proof will be in the pudding—or rather, in the approved protocols."
Elena Rossi, Patient Advocate: "This is terrifying if not governed properly. We're talking about algorithms designing trials for human beings. Where is the patient voice in this '90-second protocol'? Speed and cost-cutting cannot come at the expense of safety and ethical rigor. This feels like tech moving faster than our ability to protect people."
David Chen, VC at TZR Capital: "Biorce isn't just selling software; it's selling institutional knowledge and predictability. In an industry where delays can cost millions per day, the value proposition of de-risking trial design is compelling. They've moved beyond hype to demonstrate tangible ROI for clients."