ZBM Business Connect, the division of ZBM Patents & Trademarks engaged in the transfer of technology, promoted the creation of Ahead Therapeutics S.L. in December 2017 through an innovative exploitation strategy. The technology of this company comes from the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) and the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA).

Ahead Therapeutics aims to develop new drugs against autoimmune diseases. Initially, the development has focused on type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Medium-term objectives of this Company also include the celiac disease, pemphigus and thyroiditis.

ZBM Patents & Trademarks was responsible for the protection of technology through patents. ZBM Business Connect provided advice on the transfer of technology, put forward Martí Dalmases as executive director and raised the initial funding for the creation of Ahead Therapeutics.

The first funding round amounted to a total of 1.3 million euros, reaching up to 2 million thanks to grants and subsidies.