Nanogrow Biotech: Uruguayan science that crosses borders and strengthens its presence in Europe

Uruguayan biotech company Nanogrow Biotech continues to expand its international presence. The company officially opened its new headquarters at the European Business and Innovation Center of Navarra (CEIN), where it will continue developing precision therapies for immunological and oncological diseases in both humans and animals.

“Navarra has offered us the perfect ecosystem to accelerate our development,” said CEO Nicolás Galmarini during the inauguration, according to Diario de Navarra.

Founded in 2021 in Uruguay by Galmarini and biochemist Lucía Vanrell—who holds a PhD from the University of Navarra and currently serves as the company’s Chief Scientific Officer—Nanogrow bases its innovation on a platform of nanoantibodies derived from camelids (llamas, alpacas, dromedaries, and camels). These molecules are smaller and more stable than conventional antibodies, allowing them to bind with high precision to viruses, bacteria, or tumor cells.

Strategic expansion

With its arrival in Europe, Nanogrow is deepening its collaboration with CIMA at the University of Navarra, with which it has already developed seven patents in oncology, including research on colorectal carcinoma and melanoma. From its new base in Pamplona, the company plans to expand its research team—currently made up of 15 people—and advance the development of new immunological and veterinary treatments.

The nanobodies developed by Nanogrow make it possible to design more effective therapies with fewer side effects, applicable to diseases such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, asthma, and ulcerative colitis in both humans and animals. In the veterinary field, the company is progressing on treatments for canine atopic dermatitis and has already signed three commercial agreements with international pharmaceutical companies.

Uruguay: scientific foundation for a global biotech company

Although its European expansion marks a new stage of growth, Nanogrow continues to maintain its headquarters in Uruguay, where its technology was first developed and where a strong institutional and scientific environment supports the growth of science-based startups.

Uruguay has a mature biotechnology ecosystem, backed by more than 50 pharmaceutical manufacturing plants, world-class research centers such as the Pasteur Institute of Montevideo and the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Center, as well as public policies that promote innovation and foreign investment.

Recently, Nanogrow joined Uruguay XXI at BIOSPAIN 2025—Spain’s most important biotechnology fair—alongside other Uruguayan startups such as Guska and Cryosmetics. This participation is part of the national strategy to integrate into global value chains and position Uruguay as a reliable destination for science, technology, and international investment.

“Talent, institutional stability, and a strong commitment to science and innovation position us as an emerging hub in Latin America,” said Cristina Montero, investment attraction specialist at Uruguay XXI, during the mission.

International recognition and deep tech leadership

Nanogrow’s progress has not gone unnoticed. In 2025, the company won first place in the Drug and Therapy Discovery Platforms category at the Deep Tech Summit Brazil and was recognized as the most disruptive startup at South Summit Brazil, one of Latin America’s most prominent innovation events.

These achievements strengthen its international profile and reinforce Uruguay’s role as an emerging player in global biotechnology—capable of generating high-impact innovation from the Southern Cone to leading scientific centers worldwide.