ARCHIMED Life Science Tools & Services acquires IRAB, a leading independent radiopharmaceuticals platform

The ARCHIMED Life Science Tools & Services team of global private equity healthcare specialist ARCHIMED announces the acquisition of 100% of Institut de Radiofarmàcia Aplicada de Barcelona, S.L. (IRAB), a Barcelona-based specialist in the development, production and commercialization of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) radiopharmaceuticals for clinical diagnosis, clinical trials and biomedical research.

PET is a medical imaging technique that allows clinicians to see how organs and tissues are functioning inside the body. Unlike CT (computed tomography) scans or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), which capture morphological changes, PET detects physiological and biochemical alterations, enabling earlier diagnosis before structural abnormalities become visible. IRAB manufactures radiotracers, specialized radioactive drugs used for PET imaging for the diagnosis of a wide range of diseases.

Founded in 2016 and located at the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, one of Europe’s leading biomedical research environments, IRAB is a highly regarded PET radiopharmaceutical laboratory serving public and private healthcare providers, research institutions and pharmaceutical partners. The company operates in molecular nuclear medicine, providing radiopharmaceuticals used across high-value diagnostic applications, including oncology, neurology and cardiology.

IRAB’s positioning is supported by a specialized technical platform, strong regulatory and quality capabilities, and a mission-critical role in the regional healthcare ecosystem. Its expertise in PET radiotracer production and supply addresses a growing need for advanced molecular imaging solutions, as healthcare systems increasingly rely on earlier, more precise diagnostics to improve patient outcomes and guide treatment decisions.

“IRAB has built a distinctive position at the intersection of radiopharmaceutical manufacturing, innovation and clinical service excellence,” says Robin Filmer-Wilson, Partner at ARCHIMED. “As an independent European platform, IRAB is well positioned to benefit from the growing adoption of molecular imaging. We look forward to supporting Joan Trens and the IRAB team in expanding the company’s capacities and capabilities, while preserving the scientific rigor and reliability that have made IRAB a trusted partner to the industry.”

ARCHIMED acquired IRAB through its small cap MED Rise fund. IRAB is the fifth investment of MED Rise following Rivadis, Arkstone, SeqCenter and FIM Medical. MED Rise closed on its €400 million hardcap in April 2024. The fund is a top quartile performer for its vintage year, as are all other deployed ARCHIMED Buyout funds (2019, 2021 and 2022).

ARCHIMED was ranked 11^th best Buyout firm globally out of 695 Private Equity firms and 1,439 funds raised between 2012 and 2021 in the last by Dow Jones-HEC Performance Ranking report, reflecting the depth, maturity, and stability of ARCHIMED’s approach to specialized global healthcare investing.